Arguably Vancouver's most popular event of the year, the Celebration of Lights, started this weekend with a massive fireworks show from Australia.
The July 22 display came from Howard and Sons, a family-run company that's been around for more than 100 years and has competed twice in Vancouver, at the 1992 and 2016 competitions.
Along with the display, there were performances by Red Bull pilots in the sky and the False Creek Ferries in, well, False Creek. Officials estimate hundreds of thousands of people watch the show from somewhere in Vancouver, with tens of thousands gathering along the city's beaches, shore, and bridges.
Here's how the first night of fiery explosions looked.
Just before the fireworks began, the little ferries did an aquatic ballet.
celebration of light, vancouver 🎇🎆
It was so fun hearing the west end cheering from their balconies, what a beautiful show ✨
Ok really good
— crystal_kwon (@crystal_kwon)
People were able to watch from all over Vancouver, including some of the towers near downtown.
Summer highlight forsure.
One person even captured a romantic "movie-like" proposal under the twinkling fireworks.
ngl I actually teared up 🥺 wish them all the best 💓
Meanwhile, one lookout had an unfortunate sprinkler incident.
by in
The display was so massive that it even showed up on DriveBC's highway cams.
& fireworks.
— DriveBC (@DriveBC)
Post-show thousands of people had to migrate out of the West End like a great herd.
This photo of English Bay beach was taken at around 11:10 p.m. Most people have safely made their way to local transit. are now in the process of closing the beach, while double checking everyone there is okay, and able to move along.
— Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»Police (@VancouverPD)
— Sergio (@CityTheSpring)
There's going to be two more nights of fireworks, on July 26 and 29.
Coming down to the fireworks?
— Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»Police (@VancouverPD)
Every year we respond to several instances of children briefly getting separated from their groups. Before you arrive, take a photo of how your child looks today, put your number in their pocket, and remind them are friendly and here to help!
