vancouverites will still get a summer fireworks display this year, with the city announcing the date for a one-night show after the cancellation of the celebration of light fireworks competition.
the city-organized fireworks display will be held at english bay on friday, july 31, the start of the b.c. day long weekend.
the event, dubbed summer lights, is free, with no tickets or registration required.
“summer lights in english bay is about bringing people together for a spectacular evening in one of vancouver’s most iconic settings,” said mayor ken sim in a news release on tuesday. “this is a free, welcoming celebration for residents, families and visitors to enjoy during what will be an extraordinary summer for our city.”
the event was proposed by sim after celebration of light organizers announced it was cancelling the long-running fireworks competition due to a lack of funding.
city council voted in february to spend up to $2 million for a one-night fireworks event, drawing criticism over the additional expense at a time when the city was operating under an austerity budget that saw cuts to jobs and services.
the one-night show will be produced by brandlive, the same production company that mounted the celebration of light, in co-ordination with the city, vancouver park board and other groups.
it’ll be a scaled-down version, with food trucks and a smaller rooftop lounge on top of the english bay bathhouse. there will be no grandstand seating or drone show.
more details — including time, viewing areas, road closures and accessibility information — are expected to be released in the coming weeks.
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vancouver sets date for single-night fireworks show this summer