Celebration of Light
The Honda Celebration of Light (formerly known as Benson & Hedges Symphony of Fire and The HSBC Celebration of Light) is an annual musical fireworks competition in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The first "Symphony of Fire" was held from July 25 to August 5, 1990. The celebration is one of Vancouver's largest and most well known festivals, and is recognized as the longest running off-shore fireworks competitions in the world.[1] The multiple-day event has an estimated annual attendance of 1.4 million people.
| Honda Celebration of Light | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Begins | July 27, 2019 |
| Ends | August 3, 2019 |
| Frequency | Annually |
| Location(s) | Vancouver, British Columbia |
| Inaugurated | 1990 |
| Sponsor | Honda |
| Website | Official website  |
2020 program (cancelled)
In 2020, the competition was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic in the province.[2]
2019 program
The 2019 Honda Celebration of Light took place on July 27, July 31, and August 3, 2019. The participating countries were India, Canada, and Croatia. It was the first year where India and Croatia have participated in the competition.[3] The winner of the 2019 competition was Canada
| Saturday, July 27 | |
| Country: |  India |
| Team: | Amir Morani Fireworks |
| Theme: | Love |
| Website: | Amir Morani Fireworks |
| Wednesday, July 31 | |
| Country: | .svg.png.webp){kind=small} Canada |
| Team: | Firemaster Productions Inc. |
| Theme: | "Feel Good Hits of the Summer" |
| Website: | Firemaster Productions |
| Saturday, August 3 | |
| Country: |  Croatia |
| Team: | Mirnovec Fireworks |
| Theme: | "Journey Through Cinema" |
2018 program
The 2018 Honda Celebration of Light took place on July 28, August 1, and August 4. The participating countries were South Africa, represented by Fireworks for Africa; Sweden, represented by Unique Pyrotechnic; and South Korea, by Daehan Fireworks Co. For the first time, all three competitors were required to incorporate the same theme into their fireworks display and musical accompaniment. The theme, which was voted by the public, was love.[4] The winner was South Korea.
| Saturday, July 28 | |
| Country: |  South Africa |
| Team: | Fireworks for Africa |
| Website: | Fireworks for Africa |
| Wednesday, August 1 | |
| Country: |  Sweden |
| Team: | Unique Pyrotechnic |
| Website: | Unique Pyrotechnic |
| Saturday, August 4 | |
| Country: |  South Korea |
| Team: | Daehan Fireworks Co. |
2017 program
The 2017 Honda Celebration of Light took place on July 29, August 2, and August 5, featuring competitors from Japan, the United Kingdom, and Canada.[5] The competitor for Japan, Akariya, previously won the 2014 Honda Celebration of Light. Widely regarded as the premiere pyrotechnic company in the UK, the multi-award-winning Jubilee Fireworks Ltd became the holders of the first "Champions of Champions" title after winning both national competitions: The British Fireworks Championships and The British Musical Fireworks Championships. Royal Pyrotechnie, recognized as the most decorated fireworks firm in Canada, is the only group to win three Gold Jupiter awards during the annual L'International des Feux Loto-Québec competition.
To celebrate Canada's 150th anniversary, each of the competitors were required to include one iconic Canadian song into their display, extending the traditional length of the shows (25 minutes) for an additional 3 minutes (for a total of 28 minutes).[6] The songs were voted by the public on Honda's Celebration of Light Facebook page;[7] the three chosen were "Ahead by a Century" by The Tragically Hip, "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen, and "Summer of '69" by Bryan Adams.[8] The winner of the competition was Japan.
