Thunder over Louisville, Zambelli Fireworks

Thunder Over Louisville, the annual kickoff event of the Kentucky Derby Festival, is an airshow and fireworks display held in late April in Louisville, Kentucky. It is the largest annual fireworks display in North America.

ZAMBELLI FIREWORKS INTERNATIONALE
Zambelli Fireworks Internationale first became involved with Thunder Over Louisville in 1991. The annual show is larger than the opening and closing ceremonies of the Atlanta and Barcelona Olympics combined. It is currently unchallenged as the largest annual pyrotechnic production in North America.

To assemble a show the size of Thunder, Zambelli Internationale utilizes eight tractor trailers filled with nearly 60 tons of fireworks shells. The physical set-up includes 250 tons of launching tubes, some as high as 10 feet with a diameter of 1 and 1/2 feet. Two million pounds of sand will pack the firing tubes on 1,800 feet of barges. Almost 700 miles of wire cable connecting 20 firing boards are tied to the command post for synchronization to the music. This is the largest show the Zambellis perform each year and the Zambellis are the largest fireworks family in the world.

The Zambelli family, including the late George Zambelli, Senior, has gathered in Louisville over the years using Thunder weekend as a family reunion of sorts. In addition, event producers from all over the country are often hosted by the Zambellis as they showcase their finest product.
Zambelli Internationale has its corporate headquarters in New Castle, Pa., with additional offices in Florida and California. The company has about 75 full-time employees, with a seasonal staff swelling to 1,300 as the July 4 holiday approaches.

In addition to producing fireworks for Thunder Over Louisville – the nation’s largest fireworks display – Zambelli has produced such events as the July 4, 1986, Statue of Liberty Celebration in New York City; the 1991 National Victory Celebration for the return of the Desert Storm troops in Washington, D.C.; presidential displays for Presidents Kennedy, Johnson, Carter, Reagan and Clinton; and Papal visits to Toronto and the United States.



http : // www .thunderoverlouisville.org / zambelli-fireworks-internationale. html
Wikipedia.org

Fireworks will go on at Charlottesville NC Dogwood Festival

By The Daily Progress Staff
Published: April 16, 2009

Rained out Tuesday, the Dogwood Festival fireworks are slated to explode over McIntire Park tonight.

The organizers of the 60th-annual festival decided to delay both the fireworks show, sponsored by The Daily Progress, and the planned pork barbecue until today because of bad weather.According to the festival’s Web site, the barbecue is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m., with the fireworks bursting to life at 9.

http:// www. dailyprogress. com/cdp/news/local/article/dogwood_fireworks_set_to_light_up_tonight/38836/

Husband's Ashes Blew Up In A Firework Shell

Monday, April 13, 2009

JEAN SPENNER

THE SAGINAW NEWS

Richard Hanley's love of fireworks and explosives was such that his wife ''blew him up in a firework,'' sending his ashes into a starry summer sky a year ago.

With that, and by raffling his custom 1984 Pontiac Fiero to raise money for the Saginaw Area Fireworks Inc. spectacle, ''I couldn't think of a better way to honor him,'' Gloria J. Hanley said. Richard Hanley died Feb. 13, 2007, after a short battle with leukemia.

Saginaw Area Fireworks Inc. will raffle his car for $5 per ticket. The car, from the first year of production for the model, is worth about $5,000.

''He always liked blowing things up,'' said Gloria Hanley, 55, of Thomas Township. ''He was always exploding things. He loved the fireworks.

''I thought we might as well blow up the money we would have gotten for his car and give it to the fireworks.''

Proceeds go to the group, sponsor of an $85,000 display from Ojibway Island starting around dusk Saturday, July 4. The extravaganza draws about 100,000 spectators.

Street Freaks, Hanley's car club, will draw the winning ticket at

3 p.m. Sunday, May 3, at Culver's, 5369 Bay in Kochville Township. Ticket holders do not have to attend.

Fireworks organizers are ''always looking for interesting methods to raise money,'' said Gary Shepherd, the group's president. ''We want to reach out to the community so everyone can enjoy the fireworks.''

Ticket sales for the Fiero have gone well, he said.

''The car was donated, the tickets were donated. If somebody buys a $5 ticket, all $5 goes to the fireworks,'' he said.

Hanley met her husband while both were employed at Saginaw Steering Gear, now Delphi Steering, in Buena Vista Township. She calls him ''the love of her life.'' The couple married in 1995.

You may buy raffle tickets at Adorned with Envy, 7871 Gratiot in Thomas Township, and Big Ugly Fish, 1418 State in Saginaw. Those with questions may call (989) 781-3689.

The Fiero is making the rounds to drum up on-site sales. See it at the fifth annual Saginaw Area Fireworks Auction at 6 p.m. Friday at Horizons Conference Center, 6200 State in Saginaw Township; beginning at 4 p.m. Friday, April 24, at J.B. Meinberg, 116 S. Hamilton in Old Saginaw City; all day Saturday, April 25, at Fuzzy's, 1924 Court in Saginaw; and at Freeland Elementary School, 710 Powley in Freeland, on Sunday, April 26, during the Walleye Festival. v

Jean Spenner covers business for The Saginaw News.

