Celebration of Light Fireworks Road Closures, Viewpoints in Vancouver

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Hundreds of thousands of spectators will look to the sky over English Bay this week as the Honda Celebration of Light Fireworks in Vancouver return for three nights this summer. Here are a few more details about the evening events that include some traffic impacts, road closures, and more:

Fireworks Road Closures | Fireworks Viewpoints | Viewing Tips

celebration of Light Fireworks Miss604

This post has been updated for 2024*

Fireworks Schedule

Red Bull Air Show 7:40pm | Drone show 9:50pm | Fireworks 10:00pm

  • Saturday, July 20 Portugal – Team Macedos Pirotecnia
  • Wednesday, July 24 Malaysia – Team Pyro Tact
  • Saturday, July 27 United Kingdom – Team Pyrotex Fireworx

Related: Food Trucks at the Fireworks in Vancouver

Fireworks Road Closures in Vancouver

Event load-in/load-out – July 17-19, 2024

  • Full road closure
    • Burnaby St from Beach Ave to Bidwell St

Event – July 20, 24 , and 27

  • 9:00am to 6:00pm: Traffic controls in effect
  • Periodic traffic control for load-in on Beach Ave, Pacific to Davie
  • Beach Ave closed to traffic, bike lane detour 5:00pm to midnight
  • 6:00pm to 11:00pm: Public vehicle access restricted
  • Stanley Park – west of Pipeline Road
  • 6:00pm to midnight: Full road closures
  • Beach/Pacific St from Stanley Park to Thurlow
  • Davie St from Denman to Burrard
  • Denman St from Alberni to Beach

Local Traffic Access Points

  • Burnaby St at Thurlow St
  • Nelson St at Thurlow St
  • Denman St at Alberni St

Vehicle access in the West End and Kits Point event areas will be limited to residents with a local parking decal or vehicle registration displaying a local neighbourhood address. 

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2023 Reconciliation Award Recipients

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The Office of the Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, in partnership with BC Achievement Foundation, has announced the recipients of the third British Columbia Reconciliation Award.

This award recognizes four extraordinary individuals and two organizations who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, integrity, respect, and commitment to furthering reconciliation with Indigenous peoples in the province of British Columbia, or inspired others to continue reconciliation efforts.

2023 Reconciliation Award Recipients
2023 Reconciliation Award Recipients

2023 Reconciliation Award Recipients

Individual Recipients:

  • Dr. Daniele Behn Smith (Victoria)
    • Dr. Danièle Behn Smith is Eh Cho Dene of Fort Nelson First Nation and Franco-Manitobain/Métis from the Red River Valley. Danièle has dedicated her medical career to serving rural and First Nations communities across Canada (read more)
  • Chief Willie Sellars (Williams Lake)
    • Chief Willie Sellars’ leadership embodies integrity, respect, and a commitment to furthering reconciliation. His efforts inspire others to participate in the collective journey of healing and understanding between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities (read more)
  • Klith-waa-taa, Dr. Barney Williams (Campbell River)
    • Klith-waa-taa, Dr. Barney Williams, a hereditary leader from the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation of the Nuu-chah-nulth Nation, is renowned for his expertise in Indigenous healing and counselling (read more)
  • Dr. Eldon Yellowhorn (Burnaby)
    • Dr. Eldon Yellowhorn (Otahkotskina) is an Indigenous engagement leader in archaeology and academia whose trailblazing efforts have paved the way for subsequent generations of Indigenous scholars and students to thrive in these fields (read more)

Organization Recipients:

  • Last Post Fund – BC Branch (Burnaby)
    • The Last Post Fund (LPF) is dedicated to ensuring that no Veteran is denied a dignified funeral, burial, or military gravestone due to insufficient funds at the time of their death (read more)
  • The Exploration Place & Lheidli T’enneh First Nation (Prince George)

“Reconciliation acts as the cornerstone for fostering meaningful connections and bridging the divide between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities. By acknowledging the historical injustices and illuminating transformative actions, we inspire others to tread the same path,” said Cloy-e-iis, Judith Sayers, a member of the board of BC Achievement.

