Anchorage Daily News

A colossal display of fireworks is in store at Saturday's Houston Founders Day celebration.

The city, home to the only legal fireworks stands in Southcentral Alaska, is known for its annual celebration. But Robert Hall, Gorilla Fireworks owner and city-appointed coordinator of the 2008 event, said the cracks and pops this year will be beyond the pale. Firelinks is testing out a new, computerized display that allows the charges to be set to music.

Hall said three songs, including the Alaska flag song, would be played as the fireworks are set off by remote.

"It's kind of a big step up for us," Hall said. The fireworks start at 10:45 p.m. Saturday. At 10 p.m., Hall said, a new event for Founders Day will kick off.

"We're going to launch 1,000 Chinese fire lanterns," Hall said. The lanterns, about three feet by 2.5 feet, float on air warmed by candles. The lantern festivals are popular in China and Taiwan, he said, and have only recently become popular in the West.

The Founders Day celebration is an annual event held by the city of Houston with funding from sponsors. Hall said the Alaskans Against the Mining Shutdown political coalition is a major sponsor of this year's event, but the celebration isn't taking on political overtones.

"We're not politicizing the event, but we're accepting their donation and recognizing them," Hall said.

Founders Day kicks off with the Little Su Float Classic, a roughly four-mile canoe race that begins at 4 p.m.

A parade begins at 6:30 p.m., followed by a barbecue, prize drawings and other events.

A craft fair with several vendors will take place throughout the day. For more information, log on to www.littlesufloatclassic.info.

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