A Night of Fireworks by the Sea

An unforgettable summer night of light, sound, and sea breeze during the local festival.

Last night, I joined thousands of others for what turned out to be one of the most memorable evenings of the summer—a fireworks show on the beach, part of the local festival. The weather was on our side: the night was warm, the moon hung brightly over the water, and the sea was calm, with just the slightest breeze sweeping in to keep things comfortable.

There’s something magical about sharing that kind of moment with a crowd. People of all ages had gathered, filling the sand with towels, folding chairs, snacks, and conversations in every language imaginable. There were children on shoulders, couples leaning into each other, and friends cracking open cans of beer, waiting in anticipation. And then, the lights went out.

What followed was an 18-minute spectacle—yes, a full eighteen minutes, which for a fireworks show is impressively long. But it never dragged. It built slowly, colourfully, with bursts of red and blue and silver unfolding high above the Mediterranean, reflected in the still water below. At times, the booms echoed off the buildings behind us, rolling through the crowd like thunder.

You could hear the gasps and the applause as each sequence seemed to outdo the last. Spirals, hearts, cascading gold—some sequences felt like a painter throwing colours across the sky. The show ended, as these things tend to do, with a crescendo of noise and glitter so dazzling it felt like the sky might crack open.

When it was over, there was a moment of silence. Then cheers. People stood up, brushing sand from their legs, smiling at strangers. For a few moments, we were all just part of one big celebration, warmed by the summer night and the joy of shared experience.

I walked home slowly, barefoot, with the echo of fireworks still ringing in my ears and that salt-tinged breeze on my skin. There’s something timeless about a good fireworks show by the sea—something that makes you feel lucky just to be there. And last night? That feeling was stronger than ever.