Tivoli’s Saturday Fireworks Sees Red!

This year, Tivoli’s Saturday Fireworks pay tribute to one of the most iconic Danish films of all time: The Olsen Gang Sees Red, which celebrates its 50th anniversary. 

The Olsen Gang is a nationally beloved comedy film series, about the fictional gang, with tree members – the leader Egon Olsen, Benny and Kjeld. During 14 movies they keep on planning spectacular heists, to make them millionaires. Every heist involves a handful of everyday equipment – but they never end successful and Egon always goes to jail. Until next movie, where Benny and Kjeld picks Egon up at the jail, where he always has a new plan prepared. 

The Olsen gang was such a success that several countries created their own versions – in Norwegian Olsenbanden, Germany Die Olsenbande, Swedish Jönssonligan, French La Bande á Olsen. 

The Olsen Gang Sees Red became an instant hit with the Danish audiences, and especially the legendary scene in which Egon, Benny, and Kjeld break into the Royal Danish Theatre to the overture from Elverhøj by Friedrich Kuhlau has firmly secured its place in Danish film history.
Now, this legendary moment comes to life once again – in the sky above Tivoli.

A firework show full of magic, pace, and new effects
This year’s show combines everything guests love about Tivoli’s Saturday Fireworks – Tivoli’s pyrotechnician Gunnar explains:
“You can expect a show filled with action and a high tempo combined with beautiful and quiet moments. And since it’s The Olsen Gang Sees Red, you can probably expect a red segment as well. We’ve acquired new product types and the design is brand new, featuring elements never before seen in Tivoli.”

A loving and creative tribute from Tivoli to a Danish film icon
This year’s theme has been a gift to the fireworks team, Gunnar says:
“It has been incredibly inspiring – and also an honor – to create our pyro-version of the magic when the gang blows their way through the Royal Danish Theatre. At the same time, the music is practically made for fireworks. Tivoli’s guests can look forward to a spectacular show.”

Tivoli’s Culture Director, Frederik Wiedemann, says:
“The Olsen Gang belongs to the people across generations, just like Tivoli, so we’re excited to celebrate one of the most popular Danish films ever with a grand and festive anniversary fireworks show set to sound clips and music from the film.”

The fireworks can be enjoyed from the area around the Open Air Stage, in front of the Glass Hall Theatre, and near Nimb. Certain areas around the Concert Hall may be closed off depending on weather and wind conditions.

The history of fireworks in Tivoli
Fireworks have been part of Tivoli’s DNA since the very beginning. The garden’s founder, Georg Carstensen, used “Bengal flames” as a major attraction even before Tivoli’s first season in 1843. At that time, a fireworks factory was located by the city moat, and the actual ignition took place on a platform outside the Gardens.
It had to be launched from there: fireworks couldn’t be transported over long distances, and they couldn’t be fired among the audience because the chemicals used at the time were not safe enough.
Fireworks were part of special festive evenings, when the Gardens were also illuminated by the so‑called brilliant illumination. Buildings, trees, and flower beds were decorated with small glass containers filled with oil and a floating wick – each lamp lit manually. The festive evenings always culminated in a large fireworks display.
Tivoli’s first permanent pyrotechnician was the Italian Gaëtano Amici, whom Carstensen invited to Copenhagen to give guests a spectacular sight in the sky.

Fireworks may be canceled in cases of poor visibility or extreme weather.