With a baby and high temps, we didn't plan on catching it this year. Ended up getting home from my parent's' house in time to see the finale from the front yard. You could see them from 270 before the canal bridge and there were people parked along Rt 3 stopping to take a look.
My only complaint has nothing to do with the show itself. I appreciate not wanting to be up close and personal for the show as far as noise, crowds, and traffic. But if you are going to park on a road to watch fireworks (ESPECIALLY a main road like Rt 3 or a dangerous road like Century Dr) keep your kids in the car and pull all the way onto the shoulder!
With that said, what I saw/heard was awesome. Hope the city made a bundle of money on the carnival.