Hit the Beach for the Honda Celebration of Light’s Fireworks Competition in English Bay

One of Vancouver’s favourite family-friendly summer traditions, the 31st annual Honda Celebration of Light (HCOL), returns to English Bay Beach for three nights of fireworks extravaganzas as teams from Australia, Mexico, and the Philippines compete this year for the most dazzling pyrotechnic display lighting up the sky.

Fireworks & Activities

At 10pm on each of the three nights, the fireworks will begin from barges located in English Bay. A music simulcast can be heard on Rock 101 on the FM dial. The event also welcomes back the Red Bull Air Show, a spectacular pre-show performance happening on all three festival nights. Honda will also host family activities at the corner of Davie and Denman in addition to a festival zone and music stage at Morton Park with twenty food trucks parked along Beach Avenue.

Attendees have the option to reserve seats with VIP and family-friendly viewing options for the best seats in the house. Limited seats are available for the three ticketed viewing locations: the Scotiabank Lounge, Inukshuk Point, and the Concord Pacific Grandstand. There are also private cabanas and patio spaces available to rent for those interested in hosting large groups.

Australia

Saturday, July 22 – Founded in 1922, the family-operated Howard & Sons Pyrotechnics is considered a leader in pyrotechnic innovation and previously supplied fireworks for Disneyland and Walt Disney World. From producing the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge in 1932 and the Opera House in 1973 to winning silver at the Celebration of Light in 2016, the company has produced some of the largest and most prestigious fireworks displays around the world.

Mexico

Wednesday, July 26 – Grupo Avacon has provided high-quality pyrotechnic shows since 2009. Its extensive experience using the latest technology and effects has allowed the company to showcase its talent internationally while also participating in some of the most popular contests and festivals in Mexico. You can also find its fireworks on display almost daily at the finest Mexican hotels.

The Philippines

Saturday, July 29 – Created by a group of passionate pyrotechnicians in 2015, the acclaimed Blue Peacock Fireworks team has won more international awards than all other competing companies. It’s most well known for providing the climatic performance at the 100th Philippines Independence Celebration and being the first to set up a pyro-musical using the tallest Ferris wheel in the Philippines.

Produced by the Vancouver Fireworks Festival Society and Brandlive Management Group in collaboration with Archangel Fireworks Inc., the Honda Celebration of Light is British Columbia’s largest live public event and the longest-running offshore fireworks competition in the world featuring a thrilling lineup of pyrotechnic performances each year.

It attracts up to 400,000 spectators along the shores of English Bay each night. The winning team will be announced on August 2.

Tickets to all three viewing areas can be purchased on HCOL’s website.