| Saturday, July 29 | |
| Country: |  Japan |
| Team: | Akariya Fireworks |
| Theme: | Land of the Rising Sun[9] |
| Canada 150 song selection: | "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen[10] |
| Wednesday, August 2 | |
| Country: |  United Kingdom |
| Team: | Jubilee Fireworks |
| Theme: | Kiss The Sky[11] |
| Canada 150 song selection: | "Ahead by a Century" by The Tragically Hip[10] |
| Website: | Jubilee Fireworks |
| Saturday, August 5 | |
| Country: | Canada |
| Team: | Royal Pyrotechnie |
| Theme: | Legends of Fire[12] |
| Canada 150 song selection: | "Summer of '69" by Edmond del Rio[10] |
| Website: | Royal Pyrotechnie |
2016 program
The 2016 Honda Celebration of Light took place on July 23, July 27, and July 30. The event featured the Netherlands, Australia, and the United States in competition. Notably, 2016 was the first time that the Netherlands has competed in the event.[13] The Walt Disney Company, the world's largest consumer of fireworks,[14] was the competitor for the United States, while Australia was represented by Howard & Sons, whose displays have included the opening and closing ceremonies for 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney[15] and opening and closing ceremonies for the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi and 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.[16] Team USA won the competition.[17] Vancouver Police had to shut down English Bay Beach for the Team USA show, due to capacity concerns.[18]
| Saturday, July 23 | |
| Country: |  Netherlands |
| Team: | Royal Fireworks |
| Theme: | Journey in Time[19] |
| Website: | Royal Fireworks |
| Wednesday, July 27 | |
| Country: | .svg.png.webp){kind=small} Australia |
| Team: | Howard & Sons Pyrotechnics |
| Theme: | Live and Loud[20] |
| Website: | Howard & Sons Pyrotechnics |
| Saturday, July 30 | |
| Country: |  United States |
| Team: | Walt Disney Company |
| Theme: | Disney Music Extravaganza[21][22] |
| Website: | Walt Disney Company |
2015 program
The 2015 Honda Celebration of Light was scheduled for July 25, July 29, and August 1. For the 25th anniversary of the event, three returning competitors from China, Brazil, and Canada participated. The 2015 competition winner was Canada.
| Saturday, July 25 | |
| Country: |  China |
| Company: | Jiangxi Province Lidu Fireworks Corporation Ltd. |
| Team: | Team Lidu |
| Website: | www.lidufireworks.com |
| Wednesday, July 29 | |
| Country: |  Brazil |
| Team: | Group Vision Show |
| Saturday, August 1 | |
| Country: | Canada |
| Team: | Archangel Fireworks |
| Website: | www.archangelfireworks.com |
2014 program
The 2014 Honda Celebration of Light was scheduled for July 26, July 30, and August 2, featuring performances by the United States, France, and Japan respectively. The competitors were newcomers to Vancouver, though their respective countries have previously participated before.[23] The 2014 competition winner was Japan.[24]
| Saturday, July 26 | |
| Country: | United States |
| Team: | Pyrotecnico |
| Website: | www.pyrotecnico.com |
| Wednesday, July 30 | |
| Country: |  France |
| Team: | F.C. Pyro |
| Saturday, August 2 | |
| Country: | Japan |
| Team: | Akariya Fireworks |
| Theme: | "The Art of Survival"[25] |
2013 program
The 2013 Honda Celebration of Light was scheduled for July 27, July 31, and August 3, with performances by the United Kingdom, Canada, and Thailand respectively. 2013 was the first year that Thailand participated in the event as part of the organizers' ongoing efforts to introduce a new nation to the program each year. The 2013 competition winner was Canada.
| Saturday, July 27 | |
| Country: | United Kingdom |
| Team: | Pyro 2000 |
| Theme: | "Licence to Thrill" (James Bond)[26] |
| Website: | www.pyro2000.co.uk |
| Wednesday, July 31 | |
| Country: | Canada |
| Team: | Calgary-Based Fireworks Spectaculars |
| Theme: | "A Wonderful World/Into a Raging River" |
| Website: | www.fireworksspectaculars.com |
| Saturday, August 3 | |
| Country: |  Thailand |
| Team: | Thailand Fireworks |
| Theme: | Classical Thai music |
| Website: | thailandfirework.net |
2012 program
The 2012 Honda Celebration of Light saw teams from Vietnam and Brazil as newcomers, while the Italian team of Pirotecnica Soldi was more established.[27] Canada did not participate for the first time in six years as producers of the event had been looking for new countries to compete from each continent for the next three years.[28] The 2012 competition winner was Italy.
