Guess what, Vancouver? The most anticipated event of the summer and the world’s largest fireworks competition officially kicks off this weekend, and you won’t want to miss it. Yes, we’re talking about this year’s Honda Celebration of Light!

Drawing thousands of local and international visitors to Kits Point and West End every year, the Celebration of Light is a huge deal for lovers of fireworks, as it’s not often that Vancouver’s skies light up with dazzling displays.

The free festival takes place across three days every July, with a different country hosting the show each night.

On Saturday, July 20th, Team Macedos Pirotecnia of Portugal will kick the festivities off, with 89 years of history and skill under its belt.

This will be followed by a performance by Team Pyro Tact from Malaysia on Wednesday, July 24th, and the UK’s Pyrtotex Fireworx on Saturday, July 27th.

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Here are the traffic impacts noted by the City of Vancouver this weekend:

Now until Friday, July 19th:

  • All-day road closure for event preparations for one block of Burnaby Street from Beach Avenue to Bidwell Street

Saturday, July 20th, Wednesday, July 24th, and Saturday, July 27th:

  • 9 am to 6 pm: Traffic controls in effect
    • Periodic traffic control for load-in on Beach Avenue, Pacific to Davie
    • Beach Avenue closed to traffic, bike lane detour 5 pm to midnight
  • 6 pm to11 pm: Public vehicle access restricted
    • Stanley Park – west of Pipeline Road
  • 6 pm to midnight: Full road closures
    • Beach/Pacific Street from Stanley Park to Thurlow
    • Davie Street from Denman to Burrard
    • Denman Street from Alberni to Beach

Local traffic access points will be at the following intersections:

  • Burnaby Street at Thurlow Street
  • Nelson Street at Thurlow Street
  • Denman Street at Alberni Street

Added TransLink services

As vehicle access at Kits Point and West End will be restricted to residents during the festival, TransLink has added extra service on all three days of the Honda Celebration of Light.

For one, there will be an extra bus, seabus, and SkyTrain service. There will also be a special pre-event shuttle available between 6:30 pm and 9:30 pm from Burrard Station to Denman and West Georgia Streets, as well as a post-event shuttle from the intersection of Bidwell and West Georgia to Burrard Station.

Finally, Bus #2, #5, #6, and #23 will be rerouted west of Burrard Street.

So there you have it, Vancouver! Get ready for an exciting kickoff to this year’s Honda Celebration of Light.

Isabelle Vauclair

Staff Writer, Vancouver – Isabelle is a West Coast native with an appreciation for Vancouver’s natural landscape, patio scene, and community spaces. She loves to discover new hidden gems in her neighbourhood and share them with readers across the city.

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