If you’re an average American born any time after, say, 1776, then you’ve inevitably been asked to take part in an age-old conflict that’s been brewing since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Which is better: parades or fireworks? Of course, the choice is clear to all but the most addlepated. Face it, a line of big, dumb balloons cannot hold a candle to some well-choreographed explosions. If you’re one of the people who swear by the majesty of a string of trucks covered in papier-mâché, then you haven’t seen some of the world’s most wonderful fireworks displays. You might have to search outside the United States, but the creativity used in today’s fireworks events far surpasses anything you can plod by your TV screen during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade. Which one is better? Fireworks. Obviously. Still don’t believe us? Check out the effort and capital poured into some of these chart-topping fireworks shows.
1. Dubai’s New Year Celebration
The biggest fireworks spectacle in the history of humankind goes to Dubai. In 2014, the country grabbed a Guinness World Record for the sheer size of their fireworks display which cost around $6 million and lasted for six full minutes. Surprisingly, the spectacular show still got outdone on a few metrics.
