Downtown fireworks on Wednesday, July 30. More than 250,000 at last Saturday’s event

VANCOUVER Police say that more than 250,000 people gathered on Vancouver’s beaches for the first night of the 2014 Honda Celebration of Light on Saturday. There were few disruptions and people appeared to have enjoyed themselves at the family-oriented event, they add. 

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Emergency services partnered to get people to and from the event safe and there were no incidents of note as people left the beaches shortly after 11 pm.

Liquor pour outs: 239
Liquor seizures: 48
Weapon seizures: 2
Violation tickets issued: 53
By-law tickets: 7
Arrests for intoxication in public: 1
Breach of the peace arrests: 17
Other arrests: 0

 

THE Province of British Columbia has renewed its support for The Honda Celebration of Light, the largest offshore international fireworks competition in the world.

As the largest public gathering in British Columbia, the festival attracts over 1 million attendants over three days and generates over $40 million in economic activity for businesses in Vancouver.  After being named Best Public Entertainment in Canada in 2012, The Honda Celebration of Light received additional national prizes, including Best Festival at the Canadian Special Event Awards in Toronto, and Gold at the Sponsorship Marketing Awards in Edmonton.

“The Honda Celebration of Light delights thousands of British Columbians and visitors with an entertaining combination of creative fireworks and great music,” said Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development Coralee Oakes. “Vancouver will light up the sky again this year like no other city in Canada.”

“We strive to offer a world-class event that invites families from BC, Canada and the world,” said Vancouver Fireworks Festival Society Chair John D. Reynolds. “Support from all of our sponsors, including the Province of British Columbia and The City of Vancouver allows us to continue this vision and build additional content for festival-goers.”

This year’s Honda Celebration of Light will be held on July 26, July 30 and August 2, featuring pyrotechnic teams from the US, France and Japan. The free Shorefest music festival presented by LG104.3 held in English Bay and Sunset Beach will see performances by 54-40, The Sheepdogs, The Odds and over a dozen other performers. Limited tickets to the all-ages, licensed YVR Observation Deck at English Bay are still available.

For full details go to:

www.hondacelebrationoflight.com