There is something special about standing on Broadway on New Year's Eve to watch the pyrotechnics display during Orangeville's First Night celebrations. The sky is full of colour and sound, reflecting the spirit to be found on the street as everyone enjoys the festivities. This year, there will be one pyrotechnics show at 9:30 p.m.

Ward Productions of Mississauga will, for the third year, deliver a spectacular pyrotechnics show in the vicinity of the Orangeville Town Hall. Ward Productions has received national recognition for their displays and has done work for the Grey Cup, Argos, Blue Jays, Disney on Ice, Rolling Stones, Deep Purple, and the Indian Festival at the Rogers Centre. The company toured with Nickelback on the North American tour in 2007.

"The appeal of fireworks is universal," says Jim Ward. "People enjoy celebrating and like doing it with fireworks. We try to make the show bigger and better every year. Fireworks create a lot of excitement and people like the 'ooh' and 'aah' factor."

Mr. Ward has competed internationally and he taught the federal fireworks supervisor course for six years. Last month he taught a course at the Toronto Fire Academy.

The effects to be used in the Orangeville show are varied in colour and size. "Each show is designed for the environment we are shooting in and we make sure the show Orangeville gets is as nice as can be for the budget provided."

Mr. Ward says the pyrotechnics show at Orangeville's First Night celebration will be "fantastic". That's because he is passionate about pyrotechnics - and his parents live in Orangeville and will be at the show.

Orangeville's fourth annual First Night celebration will feature an outdoor stage (Campfire Poets, Tres Hombres, Erich Rock, and T.J. Whitelaw), an indoor stage in the Orangeville Opera House, street performers (Elias on Fire, Al the Pal, and Frank Santangelo), food vendors, and horse-drawn wagon rides. The First Night celebration will run from 6 to 10 p.m. at Broadway and Second Street. Leading up to the celebration, the Town of Orangeville will offer free skating on both ice pads at the Tony Rose Memorial Sports Centre from 4:30-6 p.m.