The Fire Festival was started in Heisei 8 (1996) as a festival commemorating the 90 year anniversary of the founding of Toyohashi City, with the goal of revitalizing the region by using tezutsu fireworks, which are part of the traditional and inherited culture of the region, as important tourist attractions. Since then, the festival has been completely fixed as a major event of Higashi Mikawa and as a festival that hints at the beginning of spring in Toyohashi. The number of spectators to come from all over Japan to see the event increases every time it is held. From the afternoon events until the “Fire Dance” performed at night, various events that are thoroughly enjoyed by the spectators are held. In particular, the simultaneous launching of about 20 hand-held fireworks during the “Fire Dance” held at night, is a launching method characteristic of this festival. While showering the area in dynamically spewing pillars of fire into the early spring night sky and pouring sparks, the spectators are overwhelmed by a thrilling spectacle of these fireworks being launched. You can experience the spirit of the parishioners of each shrine inside the city that have inherited this 450-year old tradition, as the birthplace of hand-held fireworks. Also,parade of a portable shrine upon which Roman candle fireworks are placed, rope fire, which is a firework performance in which fireworks are launched into the air above ropes that are stretched out in the middle of the air, and other fireworks representative of the region.