Vancouver's long-running Celebration of Light will be back this year in a reduced three-night performance that will feature a "battle of the champions."
Organizers said this year’s show will have a “Battle of the Champions” theme, with the countries who won the past three events – China, Spain, and Canada – duking it out for the crown. China will perform July 30, Spain on August 3, and Canada on August 6. The winner will be announced August 8.
China’s show will incorporate a theme of the Year of the Rabbit, Spain’s will represent the sea journey from Barcelona to Vancouver, and Canada’s is simply titled Then and Now.
This will also be the first year the fireworks festival, now in its 21st year, will charge $45 for 750 reserved bleacher seats.
The festival in recent years has suffered from financial troubles and lack of sponsorship. But Brent McGregor, the retiring president of the Vancouver Fireworks Festival Society, and John Reynolds, the incoming president, said they expect to sign a number of new sponsors in coming weeks.
The festival is a summer tradition that draws over one million people annually and pumps millions of dollars into the local economy. This year, the society decided to cut the first Wednesday night performance, in part due to finances and also to fit in with the theme of a three-way battle of previous winners, McGregor said.