090326 ~ Traverse City Fireworks Championship! - Nick Nerbonne

0:00Our pure Michigan moment today, an old friend of ours makes his return on the segment. You may have been wondering where Nick Nurban has been. Well, he took a new job in Traverse City, but he's still close with the pure Michigan folks. And today we're going to take you up to TC for the international fireworks championship. Hey, Nick, it's so nice to have you back on 1290 WLVY. Well, good to be back with you, Lucy Anna. I hope you've really enjoyed the summer. I hope your two pups have had a ton of fun getting out and enjoying our beautiful state. Oh, we sure have. Nick Nurban is now communications director for Traverse City tourism. Why do you make that move from the pure Michigan campaign? Well, obviously it was a true honor and privilege to be able to talk about the state of Michigan and help showcase all the wonderful things we have around the state. From my favorite puny garden there and over the R all the way up to the tip of the key when I was truly a privilege and an honor and wonderful team I worked with there in in Lansing with the office of the

1:03MEDC and pure Michigan. But I spent 20 years in Traverse City. My parents grew up there and my family is still there. It's a it's a special place for our family and for me personally. So the opportunity to return to Traverse City was something that I kind of I figured at some point I may do. So it's just a perfect time to do it and I'm very thrilled and I'm thrilled and so is Bobby to be back up in northern Michigan. Oh, that's beautiful. Well, coming up September 11th and 12th in Traverse City, the International Fireworks Championship. This is going to be an epic summer finale. Tell us all about it. Well, that's the thing is this is you've never seen a firework show like this. You know, this is two days on six international teams and these teams they come and they bring their A game. These are some of the top Pivore techniques experts in the world and they bring these choreographed firework shows. So there's there's set to music. So you've got all different types of music and genres of music. There might be techno. There might be classic rock and roll. There might be Motown. There might be all different types of music that they choreograph these spectacular firework shows to.

2:07And so each night Friday and Saturday, the 11th and 12th, you see three consecutive firework shows. Then there's a grand finale. So it's four shows each night. It really is amazing to see. And I tell you, in one location, you go to one of these firework shows. You would think this was amazing, but to see them back to back to back right in the same spot is pretty wonderful. So where are these these wonderful technical experts with fireworks coming from? Well, I mean, there's the defending champions are from Poland. They're returning this year to defend their title with the International Fireworks Championship. We have a team from New Zealand coming this year. It's basically about as far as you can travel from New Zealand from the UK. They are coming from across the globe to be in Northern Michigan and Traverse City, but also to showcase their creativity, their talent and just to really be part of this unique celebration. And the audience gets to vote on this as well. I understand team USA won the audience choice. Son night one last year.

3:08Is one of the unique things about this. There's an audience choice each night. And so you've got judges, but you also have the audience. So when you attend this thing, you get to figure out which one you'd like the best. And I remember I went the first year and team Germany won the audience choice over team USA. So like this is a really obviously we have our hometown pride for team USA. But you know, these teams really do bring their A game. It's a ton of fun. I like that they do it to the theme of their country as well. Finland last year had that techno finale and then team India did a Bollywood inspired spectacle. So that's really nice to see to have that international flare and flavor for everyone at this event. How long has this been going on now? This is a bit of fourth year. And so it's something that has grown each year and has grown in its prestige and excitement each year for the teams coming back. You mentioned team India and their Bollywood tribute. This is stuck. You're not going to see this anywhere else. It's really not an opportunity to see something like this.

4:10We have some wonderful fireworks shows across the state. You know, the Ford fireworks down the river. You know, some of the things that before the four of July this year, we had the largest fireworks show in Trevor City's history for America 250 with a drone show and a plane flying through the fireworks with fireworks coming off the plane. It was really an incredible display. But this year at the International Fireworks Championship, it will be truly unique and something different every year. Wow. So where are these being set off from? Where should people go? How can they get involved with this, especially if we're coming up from Ann Arbor on September 11th and 12th? It was all the information on Trevor City dot com. But it's set in the minor league baseball stadium Turtle Creek Stadium, which is just south of downtown Trevor City. And that's where the Trevor City pit spitters are minor league ball club in the Pioneer League plays. And so the pit spitters have a wonderful facility there. It's a beautiful stadium. And this is perfect for an outdoor event like this. So the fireworks are all set out in center field.

