Skyfire (Canberra)

Skyfire is an annual fireworks show held over Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra, Australia which began in 1988. The fireworks are synchronised to music played by local radio station FM104.7. It is usually held in February or March.

Skyfire X on March 8, 1998 had an estimated 120,000 visitors. [ [http://www.meyersound.com/news/1998/news_au_nz/ meyersound.com] ] Skyfire XI held on March 7, 1999 had an estimated 180,000 visitors which was held at the start of the Canberra Festival and which Casino Canberra was a major sponsor. [ [http://www.caigroup.at/image/news22.pdf caigroup.at] (pdf) ] More than 170,000 visitors turned out to see Skyfire 19 in 2007.

The 2006 skyfire was held on March 4, and is called "Skyfire 18" because it is the eighteenth year of the fireworks. The day has become a large event with other activities including a display by the Roulettes aerobatic squadron and a performance by Lee Harding. There were around 35000 individual crackers let off, with around 6000 shooting comets and almost 3000 shells.

Skyfire 20 will be held on the 15th of March 2008. [ [http://www.1047.com.au/misc14087.asp FM 104.7] ] Amongst teenagers of Canberra skyfire is synonymous with underage binge drinking. At skyfire 19, over 4500 underage drinkers were congregating around Lake Burley Griffin, especially around the Australian National Library area.

Skyfire is a very hard event to police to the open nature of the lake area. With only three people arrested in 2007, the police take a very lax approach to binge drinking. However they have promised more action in 2008 with police brought in from New South Wales and hundreds of temporary cells set up.

References

External links

* [http://www.fotifireworks.com.au/news/skyfire04.html photos of Skyfire 2004]