Honda Celebration of Lights
Grace, Jandy and I were lucky that our one-and-a half month long visit coincided with the 30th edition of the Honda Celebration of Light (formerly known as Benson & Hedges Symphony of Fire and The HSBC Celebration of Light), an annual international musical fireworks competition and one of Vancouver’s largest and most well-known festivals. Recognized as the largest and longest running off-shore fireworks competitions in the world, this multiple-day event has an estimated annual attendance of 1.4 million people.
People making their way, on foot, to Alexandra Park, English Bay Beach
The first “Symphony of Fire” was held from July 25 to August 5, 1990 with some the world’s best fireworks pyro technicians, from 3 counties, competing over 3 nights to present the best show. The event was last held in 2019 as in 2020, the competition was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in British Columbia.
Kyle, Bryan and Grace joining the crowd
This year’s much anticipated festival that embodies summer was held on July 23 (Saturday), with Japan’s Akariya Fireworks participating; on July 27 (Wednesday), with Canada’s award-winning Midnight Sun Fireworks participating; and July 30 (Saturday), with Spain’s Pirotecnia Zaragozana participating.
Mounted police patrolling at the corner of Beach Avenue and Denman Street
We attended the last mentioned. Prior to the fireworks show, the Red Bull Air Show did a spectacular pre-show performance (happening on all three festival nights), with formation flyovers performed from the iconic Canadian Snowbird team, presented by Concord Pacific, at English Bay.
Alexandra Park slowing filling up with people
Joined by our grandson Kyle, we were to be met by my son-in law Bryan who booked an Uber to bring us to Alexandra Park. We never got near there as road closures were already in effect from 7 PM in the West End, including Davie, Denman and Beach Avenue. Access roads into Kits Point were also closed from 6 PM.
The gazebo at Alexandra Park
Roads will only re-open once the crowds have dispersed and police have given their all clear at approximately 11 PM. Instead, we were dropped off at Bidwell Street and walked over to a MacDonalds along Robson Street where we met with Bryan.
English Bay Beach already filled up
Together, the five of us joined others, on bikes, scooters or on foot, who were headed towards the festival site. It was as if the entire city was moving in the same direction, with all roads lead to the English Bay. Policemen, on horseback, were patrolling the streets, scanning the crowd and seemingly looking for people with alcohol, making us feel very safe. As we got closer to the beach, we realized the magnitude of this event.
Upon reaching Alexandra Park, we chose a nice grassy spot unobstructed by trees, near the corner of Burnaby Street and Beach Avenue. We came prepared as we brought along three portable folding seats, a beach mat, snacks and water. The park was already slowly filling up. There’s much more happening here than just fireworks as a whole family fun type of party atmosphere was happening, with and food carts, food vendors and concession stands were doing brisk business.
The Concord Lounge at English Bay
People and sunset watching was part of the fun too. As it was early, we strolled along the English Bay Beach already seemingly packed with hundreds of thousands of people, many in swimming attire. Never before had I seen so many people coming together.
Dinner with a view at Concord Lounge
The reserved seating of the Grandstand, the most popular of the festival’s ticketed venues for visitors, families or groups, offering elevated and direct sightlines to the fireworks barges, was also filled up. Other reserved seating venues were the Concord Lounge at the Inukshuk Peninsula, overlooking English Bay, and the Scotiabank Lounge on the bathhouse roof in English Bay.
The Grandstand along English Bay
The pyro-musical performance can also be seen and heard from vantage points throughout Metro Vancouver such as Vanier Park at the edge of English Bay, Kitsilano Beach, the pedestrian sidewall at Burrard Bridge (standing room only), Dundarave Pier at the West end of West Vancouver seawall, Kits Point, Sunset Beach, Stanley Park and at sailboats and yachts on English Bay.
English Bay packed with yachts, speedboats and kayaks
Promptly, at 9 PM, the carefully designed and planned synchronized fireworks were launched from barges located in English Bay, regaling the crowd with a spectacular, 25-minute fireworks display, over the water, set to accompanying music so the colored lights seem like they’re dancing to the rhythm.
Sunset over English Bay
It was a spectacular show by the Spanish team, with brilliant firework shapes and colors we had never seen before. The mind blowing finale was one of the most incredible we have ever seen. I can’t even imagine how much it cost so set up such a show.
Jandy and the author all set to watch the fireworks show at Alexandra Park
After the wonderful and free show, we packed up our chairs and joined the crowd making their way back home. The frustration at trying to leave English Bay or the downtown core after the show was the only drawback.
We booked an Uber but had to walk a number of blocks to be picked up. Still, this attraction was well worth our time and the best part is that’s its absolutely FREE. The fireworks were excellent, the crowd was huge but well behaved, the overall atmosphere was friendly and cool and it was a fun event well worth going to when visiting Vancouver. It certainly helped that the weather was fine and warm.
The three teams representing their country and setting their colorful expressions to music were judged on the Sizing of the Show, Overall Design and Artistry, Synchronization, Originality of Effects, Quality of Soundtrack and Quality of Fireworks.
The winning team, announced on Tuesday, August 2, was the Canadian Team which delivered the show-stopping performance with a breathtaking display that pushed creative boundaries, according to a press release. It was a pleasant and memorable evening that made Vancouver look absolutely stunning. Over the course of the festival’s three nights, there were approximately 1.3 million attendees.
Honda Celebration of Light: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Website: www.hondacelebrationoflight.com.