2014 SailFest Fireworks Extravaganza

Sailfest is one of the biggest events in Southeastern Connecticut’s during the summertime and attracts over 300,000 people over the course of its three-day’s. This is its 36th year. Like most festivals it includes amusement rides, free entertainment and over 200 vendors. It includes a visit from at least one Tall Ship but sometimes many that travel from around the globe. This year’s Tall Ships are the Schooner Virginia and the Amistad.

In addition to all those activities if you prefer to participate you could have taken on the Charter Oak Federal Credit Union 5K Road Race that made its way through downtown New London.

The highlight for my family and me is the Sailfest Fireworks Extravaganza. Every year my family and I find a good spot to watch. Sometimes we enjoy them by boat and other years from Fort Griswold or from Fort Trumbull. It happens every year and is almost always the Saturday after the 4th of July.

By night fall the crowds really started to fill the area in anticipation of the 4th largest firework display in the Northeast, sponsored by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation. This year the Fireworks Extravaganza scheduled to start at 9:00pm actually fired off closer to 9:30pm.  As is customary I set up my camera to capture the dazzling display. They didn’t disappoint with an over 20 minute long show. Rumor has it that the cost was in excess of 1 million USD to light up the sky over New London.

Sadly the music meant to accompany the fireworks were drowned out by a group of people who had a live band playing. Some of the songs meant to be heard included Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond, Eye of the Tiger by Katy Perry, Born in the USA and other classic and popular favorites.

This year the fireworks were orchestrated and produced by Garden State Fireworks. Garden State Fireworks is run by the Santore Brothers and is a family owned and operated business since 1890. Just this past 4th of July Garden State Fireworks celebrated with a fireworks presentation over our Nation’s capital, Washington, DC. For over 120 years, the Santores have been dazzling audiences around the world. The Santore Brothers have won 4 International World Fireworks championships during their 4 visits to San Sebastian, Spain and Monte Carlo, France. Each time the displays were regarded as incomparable.