“As we enter the third year of the British Columbia Reconciliation Award, we continue to shine a light on empowering approaches that allow Indigenous peoples to flourish while positively impacting all communities. On behalf of BC Achievement, we take great pride in announcing and commending the accomplished recipients of the 2023 award. Congratulations to the awardees, and heartfelt gratitude for your unwavering commitment to our shared journey of reconciliation.”

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Weekend Events in Vancouver Things to do July 21-23, 2023

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It’s another busy weekend for events in Metro Vancouver. Enjoy free family entertainment in Burnaby this Friday, then a full lineup of festivals, markets, live music, sports, fireworks, theatre, and a new flower festival in the valley – there are so many things to do! Make sure to check out the ongoing list of featured attractions and exhibits at the bottom of this post as well:

Things to do in Vancouver This Weekend Summer

Weekend Events in Vancouver
Things to do July 21-23, 2023

Friday, July 21, 2023

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Abbotsford Summer Flower Festival

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Sunflowers, lavender, and so much more! Lakeland Flowers presents the first-ever Abbotsford Summer Flower Festival where Insta photo and TikTok video ops abound and the sweet colours and aromas of the season fill the sun-drenched valley.

This is the largest summer floral experience in the Lower Mainland, where guests can wander through 45 acres of lavender, sunflowers, buckwheat, phacelia, and more feature flowers.

Abbotsford Summer Flower Festival - Lavender Field - Robyn Bessenger - Lakeland Flowers
Abbotsford Summer Flower Festival – Lavender Field – Robyn Bessenger – Lakeland Flowers

Abbotsford Summer Flower Festival

  • When: July 21 to September 4, 2023
    • 7 days a week, including Stat Holidays from 10:00am to 6:00pm
  • Where: 3663 Marion Rd., Abbotsford
  • Admission: Tickets are on sale now
    • Children under 3 get free access to the flower fields.
    • Every paid admission includes a 5-stem bunch of sunflowers from the Upick field.
    • Tickets for special events occurring outside our usual business hours (10:00am to 6:00pm) will be available for purchase separately.

The festival has three focal points beginning with the lavender fields in full bloom including Provence and English lavender. Next is 20 acres of sunflowers, with over 1 million blooms, 30 varieties, a u-pick field, and photo spots including raised wagons, frames, canoes, tractors, and swings. The final area offers a 10-acre meadow of phacelia pastels, a buckwheat sea of white, and an array of colour with the feature flowers, ranging from snap dragons and Black-Eyed Susans to coneflowers and Woodland Sage.

For an elevated floral experience, guests are invited to attend two special event nights:

Amidst the lavender, a comedy show featuring comedian Cliff Prang will be held on July 28th with a specialty seasonal cocktail called Lakeland Lavender Lemon Fizz and local wines and beers.

On August 19th, guests can wander the sunflowers, listen to live music and enjoy seasonal bites at Tourism Abbotsford’s Sun and Soil Series Concert.

For answers to frequently asked questions including wheelchair rentals, food truck days, pet-friendly access, and shaded seating spots, visit the Lakeland Flowers website. For timely updates and field reports, follow Lakeland Flowers on Facebook and Instagram.

Monstercat Compound Block Party in Railtown 2023

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The 6th annual Monstercat Compound free block party is back in Railtown in collaboration with Blueprint.

Monstercat Compound Block Party 2023

Monstercat Compound 2023

  • When: Saturday, August 26, 2023 from 2:00pm to 9:00pm
  • Where: outside the Monstercat HQ (380 Railway Street, Vancouver)
  • Admission: Free! RSVP or purchase VIP tickets online. 19+ only.
    • Upgrade to VIP before July 31st for your chance to win 1 of 3 Grand Prizes including a meet and greet with Crankdat

Monstercat Compound block party features two stages, live art, apparel, food trucks, beer gardens, gaming, and more.

This year’s 19+ event will elevate the atmosphere and offer an even more immersive environment while doubling its site map compared to last year. More space means more room for attendees, artists, and activities.

Headlining this year’s celebration, guests can catch electrifying performances from Crankdat, Blanke, Nostalgix, Godlands, Ace Aura and CHYL. Catch all these artists and more on the main stage. All of these headliners are making their Compound debut this year!

Monstercat is a Canadian independent electronic music record label based in Vancouver, and founded in 2011. The block party provides a platform for local businesses and performers while delivering top brands and talent.

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