City of Perth Skyworks

City of Perth Skyworks
2006 Skyworks from the Applecross foreshore
Genre	Fireworks display
Frequency	Annual
Location(s)	Perth Water
Years active	32
Inaugurated	26 January 1985
Most recent	26 January 2016 (2017 was cancelled due to an accident prior to the event)
Website
www.visitperthcity.com/skyworks

The City of Perth Skyworks (previously named for other sponsors) is a fireworks show in Perth, Western Australia. It is held each year on Australia Day (26 January) over Perth Water, the section of the Swan River adjacent to the central business district.

The Skyworks show usually runs for half an hour and involves fireworks launched from multiple barges in the middle of Perth water and for many years up until 2012, included launches from various building rooftops in Perth CBD. Earlier Skyworks shows have also occasionally seen firing points include fireworks off the narrows bridge (around 2001 & 2002), off moving boats (late 1990s/early 2000s), off jet skis (2012) & fireworks suspended from helicopters (1999, maybe also previous shows), and buildings in the CBD. The fireworks are choreographed to a soundtrack which is played on the events main sponsoring radio station while the fireworks are underway, with a different theme given to the soundtrack every year. Many people travel into the inner-city to watch the event, with the main vantage points including Langley Park, South Perth Foreshore, Sir James Mitchell Park & Kings Park (Perth Esplanade also having been the former major vantage point until 2012/13 when it got shifted to Langley Park to allow the commencement of the Elizabeth Quay development). Others are also found watching from the tops of hills and bridges & suburban streets/neighbourhoods that give views to the city.

The Skyworks started in 1985 in conjunction with 96FM and firework company Syd Howard Fireworks International, and is now one of the most popular events in Perth. Some people camp out from early morning to get the best view. Good viewing points are South Perth, Kings Park, and the Perth foreshore, while the flat nature of the Swan Coastal Plain allows viewing from elevated suburban locations further away. A delayed telecast has been broadcast by Channel Seven since approximately 1996 and usually takes place a few hours after the event finishes with a simulcast on the radio. Another telecast replay usually takes place on the following weekend. Many fireworks companies have taken charge in supplying the fireworks, Pyrostar International held supplied many sky shows during the 1990s/early 2000's, 2005 and 2006 saw Foti Fireworks in charge of the fireworks. 2007 to 2009 saw Howard and Sons responsible for the fireworks and Oracle Attractions were responsible for the lasershow. In 2010 Foti Fireworks again took charge of the fireworks and every year from then until 2015, in which Skyworks 2016 again saw the return of Howard and Sons. The City of Perth Skyworks event is Australia's largest fireworks celebration in the country on Australia Day.