Ford Fireworks To Feature 10K Shells During Show Billed As 'Best Detroit Has Ever Seen' (VIDEO)

By Edward Cardenas

DETROIT (CBS Detroit) - The Ford Fireworks will feature nearly 10,000 shells that will be shot high into the sky over Detroit River tonight during a 24-minute show that has been in the works by The Parade Company for nearly a year.

This is the 57th year of the fireworks which brings hundreds of the thousands of people on both sides of the Detroit River in the United States and Canada.

"It is going to be the best show Detroit has ever seen, probably in the top five in the nation," said Tony Michaels, President and CEO of The Parade Company

The theme of this year's fireworks show is "Colors of Love," and will feature bi-chromatic fireworks in the show and a strong use of noise and salute shells, which includes dragon eggs, whistles and screamers, according to organizers.

Patrick Brault, who has designed a number of pyrotechnic displays including the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, choreographed the show this year in Detroit.

He said the 4,156 firings of the specially-designed shells are controlled by a computer firing system which sends a time code by radio frequency from shore to the three barges in the Detroit River.

The shells are choreographed to music and for broadcast on television.

"Fireworks is a craft of manufacturing. It is an art of designing, and it is a technical feat to set up," said Brault, who considers the explosive charge, hardness of shell and and size of pellets which help determine the pattern of the fireworks when designing the show.

The show begins at 9:06 p.m. and CBS Detroit has a full guide to the fireworks show.

Jim Vella, President of Ford Motor Company Fund, said the Ford Fireworks brings the community together.

"It doesn't really matter where you live in Detroit, whether you are in the city or the suburbs," Vella said. "Everybody is a Detroiter tonight."

This report was updated at 2:20 p.m. Monday.