Fireworks

Well last week it was our chance, and it was for The Lantern Festival.A lot of organising, but un fortunately some troubles on the night.The fireworks were best seen in the park though, because they were all high flying rather than the usual smaller in the Park cakes we normally use.I missed those though, and also it would have been good to do these cakes on the building rooftops near the food street.The budget is usually very minimal though, and never usually covers expenses, for which we are given a plug in the programme.This year we asked for more though, and so our name was dropped.But Barbara McKinnon-Strong has done her last year on the festival and really , she has done very well.I did not want to initially get involved with the Festival, as I felt that it might have given the wrong impression of where our shop was coming from.But She soldiered on and not only masterminded this, but also the Diwali Festival that also got to Iconic Status in Auckland's Cultural Traditions.
I always wonder why Koha is not allowed at these much loved big events.Free is not true.People complain about rates, and quite rightly.But maybe just target those who really want to give freely and whom will give with a credit card or EFTPOS.That would be the easiest way to handle things.
Another hugely popular event was on last night.With so many people,Koha would easily be able to be put in a pot for volunteers, artists, next event,and/or subsidising other events for people to see in the Festival.
Group F,a pyrotechnics team from France using Spanish display fireworks drew an enormous crowd. I think 60000 were expected but I got a text from the park saying that already 200000 seemed to be waiting there.
I was out and about earlier and saw huge numbers waiting for buses and just walking along,and I was just wondering if they were headed for this event?
It did turn out that they were.
A couple of hours later, I walked with huge crowds turning up fairly late.
Sometimes these big events suck out business from cafes and restaurants that are enroute.But last night, there was
a buzz even in these places.
Luckily the experience was almost 100%,but with so many coming and with empty spaces in the middle beckoning,it was probably quite right that my boy wanted to try to filter through the crowds ringed around the edge on the hills.There was no gap left open, and one man yelled out"I'll break your bloody leg!"A man wanting to lie comfortably on his mat undisturbed.
Even given his outburst,there seemed to be a non rough crowd attracted to this event.The Xmas in the Park definitely attracts a seedier rough young gang sort of crowd.And once I had to break up a fight where a boy who was downed was starting to have his head kicked.
This is the negative of organised fireworks as opposed to allowing private family fireworks.In fact, the news the next day talked of a desperate father to be side swiping other cars in trying to get his wife to the hospital on time.It was too late anyway, as the baby was born in the car.It is just lucky that no one gets killed going to or coming back from these events.
There are so many people, and they even take over the roads that cars go on.You see people with feet up and engines turned off, but some drivers still want to drive through the crowds.
Group F had some spacey type music,and the Fireworks display was leisurely with much use of flame throwers as well as usual fireworks.Monochrome gold with profuse gentle fine and bright long toi toi plant spears of light showers/patterns/criss crosses/short/tall...Out of this came a cresendo of star bursts that contained a single exquisite offsetting single star to the side.Some rapid fire sprays were absolutely silent,so they worked in with the contemporary jazz.
The intention of artistically painting with Pyro was new to Auckland, and the audience usually expects a big range of colours perhaps all going off at once,But the audience reaction was favourable.
The finale was of a brilliant white theme, and the sounds of explosions was in the deafening level.THese I guess, titanium salutes would have been heard right around greater Auckland.
A word about helicopters roving around.Apart from a disaster of them banging into each other, or being blown up by a stray starshell, why do they have to go behind the display just as the big flourish happens?A helicopter falling down on to 200000 people would not be a nice sight.Interestingly the Australian World Cup Rugby opening had its Fireworks display
stopped by just such a helicopter with a reporter in the wrong place.In a meeting of Pyros , one said that a low flying Cessna
came into their Fireworks danger Zone even though Civil aviation Authorities had already been notified of the Fireworks display that they had.
The media at least did prove that I had not even really seen the show.There were set pieces and people with Fireworks strapped to themselves that I really could not make out even though I was there.Maybe with 60000 everyone could have got a closer look, a better seat.Big screens obviously could be used if they come again.Or even use Eden Park .
I thought I heard that some who were close up may have got showered with a bit of debris, I doubt if this was anything to complain about.That is a part of Fireworks.