- L'International des Feux Loto-Québec
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L'International des Feux Loto-Québec, also known as the Montreal Fireworks Festival, is a major international fireworks competition. (It was formerly known as Le Mondial SAQ, and l'International Benson & Hedges.) It has been held yearly in La Ronde over the Dolphins lake, since 1985, and is named after its main sponsor, Loto-Québec. The display is hailed as the best and largest fireworks festival in the world. It hosts an estimated 3 million each year, with approximately 6,000 fireworks set off during each show.
Each summer, eight or nine pyrotechnical companies from different countries present a 30-minute long pyromusical show, competing for the Gold, Silver and Bronze Jupiters or trophies.
For the 20th anniversary in 2004, eight of the previous top competitors (all of whom had won the Gold Jupiter) were invited to fight for the unique Platinum Jupiter in June and July 2004, which was won in the end by the German company WECO.
The competition takes the form of a series of biweekly fireworks shows usually beginning in late June and ending in late July. The fireworks are synchronized to music which is also broadcast over a provincial radio station (RockDétente in 2005, Rythme FM 2006-onwards). Spectators can purchase tickets to have reserved seats in La Ronde: they can buy them on site, on-line or through the Admission group to obtain an exceptional view of the lower altitude display and the whole perspective. However, tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of people watch the fireworks for free from nearby locations (see Where to watch). In 2009 and 2010, the shows have been held on Saturday nights only, from June to August, however in 2011 shows were again held on Wednesdays and Saturdays beginning end of June until end of July.
Contents
Jupiter Winners
Year Gold Jupiter Silver Jupiter Bronze Jupiter 1985 
France
Italy
Japan1986 
Spain France* 1987 
United States
Germany Spain1988 Spain Germany United States1989 Germany United States Spain & 
Canada1990 France Spain
Switzerland1991 United States
Netherlands Switzerland1992 
China United States Spain1993 Spain China France1994 United States
Australia Japan1995 Netherlands France Italy1996 United States Spain Germany1997 Italy Germany
Austria1998 United States Italy Spain1999 United States Canada Spain2000 Germany Spain Australia2001 Spain Australia
Chinese Taipei2002 France
Portugal Canada2003 Canada Australia
Hong Kong2004 Germany* * 2005 
Argentina United States Canada2006 United States France Australia2007 
England Germany United States2008 United States Australia China2009 Canada Canada Hong Kong, China United States2010 Canada
Sweden France2011 Italy France Australia* Not awarded.
Gold Jupiter Winning teams
- 2010: Canada (Fireworks Spectaculars)
- 2009: Canada (Royal Pyrotechnie)
- 2008: United States (Pyrotecnico) [1]
- 2007: England (Pains Fireworks) [2]
- 2006: United States (Melrose Pyrotechnics)
- 2005: Argentina (Fuegos Artificiales Júpiter)
- 2004: Germany - Platinum Jupiter (WECO)
- 2003: Canada (Royal Pyrotechnie)
- 2002: France (Société Lacroix-Ruggieri)
- 2001: Spain (Pirotècnia Igual)
- 2000: Germany (Weco Pyrotechnische Fabrik)
- 1999: United States (Performance Pyrotechnic Associates)
- 1998: United States (Performance Pyrotechnic Associates)
- 1997: Italy (Ipon s.r.l.)
- 1996: United States (Performance Pyrotechnic Associates)
- 1995: Netherlands (JNS Pyrotechniek)
- 1994: United States (Performance Pyrotechnic Associates)
- 1993: Spain (Pirotecnia Caballer)
- 1992: China (Sunny International)
- 1991: United States (Pyrotechnology Inc.)
- 1990: France (Société Étienne Lacroix)
- 1989: Germany (Lünig Feuerwerk Stuttgart)
- 1988: Spain (Pirotècnia Igual)
- 1987: United States (Austin Fireworks, Inc.)
- 1986: Spain (Pirotecnia Caballer)
- 1985: France (Société Étienne Lacroix)
Summer 2011 Schedule
- Saturday June 25: China
- Saturday July 2:
Czech Republic - Saturday July 9: England
- Wednesday July 13: Italy
- Saturday July 16: Australia
- Wednesday July 20: United States
- Saturday July 23: Canada
- Wednesday July 27: France
- Saturday July 30: Loto-Québec's Finale of the Stars and Jupiter Awards Ceremony (Tribute to The Beatles)
Where to watch
Although the fireworks are shot at La Ronde on Île Sainte-Hélène, they can easily be seen from many points in the Montreal area: Longueuil; on the Jacques Cartier Bridge, open to pedestrian spectators only during the event; the Old Port of Montreal; or locations along the side or on a boat on the Saint Lawrence River.
See also
External links
Categories:- Festivals in Montreal
- Canadian fireworks festivals
- Fireworks competitions
- Summer festivals
- Recurring events established in 1985
- 2010:
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