| Saturday, July 28 | |
| Country: |  Vietnam |
| Team: | Team Danang Fireworks |
| Wednesday, August 1 | |
| Country: | Brazil |
| Team: | Group Vision Show |
| Saturday, August 4 | |
| Country: |  Italy |
| Team: | Pirotecnica Soldi |
| Website: | www.pirotecnicasoldi.it |
2011 program
The 2011 HSBC Celebration of Light presented a "Battle of Champions" by featuring three previous competition winners: China (represented by 2009 winner Red Eagle Industrial and Trade Co. Ltd), Spain (represented by 2010 winner Pirotecnia Igual), and Canada (represented by 2007 and 2008 winner Archangel Fireworks Inc). The winner for the 2011 competition was China.
| Saturday, July 30 | |
| Country: | China |
| Team: | Red Eagle Manufacturing Industrial and Trade Co. Ltd |
| Theme: | China Storm |
| Wednesday, August 3 | |
| Country: |  Spain |
| Team: | Pirotecnia Igual |
| Theme: | Odyssey |
| Website: | www.pirotecniaigual.com |
| Saturday, August 6 | |
| Country: | Canada |
| Team: | Archangel Fireworks |
| Theme: | Then and Now |
| Website: | www.archangelfireworks.com |
2010 program
The 2010 HSBC Celebration of Light winner was Spain (Pirotecnia Igual).[29]
| Wednesday, July 21 | |
| Country: | United States |
| Company: | Rozzi Inc. |
| Theme: | In the Mood |
| Saturday, July 24 | |
| Country: | Spain |
| Team: | Pirotecnia Igual |
| Theme: | Heaven and Hell |
| Website: | www.pirotecniaigual.com |
| Wednesday, July 28 | |
| Country: |  Mexico |
| Team: | Lux Pirotecnia |
| Theme: | Journey |
| Website: | www.luxpirotecnia.com |
| Saturday, July 31 | |
| Country: | Canada, China |
| Team: | Groupe Fiatlux-Ampleman |
| Theme: | Tribute to China/The Butterfly Lovers |
2009 program
The 2009 HSBC Celebration of Light winner was China (Red Eagle Industrial and Trade Co. Ltd.).[30]
| Wednesday, July 22 | |
| Country: | Canada |
| Company: | Archangel Fireworks Inc. |
| Theme: | No Place Like Home |
| Website: | www.archangelfireworks.com |
| Saturday, July 25 | |
| Country: | South Africa |
| Team: | Fireworks for Africa |
| Theme: | Tapestry of Colour |
| Wednesday, July 29 | |
| Country: | United Kingdom |
| Team: | PYRO2000 |
| Theme: | Parasols Over the Pacific |
| Saturday, August 1 | |
| Country: | China |
| Team: | Red Eagle Industrial and Trade Co. Ltd. |
| Theme: | Through the Looking Glass |
2008 program
The 2008 HSBC Celebration of Light winner was Canada, making back-to-back wins for Archangel Fireworks Inc.
| Wednesday, July 23 | |
| Country: | Canada |
| Company: | Archangel Fireworks Inc. |
| Theme: | Attack |
| Designer: | Kelly Guille & Sean Procter |
| Website: | www.archangelfireworks.com |
| Saturday, July 26 | |
| Country: | United States |
| Company: | Western Enterprises, Incorporated |
| Theme: | Love Will Change the World |
| Designer: | Gary P. Caimano |
| Website: | www.fireworksbywestern.com |
| Wednesday, July 30 | |
| Country: | China |
| Company: | Pyromagic Productions Ltd. |
| Theme: | Power of the Dream |
| Designer: | Wilson Mao |
| Website: | www.pyromagic.com.hk |
| Saturday, August 2 | |
| Grand Finale | |
2007 program
The 2007 HSBC Celebration of Light winner was Canada.
