The Honda Celebration of Light will be lighting up the sky again this summer, and we’re adding extra service to get you there!

The Honda Celebration of Light is one of Vancouver’s largest and most well-known festivals, and is recognized as the longest-running offshore fireworks competitions in the world. This year, you catch the dazzling display on the following days:

Saturday, July 29 – Japan

Wednesday, August 2 – United Kingdom

Saturday, August 5 – Canada

All light shows begin at 10 p.m, however the fun starts at 2 p.m. on these days in the RE/MAX Family Zone, the perfect spot for kids and parents to enjoy fun activities prior to the fireworks each evening.

To get everyone to and from these spectacular events, TransLink is adding more service on all three nights to accommodate the fireworks at English Bay.

Added service

Bus

Coast Mountain Bus Company and West Vancouver Transit will operate extra trips to downtown Vancouver after 6:30 p.m. and additional service after the events. Some downtown and West End buses will be detoured. For a full list of detours, visit translink.ca/alerts.

SkyTrain 

Expo/Millennium Line will operate peak service from mid-afternoon, with the last scheduled SkyTrain departing Waterfront Station at 1:16 a.m. Service will be extended if necessary.

Canada Line will operate regular hours of service (last departure from Waterfront to Richmond-Brighouse Station at 1:15 a.m.), with the following enhancements:

• Peak service will be provided for the entire evening
• Extra service from Waterfront at the end of the fireworks, with trains running every 3 minutes

West Coast Express

West Coast Express will operate a special train on August 5 only, leaving Mission City at 7 p.m. and arriving at Waterfront Station at 8:15 p.m. The return train departs Waterfront Station at midnight, arriving back at Mission City at approximately 1:15 a.m.

SeaBus

Extra and extended service will be provided for each of the Celebration of Light events

• Saturday, July 29 – 15 minute service from 9 a.m. and 12:15 a.m. with a third vessel between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m.
• Wednesday, August 2 & Saturday, August 5 – We’re extending every 15 minutes from 6 a.m. to 12:15 a.m.

Station access

To ensure passenger comfort and safety, before, during and after the events, the following stations will be open with modified access:

Waterfront Station: SkyTrain access from the Cordova Street entrance will be restricted after 10:30 p.m., to Canada Line, SeaBus and West Coast Express (on Aug. 5 only) passengers, as well as persons with wheelchairs or strollers. All other passengers, including those transferring from SeaBus to the Expo Line must enter from Howe Street, until crowds have cleared.

Burrard Station: Bikes cannot be locked at the station entrance from 10:30 p.m., until the expected crowds have cleared.

Granville Station: The Seymour and Granville entrances will be closed from 10:30 p.m., until crowds clear. Passengers will be queued west along Dunsmuir, south on Granville.

Transit Tip!

Save time by purchasing your Compass Tickets in advance! Bypass late-night lines by grabbing your return ticket at the Compass Vending Machine on your way to the festivities and save it for use later! Compass Tickets expire at the end of the service on that day.

Save time and money by travelling with a Monthly Pass or Stored Value on your Compass Card. Make sure to check your balance or top up your card online before you go!

For up-to-date transit service information including bus re-routes during special events, sign up for Transit Alerts at translink.ca/alerts,
follow @TransLink or call Customer Service at 604.953.3333.

Author: Sarah Kertcher