5:12And so they're far away from the audience, but it seats 5,000 people. So you've got this big crowd and it's excitement. The energy there too. It's not like you're just sitting on a field watching your local hometown fireworks. You know, this is like you are in a stadium and part of a performance. So really is a fun environment is their cost to this Nick. Well, yeah, there tickets that you need to get tickets for each night and tickets now are available for both night still Saturday night. We think we'll sell out. So if you do want to go both nights, you may want to act quickly. But yeah, there are tickets. They're up to 5,000 tickets for each night. Incredible. The international fireworks championship making its return to Trevor City again coming up September 11th. And you can go to Traverse City dot com. Then you want to click on international fireworks championship. I know safety is really important for an event like this as well. And there are a lot of people that are involved putting this all together right Nick. And that's the thing. There's a big team all the way from the individual teams from around the world.

6:16But then you correct it. We do want to make sure everything is beautiful, fun and safe. And so yeah, the team that works with Turtle Creek Stadium will also be involved with all the parking logistics. It's a big aspect. But it is something that the team of Traverse City tourism and all of our partners have really enjoyed doing over a few years. So can't wait for it. The photos on your website, absolutely stunning. I don't think I've ever seen fireworks look this glorious, just absolutely beautiful. And I see we've got Canada, New Zealand, Poland, Romania, United Kingdom, United States, all partaking in this. This is going to be quite a show and a lot of work goes into it. How is it that Traverse City got this and what's kind of the origins of having it positioned up there? It was just simply an inspiration that Traverse City had the wonderful facilities. It had the people willing to put in the time and effort to coordinate all the teams from international markets. But I think you're right. It is something that has been truly unique in terms of the presentation.

7:18And that's why these teams want to participate. Talk you with Nick Nurbin and he's now doing his work in the travel industry for Traverse City. Let's talk a little bit about your community up there. And what else people can enjoy while they come up for the international fireworks championship. Well, as we know, summer does not end on Labor Day. Summer continues into the month of September. The last few September is even really going back 10 or 15 years. September is kind of the new August. It's beautiful weather. The water's still warm. Still time to get to the beach. I've been swimming. You know, we go over M and I and Bubby go over to Lake Michigan. Intimidulate September all the time. I love doing it. It's a great time of year. It's one of my favorite time of years to visit Traverse City. But when it comes to outdoor adventures, whether it's biking on something like the paved tarc trail or Leland trail, we're going hiking on our trails out in the Slipping Merit Dunes National Lakeshore or Old Mission Peninsula or the Grand Traverse Commons. They've got such a unique area at Grand Traverse Commons, the historic former state mental hospital.

8:19There's a major trail system behind there. Lough of outdoor adventures to do. You can also enjoy the wineries. We have 50 plus wineries in the Grand Traverse region. And our culinary scene and our restaurants, I'm telling you since I've been back up in Traverse City, I have learned how this is really a world class destination now for food and wine. So come on up and enjoy yourself. Get a little bit more summer involved. Oh, I love it. Summer's not over yet. You can really enjoy it. And it's not too far from Ann Arbor, either over on the west side of the state. And Nick Durbin, communications director for Traverse City Tourism in inviting us to the International Fireworks Championship coming up September 11th and 12th in Traverse City. Visit Traverse City dot com. All right. I'm going to let you get back to the lake because we've actually caught up with you on vacation. You are a trooper. Thank you, Nick. Well, I wouldn't miss the opportunity to catch you up with you Lucy. And I hope you have a wonderful holiday weekend. We'll talk again soon. All right. Looking forward to I love the picture you posted on Facebook yesterday. All I saw were your toes, the sand, the water lapping there.

9:23And I was just living vicariously through your post. So thank you. It's time to get out and enjoy our beautiful stay. It is indeed. Thanks Nick. Take care. Good connecting with you again. You're welcome on our show anytime. Such a great friend to the Lucy Ann Land show. Nick Durbin now with Traverse City Tourism. You're listening to Ann Arbor's talk station for more information. You can go online also to Michigan.org for all your travel around the great state of Michigan. This is 1290 WLBY.