| Wednesday, July 25 | |
| Country: | Spain |
| Company: | Ricardo Caballer Pirotechnica |
| Theme: | Fireworks and the 7th Earth |
| Designer: | Ricardo Caballer Cardo |
| Website: | www.ricardocaballer.com |
| Saturday, July 28 | |
| Country: | Canada |
| Company: | Archangel Fireworks Inc. |
| Theme: | Take Five to Jive |
| Designer: | Kelly Guille and Sean Procter |
| Website: | www.archangelfireworks.com |
| Wednesday, August 1 | |
| Country: | China |
| Company: | Jiangxi Province Lidu Fireworks Corporation Ltd. |
| Theme: | The Time Machine |
| Designer: | Xu Delong |
| Website: | www.lidufireworks.com |
| Saturday, August 4 | |
| Celebration Finale | |
| Designer: | Yves Relave |
2006 program
The 2006 winner was Mexico, who joined the competition for the first time.
| Wednesday, July 26 | ||
| Country: | Italy | |
| Company: | A.P.E. di Parente Romualdo | |
| Theme: | Magia Di Fuochi | |
| Designer: | Michele Parente | |
| Website: | www.parenteape.it | |
| The Italian team's presentation is a peculiar and charming pyrotechnic show with wide variety of effects ranging from the sky to the water, dancing volcanoes, golden rain and a fantastic closure. Attendance was estimated at 400,000. | ||
| Saturday, July 29 | ||
| Country: | China |
 A portion of China's 2006 Show |
| Company: | Jiangxi Province Lidu Fireworks Corporation Ltd. | |
| Theme: | Yellow River Odyssey | |
| Designer: | Xu Delong | |
| Website: | www.lidufireworks.com | |
| The Chinese team's presentation features specific colours in each of the five sections: blue, silver and crackling, green, green falling leaves and gold. The music is performed by The Philarmonic Orchestra of China, accompanied by pianist Xiang-Dong Kong. | ||
| Wednesday, August 2 | ||
| Country: |  Czech Republic | |
| Company: | Flash Barrandov Special Effects Ltd. | |
| Theme: | Rhapsody in Blue | |
| Designer: | Jaroslav Štolba | |
| Website: | www.flash-sfx.cz | |
| The Czech Republic show is an evening full of jazz music in four sections: Classical jazz, Conspiracy jazz, Latin jazz and Traditional jazz. | ||
| Saturday, August 5 | ||
| Country: | Mexico | |
| Company: | Lux Pirotecnia, S.A. de C.V. | |
| Theme: | Siente México: Feel Mexico | |
| Designer: | Jorge M. Márquez | |
| Website: | www.luxpirotecnia.com | |
| Past and future values come together in a program full of joy. A musical score that includes pre-Hispanic sounds, music in the history of carnival celebrations, traditional sounds mixed with innovative rhythms, and some of the best Mexican known values, friendship and fraternity are present in this show with the purpose to make you feel a little part of Mexico. | ||
| Celebration Finale | ||
| Designer: | Jaroslav Štolba | |
| The Celebration Finale is specially designed to pay tribute to the HSBC Celebration of Light competition. The 6-minute Celebration Finale did not include components from participating countries. | ||
Previous years
Because of the change in sponsor, records are difficult to find before the year 2001.
