Canada will take center stage at this year’s Honda Celebration of Light fireworks festival.
Organizers announced Thursday morning that the 33rd annual Celebration of Lights fireworks will feature an all-Canadian matchup with three teams competing for national pride.
This year’s festival will take place on Saturday July 19, Wednesday July 23, and Saturday July 26. Over one million attendees made their way to downtown and other surrounding areas each year to watch the spectacular fireworks, and the same will be true again this year!
This all-Canadian lineup is a first for the festival, which has featured teams from around the world in previous years.
The 2024 participating teams are Yukon (July 19), Quebec (July 23), and Nova Scotia (July 26).
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Organizers say the all-Canadian lineup is an opportunity to celebrate the wave of national pride that has swept over the country the last few months.
“The last several months have proven to be a challenging period for our great nation. However, the circumstances have also contributed to a wave of nationalism that is unprecedented,” said Michael McKnight, Co-Chair of the Vancouver Fireworks Festival Society. “It’s in that spirit that we are wrapping our 2025 event in the Canadian flag and celebrating everything that is great about this country.”
Representing the territory of Yukon is Midnight Sun Fireworks, which won the competition in 2022. Their playful displays are “full of surprises and creative expressions that will surely captivate you”.
For the second night, Royal Pyrotechnie will represent Quebec. Celestial artisans since 1966, their team puts on more than 500 fireworks shows each year.
This year’s competition will be capped off with Fireworks FX from Nova Scotia. FX is a family run business that has put on fireworks displays in locations all over the world for over 40 years.
The fireworks will begin from barges located in English Bay each night. This year, each evening show will begin at 10:15pm instead of 10pm. Each team has their own unique soundtrack to compliment the fireworks that can be heard on CFMI Rock 101.
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Canada’s iconic Snowbirds, the Royal Canadian Airforce 431 Air Demonstration Squadron, will delight the crowds ahead of the fireworks on July 19 and 23. Sponsored by the BC Honda Dealers, an electric drone show will again take place each night around 10pm.
Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim also shared his excitement about this year’s event.
“We’re excited to welcome everyone, from Vancouverites to visitors from across the country and around the world, to this incredible event,” said Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim. “The Honda Celebration of Light is a summer tradition that brings people together and highlights the energy, diversity, and spirit of our city. It’s a celebration of everything that makes Vancouver special and what it means to be Canadian.”
Guests looking for a more comfortable viewing experience can purchase tickets for one of the ticketed viewing locations at English Bay – Inukshuk Point and the expanded Concord Pacific Grandstand. Pre-sale tickets are now on sale and tickets go on sale to the public on Friday, May 9th at 9am.
Originally named the “Symphony of Fire”, the Honda Celebration of Light is recognized as the longest-running offshore fireworks competition in the world.