THUNDER BAY - The highly anticipated Karnival on the Kam kicked off on Thursday and only a few hours in people were already thrilled and amazed by some of the high flying stunts and shows.
The four-day event at Fort William Historical Park started at noon on Thursday and soon two stages were delighting crowds with acrobats and musicians.
“The first day is going really well,” said Emily Carr, communications officer with Fort William Historical Park. “The weather is nice and sunny and everyone is out having a great time. Everyone is really excited.”
But one of the biggest highlights was the Water Sports Thrill Show on the Kaministiquia River. Freestyle jet skiers, flyboards, and water skiers entertained the crowd with jumps and stunts.
“It’s fun it is to watch all these guys do the tricks,” said 10-year-old Reese Matheny. “Sometimes it looks scary. I want to see more tricks and to have more fun.”
Other shows and demonstrations included a big top circus, a timber sports show, and even flyboard rides to anyone brave enough to strap two water jets to their feet.
And of course, the Karnival on the Kam also promises the biggest fireworks display Canada has ever seen, and project manager with Royal Pyrotechnic, Alain Bouthillier, knows for certain that Canada has never seen anything bigger.
“We shot the Canada Day show in Ottawa,” he said. “We know this one is a little bit bigger. So it’s easy for us to say we know this is the largest show ever shot in Canada.”
The fireworks display will be more than just colourful explosions in the sky. The 25-minute display will tell the story of Fort William Historical Park, from the beginnings of the land, to the Indigenous people of the area, the fur trade, and preserving the past.
“What we are doing is a painting in the sky of emotions in the story of the Fort,” Bouthillier said. “It’s going to be very emotional in a way. There are sections that are very dramatic, other sections are very fast speed, a lot of movement, the music is upbeat, and in other areas you will feel the emotion of sadness or sorrow.”
In order to make this show a reality, 15 crew members have been working for more than a week to set up 12,000 pounds of explosives that will shoot more than 1,200 feet into the air.
For Bouthillier, there is a sense of pride for him and his team making history while telling a story of the past.
“To me, it is great. People from Thunder Bay are lucky,” he said. “This is going to be the largest fireworks in Canada and has never been seen before. The sky will be painted in colour for a while.”
But Bouthillier warns that in order to get the full experience, you have to be there, because seeing will be believing.
“You have to come here to see the show,” he said. “If you think staying on the road will do it, sorry guys. To get the full effect, you have to be at the park.”
For a full schedule of events, visit the Karnival on the Kam website.