2006
| Winner: Mexico | |
| Company: | Lux Pirotecnia, S.A. de C.V. |
| Show Theme: | Siente México: Feel Mexico |
| China | |
| Company: | Jiangxi Province Lidu Fireworks Corporation Ltd. |
| Show Theme: | Yellow River Odyssey |
| Italy | |
| Company: | A.P.E. di Parente Romualdo |
| Show Theme: | Magia Di Fuochi |
| Czech Republic | |
| Company: | Flash Barrandov Special Effects Ltd. |
| Show Theme: | Rhapsody in Blue |
2005
| Winner: Sweden | |
| Company: | Unique Pyrotechnic AB |
| Show Theme: | Kisses of fire |
| Canada | |
| Company: | Concept Fiatlux Inc. |
| Show Theme: | Jazz in the sky |
| China | |
| Company: | Beijing ZhongFa A.F. Consulting Co. Ltd. |
| Show Theme: | Voix de feu, feu de voix |
2004
| Winner: Sweden | |
| Company: | Fyrverkeri Expertena AB |
| Show Theme: | Aurora Borealis over Canada |
| China | |
| Company: | Beijing ZhongFa A.F. Consulting Co. Ltd. |
| Show Theme: | On ne dort pas ce soir |
| Spain | |
| Company: | Vicente Caballer e Hijos S.L. |
| Show Theme: | Plus Ultra |
2003
| Winner: China | |
| Company: | Beijing ZhongFa A.F. Consulting Co. Ltd. |
| Show Theme: | From January to December |
| Canada | |
| Company: | Concept Fiatlux Inc. |
| Show Theme: | Pyrotechnic Symphony of Voices |
| Czech Republic | |
| Company: | Flash Barrandov Special Effects Ltg |
| Show Theme: | Woman on Fire |
2002
| Winner: Canada | |
| Company: | Concept Fiatlux Inc. |
| Show Theme: | The Desert Rose |
| Italy | |
| Company: | Nanna Fireworks |
| Show Theme: | Fire into the Music |
| Spain | |
| Company: | Fuegos Artificiales Antonio Caballer S.A. |
| Show Theme: | The Party of the Sense |
2001
| Winner: Spain | |
| Company: | Fuegos Artificiales Antonio Caballer S.A. |
| Show Theme: | Soul to Fire |
| South Africa | |
| Company: | Pyro Spectacular |
| Show Theme: | Cosmos |
| China | |
| Company: | Beijing ZhongFa A.F. Consulting Co. Ltd. |
| Show Theme: | Odyssee |
2000
| Winner: Spain | |
| Company: | Fuegos Artificiales Antonio Caballer S.A. |
| Show Theme: | |
| Australia | |
| Company: | |
| Show Theme: | |
| Italy | |
| Company: | |
| Show Theme: | |
1999
| Winner: France | |
| Company: | Fuegos Artificiales Antonio Caballer S.A. |
| Show Theme: | Character Latino |
| Canada | |
| Company: | Sirius Pyrotechnics |
| Show Theme: | Voices of the Night |
| France | |
| Company: | |
| Show Theme: | Fascination |
1998
| Winner: Spain | |
| Company: | Fuegos Artificiales Antonio Caballer S.A. |
| Show Theme: | The Mythical Land |
| United Kingdom | |
| Company: | Pyro 2000 |
| Show Theme: | Fire and Fantasy |
| Italy | |
| Company: | Nanna Fireworks |
| Show Theme: | Voices in the Sky |
1997
| Winner: United Kingdom | |
| Company: | Pyro 2000 |
| Show Theme: | |
| Canada | |
| Company: | Sirius Pyrotechnics |
| Show Theme: | |
| China | |
| Company: | Beijing ZhongFa A.F. Consulting Co. Ltd. |
| Show Theme: | |
1996
| Winner: Spain | |
| Company: | Ricardo Caballer |
| Show Theme: | |
| China | |
| Company: | Beijing ZhongFa A.F. Consulting Co. Ltd. |
| Show Theme: | |
| Company: | |
| Show Theme: | |
1995
Winner:  Portugal | |
| Company: | Pirotecnia Minhota |
| Show Theme: | |
| China | |
| Company: | Beijing ZhongFa A.F. Consulting Co. Ltd. |
| Show Theme: | |
| Canada | |
| Company: | |
| Show Theme: | |
1994
| Winner: Italy | |
| Company: | Parente Chiere |
| Show Theme: | |
| Spain | |
| Company: | Pirotecnia Caballer |
| Show Theme: | |
| Japan | |
| Company: | Fireworks Artists Association |
| Show Theme: | |
1993
| Canada | |
| Company: | Concept Fiatlux Inc. |
| Show Theme: | |
| Italy | |
| Company: | |
| Show Theme: | |
| France | |
| Company: | Groupe F |
| Show Theme: | |
1992
| Winner: Canada | |
| Company: | Concept Fiatlux Inc. |
| Show Theme: | |
| United Kingdom | |
| Company: | Standard Fireworks |
| Show Theme: | |
| Australia | |
| Company: | Howard & Sons |
| Show Theme: | |
1991
| Winner: Australia | |
| Company: | Howard & Sons |
| Show Theme: | |
| Spain | |
| Company: | |
| Show Theme: | |
 Hong Kong | |
| Company: | |
| Show Theme: | |
References
- "Team Canada Wins 2015 Honda Celebration of Light - Honda Celebration of Light". Archived from the original on April 23, 2016. Retrieved April 8, 2016.
