The Celebration of Light is synonymous with summer in Metro Vancouver. There’s nothing quite like fireworks, and once again – TransLink takes you there.

This year, enjoy a celebration of food, music and light as over 1.3 million regional and international visitors take to English Bay to sample local food, experience live music performances and finally soak in the wonder of the fireworks. Arrive early, and see the skies come alive each night at 10PM.

We’re adding extra service and modifying station access in downtown Vancouver to get you to-and-from the festivities smoothly.

Extra 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 closer to event days.

Shuttle Buses to English Bay:

• From Burrard Station to Denman and Robson (7 pm until 10 pm)
• From Yaletown Station to Burrard and Davie (6:45 pm until 10 pm)

Return shuttles to SkyTrain Stations (Starting after fireworks until demand subsides):

• From Georgia and Denman to Burrard Station
• From Burrard and Davie to Yaletown Station 

Due to closures on Davie Street, the following routes will see changes in service: 

Route 5:

• Will take regular route to Robson and Denman then loop back with altered service along Georgia, Pender, Richards, Robson and Cambie 

Route 6:

• Will take regular route to Cambie and Robson then loop back with altered service along Seymour, Pender, Burrard, Robson, Denman, Georgia, Pender, and Cambie

SkyTrain

Expo and Millennium Lines will run peak service with all available trains in service starting mid-afternoon, with the last scheduled train leaving Waterfront Station at 1:16 a.m.

Canada Line will provide rush-hour level service all evening, with every train in service following the fireworks. Last train will depart Waterfront at 1:15 a.m.

SeaBus 

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

The SeaBus will operate every 15 minutes until 12:30 a.m. and then 30-minute service until the last sailing from Waterfront at 1:22 a.m.

West Coast Express

West Coast Express will operate a special train on August 3 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.

Station access

To ensure passenger comfort and safety after the events, bikes will not be allowed on SkyTrain after 10:30 p.m. until the crowds have cleared. As well, the following stations will be open with modified access after 10:30 p.m.

Waterfront Station: SkyTrain access from the Cordova Street entrance will be restricted to Canada Line, SeaBus and West Coast Express (on Aug. 3 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’s bike rack until the expected crowds have cleared. After 10:30 p.m., SkyTrain boarding at this station will be limited to eastbound travel only.

Granville Station: The Granville Street entrance will be closed until crowds clear (note: the Seymour entrance remains closed as part of the escalator replacement project). Passengers will lineup for the SkyTrain at this station west along Dunsmuir, south on Granville. Platform 1 towards Waterfront will be closed.

Make sure to check out some important tips for a safe ride from our friends over at Transit Police.

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Author: Sarah Kertcher