The Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»Police Department could have used some assistance from British spy James Bond Saturday night as the annual Celebration of Light fireworks festival drew the annual miscreants who just couldnt leave the booze at home.
According to the VPD, liquor-related violations topped the list of infractions on opening night of the three-evening festival, which launched July 27 with the United Kingdom presenting a James Bond-themed spectacular.
Other than the liquor violations, the VPD said there were no serious incidents at the event, which drew an estimated crowd of between 250,000 to 300,000 to the citys beaches. In total there were 612 liquor pour-outs, nine arrests for being drunk in public and 35 liquor seizures. Then there were the annual weapons seizures (eight), 135 violation tickets and 14 arrests. But for the majority of the crowd, the fireworks display went on without a hitch as the Brits lit up the skies over English Bay with their License to Thrill-themed show, which started at 10 p.m.
Patrick Brault, executive producer of the festival, said organizers invited the team to take part in last years festival. "But they were smack-dab in the middle of the Olympics," said Brault. "So were glad to have them."
During a media tour of the Honda Celebration of Light fireworks barge in English Bay Friday morning, the UK team was busy filling shells and mortars with explosives and wiring the pyrotechnics to special boards that will eventually be synced to computers to be detonated. Those computers are stored in an orange hut at the end of the barge, where fireworks magic will happen on each of the three nights of the festival.
The Celebration of Light is not only Vancouvers biggest event, but also the largest offshore fireworks competition in the world, attracting more than 400,000 spectators along the shores of English Bay each evening. This is the 23rd anniversary of the festival, owned by the non-profit Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»Fireworks Festival Society. Its estimated the festival contributes about $39 million towards the citys tourism and hospitality industries.
On Wednesday, July 31, Calgary-based Fireworks Spectaculars will represent Canada in the competition and on Aug. 3, the finale will showcase the skills of Thailand Fireworks, which boasts the 2007 Guinness World Record for biggest firework shell, at 54 inches.
The Honda Celebration of Light festival has a downloadable app for smartphones that offers all of the event information, including a schedule of bands performing during SHOREfest on English Bay and at Sunset Beach, a map of things to see and do before the fireworks, a soundtrack to each fireworks performance that will play automatically when the show begins, and a voting function. To hear the music during each performance, spectators can also tune into SHORE 104.3 FM. Dont want to download the app? Visit hondacelebrationoflight.com for information.
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