PHILADELPHIA, December 17, 1999 -- As part of its free 24-hour celebration, Philadelphia will light the sky three times with fireworks. Beginning on December 31 at 7 p.m., E.S.T. (and repeated at 2 a.m. on January 1), a recreation of a turn-of-the-century fireworks display – called "Luminaire In the Square" – will ring in the New Year in Rittenhouse Square. At midnight, the Millennium Philadelphia Fireworks Extravaganza will span two cities (Philadelphia and Camden) and a 2,700-ft. (a half-mile) stretch of the Delaware River with rare bursts of neon and pastel colors and four- to 12-inch shells climbing 1,000 feet in the air.

Both the historic shows will be choreographed and designed by world-renowned expert Eric Tucker of Performance Pyrotechnic Associates. Mr. Tucker is famous for his productions at Epcot Center and around the world.

Top ten reasons why Millennium Philadelphia’s fireworks are not to be missed.

1. Pyrotechnic choreographer Eric Tucker calls this show, "joyous, tribal, cute at times, and the most expressive show" he’s ever produced.
2. The 7 p.m. Rittenhouse Square Luminaire in the Square is likely to be the first evening, orchestrated New Year’s fireworks display in the country. (Lubec, Maine, will be the first fireworks display, at dawn on the 31^st.)
3. "Luminaire in the Square" will transport you to the turn of the century, with the special lighting effects in the trees and free warming pavilion serving hot chocolate, champagne…and New Year’s Eve noisemakers!
4. The garden style fireworks, favorites of the courtesans at 16^th century Versailles, will dance to a Ragtime soundtrack.
5. Called mimes, comets and gerbs, the elements of the Square’s 18^th and 19^th century fireworks "burst" as low as eight feet high and as high as 60 feet (without danger).
6. The midnight Fireworks Extravaganza at Penn’s Landing on the Delaware River will begin with a 90-second special effect that has never been seen before.
7. It will span two cities, a 2,700-ft. (a half-mile!) stretch of river and the Benjamin Franklin Bridge and will include rare neon and pastel colors.
8. British composer Gavin Greenaway’s music will provide the soundtrack for the Fireworks Extravaganza.
9. Shells for the Fireworks Extravaganza, specially made in China, Italy, Japan and the U.S., range from four inches to 12 inches in length. The 12- inch shells burst 1,000 ft. into the air and 1,000 ft. across.
10. The shells will be shot off two sets of barges (six total), each 650-ft. long, more than double the launching space of a non-Millennium fireworks show.