The 25th International Fireworks Competition kicks off with a premiere after the summer break

After the summer break, the International Fireworks Competition enters its next round with a first: On August 22, Suomen Ilotulitus Oy will become the first Finnish team to compete in the International Fireworks Competition. The pyrotechnicians, headquartered in Lohja with an additional office in Liuyang, China—the capital of the fireworks industry—are known in Finland as the largest fireworks importer and have also made a name for themselves internationally. With more than 60 years of experience, the company has already staged around 10,000 fireworks displays. The Finnish pyrotechnicians produce up to 400 shows each year.

The Finnish team’s repertoire includes shows at the Shanghai International Music Fireworks Festival (2005) and the World Rally Championship in Finland (2010), as well as participation in the Chelyabinsk International Fireworks Competition, alongside victories at the Yekaterinburg Fireworks Festival in Russia (2008) and the Samobor International Fireworks Festival in Croatia (2012).

Now, on August 22, designer Sami Tammi will showcase what he has learned over the course of 20 years as a designer and pyrotechnician through more than 2,000 shows he has created around the world. He has come up with something very special for Hanover: “The competition has a rich history and offers a breathtaking backdrop in the Herrenhausen Gardens. There have already been many beautiful fireworks displays here,” says Tammi. He himself is planning a show that’s unlike any other—and one that has never before been presented at the International Fireworks Competition in Herrenhausen. “We want to present a revolutionary show that will give the audience a huge adrenaline rush and put smiles on their faces.” Contributing to this will be, among other things, artists integrated into the show as well as an extraordinary musical and suspense-building concept. The playlist for the fireworks display, dubbed “Lux Spectaculum,” includes tracks by Enigma, Hans Zimmer, Clint Mansell, and E-Nomine, for example.

 “I’m as excited as a kid about the show and can hardly wait until Saturday,” says Sami Tammi.

 Hans Christian Nolte, managing director of Hannover Veranstaltungs GmbH (HVG), the company organizing the competition, adds: “We are eagerly anticipating the Finnish premiere and expect it to bring a completely new flair and many surprises to the Herrenhausen Gardens.”

Side events: Welcome to Finland!

But before the Finnish fireworks show begins on Saturday at 10 p.m., a diverse program of events will set the mood for this Nordic country. Enchanting riders on snow-white reindeer welcome visitors at the entrance gate and look forward to seeing them again in the Great Garden. There, they’ll encounter two imaginative figures on stilts that symbolize Finland’s “green gold”—its countless forests. The curious, droll elf Mervi and her magnificent stag also seem to have come from there.

Jens Ohle’s show at the Sonnenuhr is loud and incredibly funny—featuring spectacular ladder acrobatics and cool stand-up comedy. At the cabaret stage, the two gentlemen from Klirr deluxe amaze the audience with an extraordinary spectacle: they stack chairs all the way up to the treetops and keep countless plates in the air. Subtly brilliant and refreshingly cheeky fun! Ella Finella also goes all out with Finnish madness, coming out as a fan of the Leningrad Cowboys. And Wicki, aka Svenja Dunkel, proves with great delight that there’s a bright mind under that Viking helmet.

In the Garden Theater, the voice of Finnish singer Anna-Katariina

Hollmérus rises from the depths of the soul to soar into the sky. The music of the band Saimaa comes from the Land of a Thousand Lakes and is rooted in Finnish tango. Inge van Calkar & Band round out the musical program with folk-pop and modern sounds à la Coldplay (rehearsal stage). “Clear the ring!” is the call on the children’s lawn when Clown Fidolo invites everyone on a fun journey through the colorful world of the circus.

Advance ticket sales and upcoming dates

Advance ticket sales for August 22, September 5, and the final performance on September 19 have already ended!
However, 500 tickets will still be available at the box office starting at 4:00 p.m.!

Here's what visitors can look forward to:

September 5 promises to be an exotic treat: The Philippine team Dragon Fireworks will be showcasing their skills.

The 25th International Fireworks Competition will conclude on September 19 with a show by the four-time winner of the International Fireworks Competition in Herrenhausen, the Swedish team Göteborgs FyrverkeriFabrik.

For more information on the history of the Herrenhausen International Fireworks Competition, details about the teams, and a general press release about the 25th International Competition, please visit: www.hannover.de/feuerwerk-presse

Published: August 21, 2015