American company, Rozzi Fireworks, wins first place at Malta’s International Fireworks Festival

For the first time ever, an American based company, Rozzi Fireworks from Cincinnati, Ohio, has won first place at the Malta International Fireworks Festival. The 17th edition of the Festival ended with a spectacular show at the Grand Harbor, Valletta, on Monday, April 30, which followed previous nights in Gozo and Marsaxlokk.

Rossi Fireworks, a family-run US based fireworks company, has been in business since 1895. Five generations of Rossi’s have managed the business, bringing it from its founding in Southern Italy, to Cincinnati in 1930 where it has remained since.

The event in Valletta kicked off with a concert, where a brass band and singers performed live on a floating stage, accompanied by traditional Maltese fireworks. The crowd was wowed by a breathtaking pyro-musical show exhibited by Pyroemotions. Singers performed a medley of Maltese music together with well-known tracks by various artists including the late Avicii. All this was accompanied by fireworks let off in the harbor, resulting in an unforgettable spectacle.

Starting in 2004, the Malta International Fireworks Festival began as a celebration of Malta’s acceptance into the European Union. Since then, the festival has turned into an annual celebration with participants coming from around the world to showcase their pyrotechnic displays. This year, a total of 4 fireworks companies competed, with participants coming from the United States, the United Kingdom, Italy, and Malta.

According to Michelle Buttigieg, Malta Tourism Authority (MTA) Representative in North America, “Malta has seen a dramatic increase of tourism from the US & Canada in the last couple of years and one of the attractions is our many colorful festivals that take place throughout the entire year. The Malta International Fireworks Festival is one of the most popular, especially because the three venues – Gozo, Marsaxlokk and Valletta – provide such stunning backdrops.”

About Malta:

The sunny islands of Malta, in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, are home to a most remarkable concentration of intact built heritage, including the highest density of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in any nation-state anywhere.  Valletta built by the proud Knights of St. John is one of the UNESCO sights and the European Capital of Culture for 2018. Malta’s patrimony in stone ranges from the oldest free-standing stone architecture in the world, to one of the British Empire’s most formidable defensive systems, and includes a rich mix of domestic, religious and military architecture from the ancient, medieval and early modern periods. With superbly sunny weather, attractive beaches, a thriving nightlife and 7,000 years of intriguing history, there is a great deal to see and do. www.visitmalta.com

Malta Tourism Authority US Editorial Media Contact:

The Bradford Group

Karen Hoffman/ Bianca Pappas

Tel: (212) 447-0027

Fax: (212) 725 8253

E-mail: [email protected]