I’m usually not a sucker for fireworks anyway, but when I went to see them last year at Ashbirdge’s Bay I accidentally stumbled on a spot that literally knocked my lid off. I mean, I’m sure they look great from the beach; the reason I know is because I heard the mighty cheers that arose from there with every new volley of thunder. I do not exaggerate when I say it sounded like a rock concert or a horde of vikings, and I was sitting entirely elsewhere.

But H-O-L-Y  F-U-C-K, pardon my Belgian – this is an experience not to be missed, and I’ve been in those crazy Asian fireworks festivals where they shoot fireworks at you. No one at walked away from the shore of Lake Ontario without beaming about the experience. From the spot I and a small group of people were at (someone complained that 20 years ago they were the only ones there), the explosions were just incredible. The thuds of each missile – oh, they’re missiles at that proximity – would actually knock me in the chest. I’d watch the flaming embers of some of the more intricate rockets fall to the shore and explode into balls of fire as they hit the rocks a mere 30 meters (about 100 feet) away. WOW!

By the way, if you’ve got problems with explosions, do not come. Oh my God, though, if you like this kinda stuff you hafta go next year! But I’m not giving away the location, you’ll have to R.S.V.P. me or something. (I like my cards scented.)

After each volley, when my hearing would return, I’d hear the crowd on the beach raised in a unison cheer – something I don’t remember last year. That told me they approved as I did.

And, I think, the fireworks probably had a lot to do with it. There was a lot of play with symmetry, sometimes creating the effect of 3D objects being cast into space.

Sometimes it felt a bit like a stage production. The timing on these things must’ve been amazing.

There were also other times where it became a bit of a free-for-all. They usually have these shows choreographed to music so that must be where the solo kicks in or something. My seating spot was no place for music though.

There were a couple of times when I almost burst out laughing. The guy behind me, startled by how close some of the explosions seemed,  repeated with increasing intensity, “no, no, NO, OH NO, NO NO NO!” When I spun my head around, he was in a state of readiness, prepared to leave his date, his coat, everything that wasn’t necessary, presumably for a dash to safety.

Okay, so I guess it’s not for the faint of heart. But seriously, if you want a true fireworks experience, you have to be prepared to actually get it! Ha!

So on top of this one overwhelming aspect of the fireworks at Ashbridge’s Bay, the overall length and variety of the presentation were also both much broader. Just a hands-down winner in the fireworks department as far as I’m concerned. There’s plenty of room to plunk your ass on the beach where people are putting on their own displays. I was a little shocked at how many people were on the boardwalk afterward, and that I had decided to trudge my bike through there. I guess it’s become quite a festival. But for good reason.

No, seriously. When was the last time I was this enthused about something? It’s a serious show. Feel free to flip through some of the archives of this blog to see some of the events I’ve attended. And this one blew my socks off. Almost literally.

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But I don’t wanna get down on old Vickie. For a dusty old monarch she and her kids have barely flexed their muscles in Canada, and if it wasn’t for her we’d all be at work today. Plus the old gal was kind enough to lend her name to the standard Canadian unit of beer, the two-fer (as in, “Happy May two-fer weekend!”), which also goes swimmingly with this time of year.

So thanks for the day off, Vics! We’ll be doing it up for you proper today, not like those crappy fireworks at Ontario Place last night (above).

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I then typically follow up by popping open a browser (this is usually at work), hitting TCL, and showing them last year’s thing. “Wow, you’d never catch me out there freezing my ass off”, is typically the next statement. “Well, you keep warm by virtue of shared body heat. That’s what makes the evening so magical; improper touching”, I try to sell it. But that’s usually not enough. After revelations that there’s no booze and that the place is swarming with kids, the conversation just peters off into other subjects, “So … Toronto City Life … what is that, a government website?” “Yup.” “Not very interesting.” “Yeah.” ”Have lunch yet?” “Nope.”

People are too jaded. Perhaps because they’re hungry. The Cavalcade of Lights, with this year’s record lack of snow, didn’t really classify as a winter event, so all that hoopla about buttocks falling of in the cold were for naught. The kids were there, but you couldn’t hear them over the din of the show and any ones caught underfoot were pretty much fair game so that problem wasn’t overly daunting. I managed to get up to the front of the crowd with barely any resistance:

The alcohol prohibition thing is also a bit of a moot point. I was not once searched even though I carried a bag big enough to conceal a small keg. A mickey stolen away in a coat pocket would most certainly have gone unnoticed, or you could do as any self-respecting adult would and simply go already lubricated. Essentially, sobriety is for children, the infirm, and stupid people.

But I don’t want to get hung up on methods of smuggling drinks in because with the kind of cover you get in both the scenery and the crowd, you can pretty much set up a temporary shelter where you and your junkie friends can shoot up in complete privacy. Drinking? Please, the cops have bigger things to worry about. Like heroin addicts. Or those guys that sell all that light-up crap that the kids use once before it explodes toxically in the car on the way home. Domestic-quality Chinese products are always hit-and-miss:

The best way to avoid these shuckers of mens’ wallets is to simply avoid them. Look for the guys with the craziest head gear — dead giveaway — and beeline it in the other direction. If you have children with you, a) Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha! Hehe! Hahaha! *wipe tear* Oh man. Why would you do something like that? and b) Avert their gaze from crazy hat guy. If nothing else, at least save yourself some cash.

I managed to avoid most of the vendors by pushing my through the thickest part of the crowd, mostly elderly and children — easy!

I don’t know what it is with Citytv but every year they choose the dorkiest personalities they have to introduce the acts. Seriously, the weather guy?

Don’t get me wrong, I’ve got nothing against Michael Kuss; nothing for him either. He is adequate in his role to deliver the weather report in a timely manner. That is all.

For something exceptional, we need only look beyond Michael’s adequate head to see City Hall looming expectantly, waiting to be lit up like some kind of incendiary device:

To me, this is the real reason to go; a grand fireworks display that goes off way too close to City Hall. I know that immaculate planning goes into this thing, but who can predict that one unexpected gust of wind, or that one errant firework that’s just a little too far off course? Now you’ve got the holiday display of the season!

There were no showers of jagged glass or flaming audience members so, sadly, the errant firework didn’t happen this year. But the explosions packed a good wallop and this scared the kids, so it was satisfactory. Also, the Christmas tree at City Hall was unveiled during the show and this is more the official tree of Toronto I was thinking of. It’s a massive beast of a white spruce, about 18 meters (60 feet) tall and laden with an indecent amount of decoration. Hard to miss. Unfortunately, it makes for a difficult photo but while I work at it you can get a sense of the tree in the background here:

Even though the celebration’s over, the skating rink remains open until spring so there’s plenty of opportunity to watch people hurt themselves. Say what you will about City Hall, it can occasionally be very entertaining. Even in the cold.

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“Albert! What on earth are you doing?”

“Birthday nosh, what?”

“Oh….Albert! Mmmmm….yes…right there…”

“That attachment…uhn…we had installed…unh…is proving…unh…quite effect…URK!”

“Heavens!”

“…”

“Oh, Albert. This is why you’ll never be king.”

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