- Hasegawa, Regan; Jung, Angela (April 20, 2020). "Celebration of Light, PNE cancelled as organizers explore other options". CTV News. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
- "Vancouver's Celebration of Light reveals competing countries and dates for 2019".
- "2018 Celebration of Light schedule announced". The Vancouver Sun. April 10, 2018.
- "Honda Celebration of Light 2017 launches special competition for Canada's 150th birthday". March 7, 2017.
- "3 iconic Canadian songs selected for 2017 Honda Celebration of Light".
- "Canada, Japan and U.K. to compete in 2017 Celebration of Light fireworks show".
- "Honda Celebration of Light 2017". Tourism Vancouver. Archived from the original on July 30, 2017. Retrieved July 30, 2017.
- "Japan plans 'Land of the Rising Sun' theme for Honda Celebration of Light (PHOTOS)".
- "Celebration of Light kicks off in Vancouver today".
- "United Kingdom to 'Kiss The Sky' at Honda Celebration of Light tonight".
- "Canada promises 'legendary' fireworks show for final Honda Celebration of Light".
- Kenneth Chan. "Honda Celebration of Light 2016 participating countries". Vancity Buzz.
- Cindy Robinson; Jon Jefferson; Les Wooten (2006). Modern Marvels - Walt Disney World (History Channel) (DVD). New York: A&E Television Networks. Event occurs at 44 minutes. ASIN B000CS461O. ISBN 9780767087896. OCLC 64282449.
- "Vancouver". Vancouver 24 hrs. Archived from the original on April 16, 2016. Retrieved April 8, 2016.
- Kenneth Chan. "Opinion: Fireworks heavyweights push Honda Celebration of Light to new level". Vancity Buzz.
- Chan, Kenneth (August 1, 2016). "Disney wins 2016 Honda Celebration Of Light fireworks competition". Daily Hive. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
- Chan, Kenneth (July 31, 2016). "Police closed English Bay Beach due to record Celebration of Light crowds on Disney night". Daily Hive. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
- Chan, Kenneth (July 23, 2016). "A look at the Honda Celebration of Light barge with Team Netherlands (PHOTOS)".
- Chan, Kenneth (July 27, 2016). "Australia plans 'Live and Loud' theme for Honda Celebration of Light (PHOTOS)".
- Chan, Kenneth (July 29, 2016). "Disney music extravaganza for final Honda Celebration of Light fireworks on Saturday".
- Chan, Kenneth (July 30, 2016). "Record 500,000 people expected for Disney's Celebration of Light fireworks tonight".
- "Fireworks again to light up Vancouver sky this summer". Archived from the original on May 13, 2016.
- "Team Japan Wins 2014 Honda Celebration of Light". Archived from the original on November 7, 2014. Retrieved March 14, 2017.
- "Barge Tour with Team Japan for Honda Celebration of Lights highlights". Hello Vancity. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016.
- "Celebration of Light fireworks festival opens with U.K.’s tribute to James Bond". Vancouver Sun.
- Ravindran, Manori (July 30, 2012). "Vancouver skies to come alive tonight - Celebration of Light unites Brazil, Italy and Vietnam in a new trifecta". Vancouver Sun. Archived from the original on July 30, 2012.
- Brice Ferre (July 27, 2012). "Honda Celebration of Light fireworks barge tour". VIAwesome.
- "Participating Countries - Celebration of Light - July 30, August 3, August 6 2011 - Vancouver, BC". April 18, 2011. Archived from the original on April 18, 2011.
- "celebration-of-light.com".
External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Celebration of Light. |
- Official Celebration of Light website
- Full video clip of Canada July 23, 2008 fireworks display
- Full video clip of USA July 26, 2008 fireworks display
- Full video clip of the Finale August 2 2008 fireworks display
- Full video clip of Canada July 23, 2009 fireworks display
- Celebration of Light - Photo shot from North Vancouver