Despite losing most of its participants last year, the International Fireworks Competition will be back for a fourth year in Pattaya Nov. 29-30.
City officials decided Sept. 6 to revive the event, which was backed in 2010-11 by the Ministry of Defense and floundered without government support last year. No details, other than the date, have been announced, however.
Originally designed as a two-year Ministry of Defense competition to honor Their Majesties the King and Queen, the International Fireworks Competition kicked off in Thongthani in December 2009. Pattaya held two rounds of the event, in August 2010 and, after a month’s delay due to the national flooding crisis, December 2011. Teams from Australia, China, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Japan, Philippines, the United Arab Emirates and the United States faced off against Thailand to see which country could put on the most dynamic and colorful exhibition.
Beautiful fireworks during last year’s event.
After losing the Defense Ministry’s sponsorship, the festival continued last November, this time with only four teams and no participation from Thailand, other than the country donating celebrity “honorary captains” for teams from Canada, China, Singapore and the United States. The festival also featured booths selling locally made products, a carnival-style parade, shows and concerts.