Not a more spectacular fireworks show on planet Earth

Remember...Dreams Come True...or do they?

I can't think of a more spectacular fireworks show on planet Earth than the Disneyland Resort's, "Remember...Dreams Come True". It's simply the best fireworks show around, but it's finally coming to an end, according to park insiders. Seeing how in 2010 the park will celebrate its 55th Anniversary, rumor has it that Disney is hard at work creating the next firework show to debut in 2009 just in time for next year's anniversary.

I actually first saw this fireworks show only a few years ago as I was late getting in on the fun. It's a brilliant piece of fireworks artistry what they do each and every night the fireworks go off. From the classic Disneyland park ride music to the one of a kind voice-overs from Julie Andrews and Walt Disney, the soundtrack to the awesome firework display accents the show very nicely, making it an unforgettable seventeen minutes of viewing pleasure.

I can't help but wonder and worry if this fireworks show can ever be topped. My worst fear is that the new show doesn't engage the audience at all and becomes a replica of old firework shows of the past. I'm optimistic that Disney Imagineering will conjure up something very special because once you take a look at this show, I guarantee your expectations will be set extremely high if in fact Disney brings an all new show for late 2009.

The only tragedy of this possible new show... me. Because there's no better time in my life than being at the park after a hard days work and putting my favorite cookie and hot chocolate in my small, sexy hands ready to watch the show. It would suck to have these goodies in my hand ready for consumption only for it to be ruined when the worst firework show of all time starts at 9:25pm. This new show MUST wow me. It has to. Disney Imagineering has set the bar so high in the realm of entertainment that anything less than a A+ show would crash my hot chocolate and cookie dreams. And you wouldn't want that, would you? So I beg Disney Imagineering to wow the Disney fans, or else I'll act like the, "cool kids" in the park and only do rides during the entertainment shows!

Note: Keep checking back on my examiner page for a special article about one of my favorite things to do during the fireworks. And...there will be a video to showcase why this is one the thee best things to experience during a firework show. Stay tuned!

Now, please enjoy, "Remember...Dreams Come True". Watch it now and "remember" it...because it might be gone forever.

By Alex Gonzales

http:// www . examiner . com/ x-6547-LA-Amusement-Parks-Examiner~y2009m4d12-Remember-When-Dreams-Come-True

BIG Fireworks Buys Distribution Center

Lansing Fireworks Wholesale Facility Acquired for $1.3 Million

By Stephen Basham
April 1, 2009

Big Fireworks, a Lansing, MI-based fireworks distributor, purchased the 64,722-square-foot industrial building at 3366 Remy Drive in Lansing for $1.3 million, or about $20 per square foot.

The company has taken occupancy of the property, which it is using as a distribution center. The facility was constructed in 1970 and more than 4 acres and includes about 8,000 square feet of office space.

http:// www.costar.com /News/Article.aspx?id=80105E8B17D7A54BDAE8936F14BF8E57

KCRiverFest is back with nternationally-renowned Zambelli Fireworks

Kansas City, MO - infoZine - The July 3 & 4 festival returns to Kansas City’s Richard Berkeley Riverfront Park with a fireworks spectacular by internationally-renowned Zambelli Fireworks. Last year, the 18-minute extravaganza thrilled thousands as the fireworks reflected on the waters of the Missouri River accompanied by exciting music.

Recognized by Special Event Magazine as a 2008 finalist for Best Fair/Festival, KCRiverFest is in its fifth year of celebrating America’s Independence, Kansas City style. Last year’s event attracted 35,000 attendees and thousands more watched a special televised broadcast of the fireworks show on presenting sponsor KCTV/myKSMO.

“We’re building on last year’s success for an even better festival this year,” said Chris Gutierrez, co-chairman of KCRiverFest and president of Friends of the River-Kansas City, a not-for-profit organization that promotes awareness and public use of the Riverfront throughout the metropolitan area and produces KCRiverFest. “This is one festival Kansas City area residents can count on for great fireworks, food and family fun.”

Besides Zambelli Fireworks other returning favorites include the United States Air Force Band, the Radio Disney Rockin’ Road Crew and personalities from KCTV and Cumulus Radio.

“There are still some great marketing and sponsorship opportunities for companies and organizations who wish to be a part of this fantastic event,” Gutierrez added.

A special package deal will be offered by the Downtown Marriott, also. This includes a room with a panoramic view of the fireworks and tickets to the festival.

“This will be great for folks who want to spend the day enjoying the food and fun of the festival, then relax and watch the fireworks in the comfort of their hotel room,” said Mark Laverentz, KCRiverFest co-chair. “They can even listen to the music with the fireworks by tuning in to channel 5.”

Details of the special hotel package for KCRiverFest visitors as well as schedule updates, attraction and entertainment descriptions and much more will be announced on KCRiverFest.com with continuous updates through July.

Sponsors for this year’s event include KCTV/myKSMO, Cumulus Radio, the Port Authority of Kansas City, Kansas City Neighborhood Tourist Development Fund, Burns & McDonnell, Time Warner Cable, Radio Disney, DST Systems, Urban Times magazine, TranSystems, Paseo Corridor Constructors and EventPros, Inc.

http:// www.infozine.com /news/stories/op/storiesView/sid/35030/