Love’em or hate’em, the HSBC Celebration of Light fireworks nights are back for another go this summer. It’s outdoors, it’s midsummer and it’s free, not sure how much better things can get except for the fact that you’re sharing this experience with one million other people on the shores of English Bay.
The world’s leading fireworks manufacturers consider the HSBC Celebration of Light international fireworks competition to be the most prestigious events of its kind in the world and an exciting arena where they can unveil the latest pyro-musical techniques and the most innovative fireworks materials. [Celebration of Light]
To observe the spectacle this year park your beach blanket early to reserve a good vantage point and pick your night to go check them out.
Wednesday, July 25 — Spain
Saturday, July 28 — Canada
Wednesday, August 1 — China
Saturday, August 4 — Grande Finale
Each show is approximately 25 minutes and is centered around a barge floating off the shore in English Bay. They can be viewed from various vantage points from English Bay, Vanier Park, Jericho Beach, out in the water if you have a boat, and the photo below was taken from Cypress Mountain. The event used to be called the “Symphony of Fire” because each presentation is actually put to music that you can turn into on ROCK 101, which you can still tune in and listen to.
Remember this is a competition afterall, so beginning this year spectators get the chance to vote for their favourite display via text message.
New this year, YOU can participate in the voting for the HSBC Celebration of Light using your mobile phone! Text LIGHT to 24365 to register. Upon registering, you will receive a text message after each of the 3 competition nights asking you to rate the performance for that evening. Audience text votes each night will be tabulated and submitted as the 7th official judge. [Text to Vote]
The whole ‘controversy’ stems from residents downtown and in Kits being annoyed by the crowds and noise, although every negative blog post I read about the fireworks last year doesn’t just complain about hundreds of thousands of people – no – they complain that they are coming from the suburbs. (I’ll hold my tongue on that one…) I also hear it’s not the best for the environment with the smoke and loud noise killing little baby birdies’ eardrums. Aside from all of that… it seems to be great for businesses downtown and fun for the whole family.
I’ve experienced the fireworks as a child. We’d drive out to Kits from Surrey in the family van and have a picnic on the beach. Finding that perfect rock to balance on and watch the display took a little time. And 10 minutes later the tide was in and my butt would be sore so I’d retire up the hill a bit to the blanket my mom had laid out. [Miss604, 2006]
Last year we met up with Dave O [uncleweed][Canucks Outsider] and his clan for a picnic on a grassy hill and enjoyed a summer sunset. I don’t miss my days of Skytraining back home after the fireworks waiting for hours in a transit mosh pit since the walk back home through the West End is pretty painless – you only have to play Frogger a few times.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – when you get Iowa, Chilliwack and Surrey together, you know it’s going to be a rip-roaring good time. We had so much fun tonight in fact, I’m going to share a few tidbits. Although honestly, I bet none of this will be as funny in the morning…
Iowa and Chilliwack knew Alabama, Surrey didn’t but it’s now blogged. I feel dirty.
Duane told us about this ride months ago, I think it was outside of Cottonwood Mall in Chilliwack… seriously…
I’ve never made an obligatory post about cats or kitties, but these will have to do.
It’s what we do in Vancouver, we talk about the weather. How much rain we had last week, how many rainfall records we broke, there was once a glimpse of sunshine in March where crocuses popped up but then were covered by frost the next morning… So in this spirit, I have a poll below.
Regardless of if you’re in heaven or feel like this is hell on earth, get out and enjoy this rain-free weather. Whether it be in the shade or soaking up the rays. – oh but bring your laptop with you so that you can read this and contribute to the poll, of course.
[poll=1]
…and if you are staying inside, hiding from our long-lost friend, Mr. Sun – enjoy some minisodes, your fave 80s tv shows sliced down into perfect 6 minute episodes, good times.
I was checking out Beyond Robson the other morning, and for some strange reason I decided to look at the rest of the site and not just Morning Brew. I came across a post about the best not-so-secret locations in the city to get cheeky with your sweetheart, in this edition they tackled Playland.
