Organisers of the Foyle Maritime Festival are planning an unforgettable evening of lighting, animation, pyrotechnics and special effects for the event’s showcase centrepiece later this month.
What Lies Beneath – A Celebration will include a Parade of Light on the river by the festival’s Clipper Race Fleet and the Phoenix Tall Ship, a synchronised fireworks display and an hour of Illumination and performances and installations along the quay from early evening through to midnight on Friday, July 22.
Festival and Events Manager at Derry City and Strabane District Council, Jacqueline Whoriskey, explained how they are working with their festival partners to coordinate a sensory feast for the tens of thousands of people expected to line the quay on the night.
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“The showcase represents the climax of our Foyle Maritime celebrations and we are planning an extra special experience for the public to mark the 10th anniversary of the Clipper Round the World fleet being hosted in the city,” she said.
“As evening turns to night and darkness descends a twinkling world will slowly emerge from the darkness with our Parade of Light and synchronised fireworks display followed by a magical hour of illumination glowing silently from 11pm till midnight.
“We are really excited to be working with hundreds of talented performers and lighting and pyrotechnics experts to create an experience you will never forget with activity and entertainment all over the river and along the quayside.”
The lighting scheme also includes the visiting yachts at the event who will each be provided with fairy lights to deck on their vessels while they remain berthed along the quay during the showcase.
The Phoenix Tall Ship will join the Clipper Round the World yacht fleet on the water where a number of lighting projections and search beams will illuminate the river before the synchronised fireworks display at 11pm on two vessels which will also include a waterfall of fire from the Peace Bridge.
One of the most beautiful ships in the world, the Grace O’Malley, recently purchased by the Irish state to train young sailors, will also be illuminated in a specially designed light show.
The Festival Village will feature live music and the light installations on the quay will remain lit until midnight allowing people to walk the waterfront and take in the illuminations and performances for themselves.
The award-winning Foyle Maritime Festival returns from July 20th – 24th and features the arrival and stopover of the Clipper Around the World Yacht Race fleet which will arrive in Port from July 14th.
The festival has enlisted the help of some exceptional creatures, installations and animation to celebrate What Lies Beneath reminding us of the exceptional beauty of our seas, oceans and marine life. Additional programme information is available HERE.
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