Don Sharp, operations director for Friends of the Festival, has some bad news and some good news: Although the Market Street Bridge reopened last August, the sparkling waterfall cascade from the edge of the bridge onto the Tennessee River won’t be returning tonight in tonight’s fireworks finale. The silver waterfall was a crowd favorite for many years before the bridge closed for renovation.

The good news is that Pyro Shows has a surprise in store for fireworks fans tonight that Mr. Sharp believes is just as exciting and is top secret.

“All I can say is we’re doing something we’ve never done before and you’ve got to see it,” said Sallie Beckes, marketing director of Friends of the Festival. “Every year we amaze the audience.”

What Mr. Sharp could reveal is that tonight’s Riverbend Festival will go out with a big bang: 8,763 shells will be shot during the 20-minute fireworks finale. By comparison, the 2006 fireworks display included 7,365 shells.

Sparklers, streamers, screamers and submersibles will be part of the glittering show. Pattern shells such as hearts, stars and chrysanthemums will also be synchronized to music of the festival’s headline performers.

The show will be launched from Renaissance Park. Portions of the park will be closed to visitors today for security purposes, Ms. Beckes said.

Mr. Sharp said the decision not to reinstate the fireworks waterfall was made for a combination of reasons. First, public convenience; formerly the Market Street Bridge and portions of the Walnut Street bridge had to be closed for the fireworks display. Second, Renaissance Park is directly across from the Riverbend site, which makes it easier for people to see the pyrotechnic display both at the festival site and locations along the North Shore.

“We don’t have to close bridges, roads or part of the walking bridge. It’s just better for our community to be able to access downtown and access Riverbend to see the fireworks,” said Ms. Beckes of the Renaissance Park launching pad.

Riverbend’s finale is one of more than 300 fireworks shows that Pyro Shows of LaFollette, Tenn., produces each year, according to its Web site. Among Pyro Show’s credits are fireworks displays for the Super Bowl and the Washington, D.C., Fourth of July celebration.

If you’re looking for front-row seats away from the crowds packing Ross’s Landing, the Chattanooga Theatre Centre is hosting a fireworks-viewing cookout on the North Shore. The fun starts at 6 p.m. at the center.

Tickets are $40 per couple, which entitles guests to a picnic dinner, entertainment, access to the theater lobby’s air-conditioned comfort, clean and convenient restrooms, and free parking in the adjoining Theatre Centre lot. All you need to bring is a lawn chair for seating.

Call the CTC box office at 267-8534 for tickets.