What began in the 1950s as a thoughtful way for two countries to celebrate their longstanding friendships has become Metro Detroit's most grandiose celebration of the summer. Now in its 49th year, the celebration is best known for its huge -- we're talkin' huge -- fireworks display. In fact, it's the largest fireworks show in North America. But festival organizers in both Detroit and Windsor also have more than 100 events cooked up for festivalgoers, including carnival rides, live music, food sampling and a tug-of-war across the Detroit River. If you enjoy hanging with more than 1 million others and like the idea of viewing more than 250,000 pounds of fireworks exploding in the sky, this is your one chance of the year to get your fix.