A summer tradition in Windsor and Detroit will be back, live and in colour.
The Ford Fireworks, reduced to a virtual celebration the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will return to the riverfront on June 27 in a live, in-person showcase.
The fireworks show, which has been a staple of local summers since 1959, is produced by The Parade Company, which also operates America's Thanksgiving Parade and its associated events, the Hob Nobble Gobble and the Turkey Trot.
"We are thrilled to bring the Ford Fireworks back to Detroit, as this event truly brings our community together and showcases the city in a special way," The Parade Company President and CEO Tony Michaels told Detroit television station WDIV. "Ford Motor Company’s continued support is instrumental in ensuring this show, along with other beloved Parade Company events, grow bigger and more vibrant each year for our community to enjoy."
The 2020 and 2021 editions of the Ford Fireworks were presented on television and online from Lake St. Clair Metropark, with the general public asked to stay home. The display is one of the largest in the world and is put on by the Zambelli Fireworks company, using about 10,000 shells. At least a million people line both sides of the Detroit River to watch the half-hour show.
WDIV also reported that the Ford Motor Company will extend its sponsorship agreement with The Parade Company through at least 2024. The station will once again broadcast the show live, with a simulcast on radio station WJR-AM (760).