Fireworks in the Valley
arathbon@uwo.ca
The atmosphere at the Dundas Driving Park was one of good old-fashioned fun Sunday night. Police estimated 13 000 people came out to enjoy Hamilton’s only fireworks display this Victoria Day weekend. The area was teeming with children running around chasing each other, throwing their glow sticks in the air, making it obvious that everyone was there to have a good time.
A vintage fire engine was on display for the children. Keith Green, 56, was there to supervise the antique truck. “My old neighbour growing up was a firefighter and used to take me to the station and let me polish this truck.” The old fire truck was clearly a hit with the kids as there were never less than 30 children on it at any given time. “I’m going to have a lot of chrome to polish after this,” said Green.
This was the first year Patricia DeCecco of Hamilton came to the event. She came to the park with her three girls, aged 6, 4, and 9 months, along with her friend’s family. All of the kids were excitedly soaking in the events in the lead up to the show. “We kind of have the Kate Gosselin thing going on right now,” said DeCecco.
It was a nervous beginning to Sunday, however, with showers in the morning.
Joe Rastin and his team at Victory Fireworks of Richmond Hill arranged the display. “My goal is to entertain the crowd, so I want to make sure that I do everything properly,” says Rastin. He estimated that there were over 4000 shots in the show. In order to ensure the best performance Rastin and his team lit each shot by hand, in order to have more control over the effects.
Rastin and his team did not disappoint and neither did the weather. The show started shortly after the sky turned dark. The crowd of families quickly huddled on their blankets and chairs as the first few flashes and bangs broke through the clear night sky. The expected oohhs and ahhs were audible with each bang and star spattered burst throughout the nearly 23 minute long show.
Casandra Romanescu-Vintu of Hamilton was at the park celebrating her 23rd birthday with friends. “It was really nice of them to put on a fireworks show for my birthday,” she joked.
Also enjoying the show was little Michalina, 8, who is visiting from Poland with her mother. Even though she speaks little English her pleasure in the show translated clearly. She did not sit down once during the display, standing in fixed attention, wide eyed throughout the symphony of explosive colours.
“You don’t need much to make people happy,” remarked Ivona Dudek of Dundas. She described the anticipation for the show like waiting for Christmas as a child.
This was the second year that the Rotary Club has organized the Victoria Day celebrations. “Dundas has been holding annual celebrations for Victoria Day since the late 1800s,” said Powers. When the opportunity came for the Rotary Club to organize the event they felt compelled to carry on this tradition into the amalgamated city of Hamilton, he said.
The Rotary Club was encouraging donations to be made at the gate of the park. Through donations and glow stick sales they raised over $10 000 for their various initiatives, said Powers. “This is a true community event,” he said. “We put on the show to draw in families and friends” with the funds slated to be reinvested in the community to help its people.