A Finnish TV channel has been organizing/sponsoring a "Finnish championship of fireworks" for a few years now (I think this was the 5th time) here in Helsinki. Four fireworks companies show (or should I say "shoot") their best in this competition. These fireworks have always been way better and longer than any New Year's fireworks I've ever seen in Finland. This is definitely worth checking out if you're around in Helsinki in late August...

There's always been huge crowds gathering in Kaivopuisto and Kauppatori as well as in boats on the sea around them, which are the best places to view the fireworks which are shot from the islands of Suomenlinna. This year also the crowds of people walking to, milling in and walking from Kaivopuisto before, during and after the fireworks just shut down all the streets in southern Helsinki for hours... Estimated 200000 spectators...

The fireworks started a bit behind schedule this year and there was an unusually long delay between the 1st and 2nd round of shooting, apparently because of fire fighting a bush fire on the Suomenlinna islands started by a failed rocket. But the fire was extinguished and the shooting could continue. I'll let the rest of the pics speak for themselves of what it looked like... (not that these pics show you what it REALLY was like)