The Scrambler, The Enterprise, and The Wild Mouse are great choices, but there are many other options!… …While you’re on the rides (though you may not be able to kiss) you’ve always got your hands free! And after you get off, you can find a quiet spot behind the food and games stalls to get a little closer. [BeyondRobson]
Those are all great choices except the last suggestion because everyone knows that every hidden corner, flower box and bench at Playland reeks of vomit.
The note about the Wild Mouse got me thinking about how Playland used to be. We went last year for the first time in a while and it was quite different. So here are a couple things I miss about the Playland and the PNE.
The lumberjack competitions – nothing says outdoor summer fun like log rolling.
The HUGE relief map of BC – this was in the BC building which I think is now a mini-lake in the middle of the grounds. That building has awesome little stalls where a nerdy kid like me could get buttons, stickers, visit the stamp collectors’ tables, learn about BC, and watch mini boats race around mini pools.
The Big Gulp – this roller coaster was awesome, my brother and sister always went on it and I was always too short so I think I only got one season with it before it disappeared.
The buttons – I have PNE buttons dating back to 1980, they just don’t seem to hand them out anymore so my collection is incomplete, stopping at around 1998. “Come Fun With Us!” Ya know… I never really got that saying.
So there are a few things I miss about Playland and the PNE, some things I could do without are all the video games and that march of overly happy tweens dancing around to a 1 minute song on loop that they call a parade.
However, the kids still have fun, and I suppose that’s the purpose eh? My sister told me that the other day my nephew loved some of the rides so much, he just wouldn’t get off when they stopped. Luckily it was a slow evening so they allowed him to keep riding the boats and little cars to his heart’s content.
We’ll see if Playland can do it for me this year, its saving grace being the old wooden roller coaster, the Enterprise, a couple of the new ‘flip you upside down and give you whiplash’ rides, and the pig races – hehe pig races!
What a weekend! John and I have been so busy but everything seems to involve down time in the sun so we’re not complaining one bit. With a few words and pictures I’ll now walk you through our weekend, starting with Thursday and ending as I’m cooking some salmon and asparagus as we ‘speak’.
I’ve already blogged about the beach times on Thursday night but I’ll go back that far in case any Matthew Good fans are not aware, pre-sale tickets for his upcoming solo/acoustic tour shows across Canada went on sale that morning.
Click To Play Suburbia captured by Jennie Roth @ Vegas/Bday show
Friday at 10am the general sale opened up for concerts ranging from Victoria, BC to Thunder Bay, ON all happening throughout September. Check out the ‘Shows‘ page for more info and to purchase your tickets.
Friday night John worked late so we went out for a small bite to eat when he got home. On our return trip from the restaurant I came across a sign I’ve been seeing a lot of in the West End about a missing cat. Several weeks ago the first signs started appearing, taped to telephone poles announcing that a grey cat, Piper, had gone missing. A few weeks later there were new signs with new photos and a ‘we’re still looking for Piper’ message. In the last few days, the Piper posters have changed yet again to ‘we’re not giving up on Piper’. So folks, if you live downtown and have seen Piper, please give this person a call (/end PSA)
Yesterday we met up with a group of people, thanks to Duane‘s facebook group call out, and attended Transformers. It was an enjoyable film, I wasn’t upset or annoyed, and left with a smile on my face. As Travis Smith pointed out there were some *serious* plot holes and flaws but all in all, I had a good time.
Following that, we headed out to Burnaby to catch some FIFA U-20 World Cup action. We took in the Scotland/Costa Rica game and within the span of 45 minutes saw a goal scored by bicycle kick, a fight, and a streaker.
Today we headed out to Surrey and boy do I ever miss having a back yard. Catch, frisbee, and sprinkler fun followed by eating a popcicle on the lawn. Good times & Happy Belated Birthday Cam!
Not entirely looking forward to heading back to work tomorrow but what can you do. Another week and another grind, followed by another well-deserved weekend.
