Saturday marks the final night of the Honda Celebration of Light with a fireworks display from Italy, which last appeared in the annual competition in 2010. Its competing against earlier performances by Vietnam and Brazil.
This year, spectators can vote for their favourite contestant on the Honda Celebration of Lights website or with the events apps for Android or iPhone. The combined public score will be added to the judges marks for final results.
Andrea Dowd-Dever, the events producer, said crowds have hit about 300,000 at English Bay, Vanier Park and Kits Beach during the first two nights, which is consistent with numbers from prior years.
Bleacher sales have also gone well. This is the second year a paid seating area has been available. Last year, it generated about $30,000, which helps offset costs.
Paid seating was added to generate revenue for the society and provide seating for people who might otherwise not attend the Celebration of Light due to crowds or limited mobility.
Organizers added 400 seats this year for a total of 1,400.
The first night wasnt sold out, but the second night was. As of Thursday morning, organizers were within 100 seats of selling out paid seating for Saturdays fireworks show.
It is selling really quickly so I do anticipate well sell out Saturday night, Dowd-Dever said. It certainly helps [offset costs], but with an event of this scale you can imagine we still rely significantly on sponsorship.
Dowd-Dever noted the garbage problem after the event is improving. Organizers increased the number of recycling and garbage cans available and spectators are using them.
People are doing a really good job, she said. The message is finally getting through that its not appropriate to leave all your garbage all over the beach.
Police say there were no significant incidents at Wednesdays fireworks. Drink pour-outs dropped substantially compared to the first night.
Police reported 392 pour-outs on Aug. 3, down from 628 July 28.
Officers also recorded 17 liquor seizures, five weapon seizures, including one replica handgun, two knives and pepper spray, and 37 violation tickets for a variety of offences87 were issued on the first night. Bylaw tickets numbered two, there were four arrests for public intoxication, seven breach of peace arrests and three other unspecified arrests.
Hundreds of officers patrolled English Bay and Kits Point on foot, horseback, on bicycles and in the Air 1 helicopter. The VPDs public safety unit was also on hand.
More than 600 boats of various sizes were in English Bay, according to a police estimate, and the marine unit had hundreds of interactions with boaters. In one case, a heavily drunk 18-year-old woman was in deflating dingy, while not wearing a personal flotation device. Police took her on board the VPD boat and arrested her for public intoxication.
The crowds have generally been really well behaved, but again the message is this is a free family event and its not appropriate to come and bring alcohol and drink on the beach and be belligerent and disrespect the neighbours in the West End, Dowd-Dever said.
This is a residential neighbourhood where the event happens. Theres quite a lot of pressure on the residents, so were really pleased to see how positive the crowds have been.
noconnor@vancourier
Twitter: @Naoibh
