Sweden lights up the sky at Celebration of Light
Police conduct 150 pour-outs as thousands pack area around English Bay for fireworks show
Thousands of people gathered near English Bay on Wednesday night to enjoy the second instalment of Vancouver's Honda Celebration of Light fireworks festival.
The festival, now in its 28th year, features three countries putting on 25-minute firework displays from a barge moored in English Bay.
The teams this year were required to design their shows around the theme of love.
Unique Pyrotechnic's show for Sweden on Wednesday followed South Africa's team Fireworks for Africa, which opened the festival on Saturday.
South Korea's Daehan Fireworks Co. rounds out the festival this Saturday.
An incredible show put on by Sweden so far <a href="https://twitter.com/CelebOfLight?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CelebOfLight</a> as the crowds clap and cheer after each burst of light in the sky <a href="https://twitter.com/cbcnewsbc?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@cbcnewsbc</a> <a href="https://t.co/xE6RbNOJUw">pic.twitter.com/xE6RbNOJUw</a>
—@Zahra_PremjiPolice said the crowd was a bit smaller at Wednesday's show than on opening night, but they still had to conduct about 150 alcohol pour-outs — up from 100 on Saturday.
VPD Const. Jason Doucette said those numbers were fairly reasonable, but they are asking people to leave their alcohol at home for the next show.
Doucette said there were a few people that did have too much to drink, and they were taken to jail to sober up before being released later that night.
"This was another great event and we would actually like to thank the public for planning ahead ... this great behaviour is contagious," said Doucette.
He said police are expecting a larger crowd on Saturday night, but they aren't expecting any problems.
"You're going to see the same sorts of things, we're going to create a safe pedestrian environment for everyone down here," said Doucette.
"We're going to have lots of officers on the ground. We're going to have the helicopter up, boats, horses ... and we encourage people to touch base with our officers if you need anything."
The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CelebOfLight?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CelebOfLight</a> crowds have arrived at SkyTrain. We’re working hard with our <a href="https://twitter.com/TransLink?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TransLink</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/VancouverPD?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VancouverPD</a> partners to get everyone home safely. <a href="https://t.co/IPVtCHV9XW">pic.twitter.com/IPVtCHV9XW</a>
—@TransitPoliceUp to 15,000 people are expected to take transit to the events each night. TransLink has added extra service.
Meanwhile, Vancouver police are asking people to be patient getting in and out of viewing locations as road closures are in effect.
All the performances start at 10 p.m. PT. CBC will stream the shows live on its website and Facebook page.