Vancouver Celebration of Light is one of the city’s signature events and among the best firework shows you can experience anywhere in the world. Celebration of Light 2017 will undoubtedly be extra special this year because Canada is celebrating its 150th birthday. So, what is the event all about and what to expect from it this year?
The history of the event
The first time the fireworks competition was held in Vancouver was in 1990. At the start, the competition was known as ‘Symphony of Fire’. Its early sponsor used to be the tobacco company, Benson & Hedges. However, when Canada introduced tougher tobacco regulations in 2000, the sponsorship changed.
Currently, the event is officially known as the Honda Celebration of Light, with Honda obviously being the primary sponsor of this pyro musical event. Each year the event will host a number of international teams, all of which have to create a 25-minute fireworks display combining pyrotechnical elements with music. The entrants are then judged and the winner is chosen.
The Vancouver Celebration of Light is often recognised as the longest running off-shore firework competition in the world. Last year, 1.2 million people witnessed the three-night event at the English Bay. The winner was team USA, represented by the Walt Disney Company. You can relive their winning performance right here:
Vancouver Celebration of Light 2017 schedule
Vancouver Celebration of Light 2017 will take place between July 29 and August 5. There will be three teams performing on the following nights:
- July 29 – Team Japan represented by AKARIYA Fireworks
- August 2 – Team Great Britain represented by Jubilee Fireworks
- August 5 – Team Canada represented by Royal Pyrotechnie
The show begins each night at 10 pm, rain or shine. You can tune into the accompanying music at LG 104.3 FM, as well as the official festival app. The app is available online. The winning team will be announced at a ceremony on August 8.
Since Canada is celebrating its 150th year since independence, all the performances have a little Canadian twist. The public has been able to vote on which famous Canadian song will feature in each performance, which should be an interesting addition to the pyro musicals. The three winning songs chosen by the public are:
- The Tragically Hip’s Ahead by Century
- Bryan Adams’ Summer of 69
- Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah
Find out more about the festival
If you want to find out more about the Vancouver Festival of Light 2017, you can do so on the official website and the official Facebook page. Tourism Vancouver also has tips on planning your stay in the city and you can book tickets to secure a front row seat in the multiple ticketed areas of the event online
Celebrating with fireworks
If you can’t make it to Canada this summer, you can still experience the joys of Vancouver Celebration of Light 2017. YouTube will feature the fireworks displays afterwards and you can shop for fireworks here at Fireworks Crazy. If you can’t go to Canada, you can always make Canada come to you. So, shop for some fireworks, cook pancakes with proper Canadian maple syrup and have a garden party with the family!
