Bay City Fireworks Festival

The Bay City Fireworks Festival is an Independence Day festival held each year around the 4th of July^[1] on the Saginaw River near Veterans Memorial Bridge in Bay City, Michigan.

In addition to the fireworks display, the festival also features several days of live concerts, a carnival, boat tours and more.

2012

In 2012, the 50th anniversary of the Bay City fireworks Festival will feature 50,000 fireworks shells, and a musically choreographed fireworks display that will last 50 minutes, making it the largest fireworks display ever seen in Michigan.^[2]

The festival for this year is divided into three separate shows, on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. The Friday show will feature the colors of area schools who helped raise money for this year's festival. The grand finale on Friday night will feature the colors of whichever school raised the most money for the Fireworks Festival throughout the year.

While fundraising and setup for the festival is a year-round affair, actual set up for the fireworks display in 2012 required over 1,600 hours loading and arranging shells and wires. The shows are all choreographed to music, which will be broadcast via speakers set up at Wenona park on the Saginaw River's East bank, and Veteran's park on the river's west. Music will also be broadcast over the radio on 94.5 F.M.^[3]

2012 Bay City Fireworks Schedule of Events:

Thursday, July 5

Veterans Memorial Park

Skerbeck Carnival, noon to midnight weather permitting.

Beer tent, 4 p.m. to 11 p.m.

DJ Master Mix by Artie Bee, 6 p.m. to 9:45 p.m. at the beer tent

Traders Alley, noon to 9 p.m.

Wenonah Park

Gates open at 5 p.m.

Princess Wenonah Dinner Cruise, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., boarding begins at 5:30 p.m.

Steel Wheels concert, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Jedi Mind Trip concert, 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Steel Wheels and Jedi Mind Trip concert, 8:45 p.m. to 9:45 p.m.

Fireworks Spectacular, 10:10 p.m. to 10:25 p.m.

Friday, July 6

Veterans Memorial Park

Skerbeck Carnival, noon to midnight, weather permitting

Beer tent, 4 p.m. to 11 p.m.

The Beats concert, 6 p.m. to 9:45 p.m.

Traders Alley, noon to 9 p.m.

Wenonah Park

Gates open 5 p.m.

Princess Wenonah Dinner Cruise, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., boarding begins at 5:30 p.m.

The "Rock Show" rock and roll tribute concert, 6:30 p.m. to 9:45 p.m.

Fireworks Spectacular, 10:10 p.m. to 10:25 p.m.

Saturday, July 7

Veterans Memorial Park

Skerbeck Carnival, noon to midnight weather permitting

Beer tent, 4 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Veterans Bridge closes, 5 p.m. to midnight

Bull Honkey Deluxe concert, 6 p.m. to 9:45 p.m.

Traders Alley, noon to 9 p.m.

Wenonah Park

Baby Pageant, 11 a.m. to noon

Festival Pageant, noon to 4 p.m.

Princess Wenonah Dinner Cruise, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., boarding begins at 5:30 p.m.

The Magic Bus concert, 6:30 p.m. to 9:45 p.m.

Fireworks Spectacular, begins at about 10:05 p.m. and will last 50 minutes^[4]

History

The festival originally started in 1962, by resident Richard Davis, and was funded by Bay City's Fraternal Order of Police at a cost of $2,500 dollars.^[5] In 1982, the show was moved from a one night affair on the Fourth of July, becoming a weekend festival with three days of fireworks.

In 2008, the show included a barge in the middle of the river to make for a third launching site.

The fireworks display is usually produced by local fireworks company Wolverine Fireworks, which is based in KawKawlin, Michigan, less than 10 miles from the site of the festival.

National Acclaim

In 2012, the Bay City Fireworks Festival made a national list of great fireworks shows, as chosen by voters.^[6]

References