Blanes postpones 50th edition of iconic firework contest due to pandemic

The 50th edition of the world-famous Blanes Firework Contest has, for the second time, been cancelled due to the pandemic, Covid-19 restrictions currently in place making the event impossible.

In pre-pandemic times, the event in the Costa Brava town has attracted up to a million people to the municipality - in 2019, for its 49th edition, around 500,000 people witnessed the 5-day long show held on the Sa Palomera beach. 

Large crowds from all over the world traditionally gather to watch the fantastic displays from the Blanes beach and boulevards. The annual event hosts different pyrotechnics companies who compete to put on the best fireworks show, each company having one night to amaze the audience.

Traditionally, it takes place during the last week of July and coincides with the Festa Major de Santa Anna (also cancelled due to the pandemic), which is an 8-day long celebration in honour of Saint Anna, who is the patron saint of the town of Blanes. 

This year the fireworks competition was due to go on for one day longer than normal, since it would be the event’s 50th anniversary. The pyrotechnics companies had also already been selected, four coming from Spain and two from abroad. 

The committee, unlike last year, have not waited until the last minute to announce that the festival won’t be going ahead. Although they have said that the decision was made "reluctantly", they have also insisted on the need to be "realistic" and that events which attract large crowds simply cannot go ahead at the moment.

Blanes City Council, however, wants to take advantage of the break to improve the current model, specifically the way it is financed, and attract more private investment. Thus, the time that would have been spent organizing the 50th anniversary of the event this year, will be put into better arranging the event for 2020.