The British Musical Fireworks Championship returns to Southport

Get ready for a explosive display of light, sound, and colour as the British Musical Fireworks Championship returns to Southport on 20 -21 September 2024.

Taking place in Victoria Park, the British Musical Fireworks Championship will see over two tonnes of explosives light up the skies in a spectacular competition set to music.

Sefton Council has revealed every confirmed competitor at the event and exploded some myths around the famous extravaganza which, since 1999, has displayed every pyrotechnic effect that can be imagined to music.

With thousands of people expected to again flock to Southport’s Victoria Park for a weekend of wonder, today organisers gave more details of the event which sees those taking part judged alongside the music on synchronisation, mood and flow, patterns, colours, effects, timing and the overall design.

This year’s competitors have been confirmed as Electrify Pyrotechnics, Bright Sparks Fireworks, Xplosive Fireworks, Dynamite Fireworks, Fully Fused Fireworks and The Art of Sparks.

British Musical Fireworks Championship - Southport - Victoria Park 2023. Credit: Visit Southport — British Musical Fireworks Championship – Southport – Victoria Park 2023. Credit: Visit Southport

Joining regular judge and fireworks professional Bill Davis on the judging panel will be Simon Harding from Sirotechnics (recent winners at the Festival d’Art Pyrotechnique Cannes) Jonathan Finch from Celtic Fireworks and Mike Jones from the Pyro Studio.

And ahead of the event – officials released the following facts about the British Musical Fireworks Championship:

Since 1999 the event has seen at least 130 spectacular fireworks displays fired to music to hundreds of thousands of thrilled spectators.
Over two tonnes of explosive material are used throughout the competition and the total weight of fireworks used is in excess of 10 tonnes!
Each show will require around 5 kilometres of wire to connect up the electrical circuits and to set up each display, around 15 technicians work for 12 hours.
Although there may be over 1000 in each display, you will not see a single fuse lit by hand. It’s all done by computers.
Some of the bigger fireworks will reach a height of 500 metres (that’s five football pitches)
All fireworks are still handmade, because machines may produce sparks (and no-one wants a spark in a fireworks factory)
You are unlikely to see any, rockets. Instead, professional displays use ‘shells’ which are onion shaped fireworks fired from mortar tubes.

Tickets are online only – you cannot pay by cash or card on the night.