Honda Celebration of Light returns to illuminate Vancouver’s skyline

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Fireworks display
July 21 2023 –

Vancouver’s summer season of special events is set to peak as the upcoming Celebration of Light will draw thousands of residents and visitors into the West End and neighbouring Kits Point. 

“The annual Honda Celebration of Light is the longest running off-shore fireworks competition in the world and one of the largest events in Vancouver,” says Mayor Ken Sim. “This event sparks joy and plays an important role in fostering a vibrant Vancouver. To ensure this event remains an enjoyable and safe experience for everyone, we will be working closely with our partners at the Park Board, Vancouver Police Department and Emergency Services.”

Over the course of three separate evenings, the fireworks competition will see displays from the following countries: 

  • Saturday, July 22 – Australia 
  • Wednesday, July 26 – Mexico 
  • Saturday, July 29 – The Philippines 

To accommodate the event, various road closures will be in effect with traffic disruptions anticipated. Taking transit, walking or cycling are the best options to get around town during this large special event. Mobi by Shaw Go is helping to make biking to the fireworks even easier by adding docking capacity in English Bay at the Bidwell & Burnaby station. On event dates, Mobi staff will be helping end rides at busy stations in both English Bay and Kitsilano.

Event load-in/load-out – July 19-21

  • Full road closure 
    • Burnaby St from Beach Ave to Bidwell St 

Event – July 22, 26, 29

  • 9:00 am to 5:00 pm – Traffic Controls in Effect 
    • Beach Ave closed from Pacific St to Davie St
    • Burnaby St from Beach Ave to Bidwell St 
  • 5:00 pm to 12:00 am – Full Road Closures 
    • Beach Ave/Pacific St from Stanley Park to Thurlow St
    • Davie St from Denman St to Burrard St
    • Denman St from Alberni to Beach Ave
  • Local Traffic Access Points 
    • Burnaby St at Thurlow St 
    • Nelson St at Thurlow St
    • Denman St at Alberni St 

Vehicle access in the West End and Kits Point event areas will be limited to residents with a local parking decal or vehicle registration displaying a local neighbourhood address. 

Resources:

Special event tips:

To help ensure that these events run as smoothly as possible, the City asks residents and attendees to follow these tips:

  • Protect yourself during hot weather. For tips to stay safe in the heat, visit vancouver.ca/hotweather 
  • Walk, bike, roll, or take transit whenever possible
  • Stay ahead of road closures at vancouver.ca/road-closures
  • Be aware of fireworks viewing point markers, especially those marking the high tide points along the beach
  • Don’t let waste become litter: put waste in its place. Walk, bike or roll with waste to the nearest garbage, recycling or organics bin
  • Use the “Pack-In, Pack-Out” method, especially for large gatherings. Group gatherings often result in excess waste and can quickly overfill waste bins. Bring waste home with you to properly sort and dispose of 
  • Be considerate of the community and keep noise to a minimum when leaving 
  • Respect the no smoking ban in Vancouver parks and refrain from using barbeques
  • Watching from the water? Follow safe boating guidelines, carry your boating license with you and refrain from consuming alcohol on the water
  • Canoes, kayaks and other non-powered vessels should stay close to the shore to avoid interfering with larger vessels
  • Boaters should also be aware of the exclusion perimeter in English Bay; this will be marked out by marine buoys
  • Leave your pets at home. Fireworks and large crowds can be very frightening for animals. If you choose to bring your dog with you, make sure it’s wearing proper identification: 97 per cent of dogs that are licensed and wearing tags are returned to their owner. If your dog gets lost, phone 3-1-1 to inform Animal Services

Stay tuned for these upcoming special events before the summer season wraps up: 

  • Powell St Festival, August 5-6 
  • Pride Parade, August 6 *NEW Parade Route* 
  • Mural Fest Mt Pleasant, August 4-13 
  • African Descent Festival, August 12-14 
  • Circles Indigenous Concert, August 26
  • Monstercat Compound, August 26 
  • Granville Block Party, August 26/27 
  • Festival of India Parade, August 26/27 
  • Punjabi Market Live 2023 (Main St, E. 49th to E. 51st), August 27 
  • Pet a Palooza, August 27 
  • TAIWANfest– Sep 2-4 
  • Brazilian Day, Sept 3-4 
  • RBC GranFondo, Sept 9 
  • Car Free Day – Commercial Drive, Sept 9
  • Car Free Day – Main St, Sept 16
  • Laver Cup, Sept 22-24
  • Under Armour Eastside 10km, Sept 24
  • Car Free Day – West End, Sept 24

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