First-ever international fireworks competition to be held in Traverse City

Updated: Jun. 01, 2023, 5:20 p.m.|Published: Jun. 01, 2023, 1:18 p.m.
The first-ever International Fireworks Championship will be held at Turtle Creek Stadium in Traverse City on Sept. 9.ToF Feuerwerk
By Brandon Champion | bchampio@mlive.com
TRAVERSE CITY, MI – An explosive, first-of-its kind event will light up the Northern Michigan sky this summer.

Traverse City Tourism announced Thursday that the first-ever International Fireworks Championship will be held at Turtle Creek Stadium in Traverse City on Sept. 9.

The unique event is modeled after similar competitions held in Europe, Canada and Mexico.

It will include four world-class shows with teams from the U.S., Mexico, Spain and Germany competing for the top prize. All teams will have qualified by winning similar competitive events.
The competitors create unique fireworks displays with musical accompaniment, which will be formally judged.

“This promises a fireworks event like no other,” said Mickey Graham, Director of Events at Traverse City Tourism. “There are bright colors, bold designs and fun concepts. I recently watched a competition in Spain and the show was the pride of the entire community.”

Details of the fireworks championship are still in the planning stages, but Graham said it will be a family-friendly event with entertainment leading up to the competition at nightfall.

Each show will be synchronized to music, and competitors will follow specific guidelines that will challenge their creativity and artistic abilities. The public will have the final say on the winner of the competition.

“The International Fireworks Championship will be unlike anything this area has seen,” said Traverse City Tourism President, Trevor Tkach. “The competition is tough. It’s taking typical Fourth of July fireworks and adds elements of artistry to a competitive challenge – this will bring new meaning to live entertainment in northern Michigan. It gives people another great reason to come to Traverse City.”

Only a handful of fireworks competitions are held in the U.S., with the closest being staged in Missouri.

The competition will be a ticketed event. Details will be announced when they are finalized, organizers said.