After a two-year hiatus, the Celebration of Light returns on July 23, 27 and 30!

Event Details

• Dates: Saturday, July 23 (Japan); Wednesday, July 27 (Canada); and Saturday, July 30 (Spain)
• Times: 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. (festival), 6 p.m. on July 27 only (Canadian Forces Snowbirds Demonstration Team), 7:40 p.m. (Red Bull Air Show), 10 p.m. (fireworks)

TransLink is proud to be a partner of the Celebration of Light events and to help you get to and from the events safely and reliably. Here are five tips to having an amazing experience at the fireworks:

1 | Take transit to English Bay and the West End

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

• SkyTrain will be operating on peak service levels (trains every 2-3 mins) leading up to and following the fireworks.
  • Bikes will not be permitted on SkyTrain after 10:30 p.m. Passengers can board with bikes again after the crowds clear.
  • Some downtown SkyTrain stations will have modified access to entrances to keep crowds moving smoothly. Check translink.ca/alerts for station access information.
• SeaBus sailings will extend to 15-minute service from 9:15 p.m. until 11:15 p.m.
• Extra bus service will be in place to meet demand in various locations, particularly in downtown Vancouver.
  • Extra buses depart from Burrard Station (Expo Line) and Yaletown–Roundhouse Station (Canada Line) to near English Bay, between 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.
  • After the fireworks, extra buses depart from Georgia and Denman Street, travelling to the North Shore (Park Royal) and to Burrard/Waterfront Stations. Also, from Davie and Burrard Street to Yaletown–Roundhouse Station. These buses operate between 10:30 p.m. and 12:30 a.m.
  • Routes 2, 5, 6 and 23 will be rerouted due to street closures. For a full list, visit translink.ca/alerts.
• West Coast Express will operate a special train on Saturday, July 30.
  • The train will leave Mission at 7:00 p.m., arriving at Waterfront at 8:15 p.m.
  • The return train begins boarding at Waterfront at 11:00 p.m., departing at midnight.

2 | New to taking transit? Here’s what you need to know

Unlock discounted transit fares by purchasing a Compass Card from a Compass Vending Machine at SkyTrain stations/SeaBus terminals or select London Drugs locations, at Compass Retailers, or online. You will be charged a $6 refundable deposit for each Compass Card. Once you have a Compass Card, load it with Stored Value for those occasional trips, or a Monthly Pass if you plan on using transit frequently.

No Compass Card? No worries! You can Tap to Pay at Compass readers onboard buses and at faregates using contactless American Express, Mastercard, and Visa credit cards along with Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay.

If you don’t have a credit card, you can purchase a Compass Ticket from a Compass Vending Machine at a SkyTrain station or SeaBus terminal using cash or debit. A Compass Ticket is different from a Compass Card; the ticket is single use only, while the card is multi-use. On buses, you can pay with cash, but remember paper transfers (tickets) issued on buses do not open the faregates at SkyTrain stations and SeaBus terminals; only Compass Cards, Compass Tickets, and contactless credit cards open them.

Here are a few other things you need to know:

• Most buses are front-door boarding only.
• Tap your card on the reader at the fare gate when entering and exiting SkyTrain stations or SeaBus terminals. For buses, only tap the reader when you enter.
• Children 12 and under ride transit for free.
• If you are travelling from outside of Vancouver on Wednesday, July 25 before 6:30 p.m., you will need to pay for a two- or three-zone depending on where you trip begins if you are riding SkyTrain or the SeaBus. For example, trips originating from Surrey will be a three-zone fare, while trips from the North Shore will be a two-zone fare. Weekday travel after 6:30 p.m. as well as weekends and holidays are a one-zone fare.

3 | Visit the Morton Park Festival Zone, 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., for live music, food trucks, an artisan marketplace and more!

Don’t miss out on a day filled with free, family-friendly entertainment leading up to the fireworks.

The Festival Stage at Morton Park will host performances from myriad BC-based artists from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. each evening. Food trucks will be located along Beach Avenue, starting at 2 p.m. as well, with multiple food vendors scattered around the festival zone.

Our community outreach team will also be at the event with our Ride and Shine bus, talking everything transit with you.

For the full list of performers, food trucks, and vendors, please visit hondacelebrationoflight.com.

4 | Get there early for the best spot

During the summer months, some of the busiest places are our region’s beaches. They get even busier during Celebration of Light days, so if you’re hoping for a front-row seat to the fireworks, you’ll want to arrive nice and early.

Pack a beach towel (Psst…you can pick up a SkyTrain beach towel from the TransLink Store!), USB battery pack, books, snacks, drinks, sunscreen, and anything else you may need to spend a full day at the beach. Bring a radio to tune into 104.3 FM or 95.3 FM to hear the music simulcast of the fireworks.

Although English Bay Beach provides the best view of the fireworks, alternative vantage points are available on the other side of English Bay from Vanier Park and Kitsilano Beach.

5 | Make a day of it! Enjoy discounts with your Compass Card

The fireworks show begins at 10 p.m. each evening. Start your day earlier than that and make it a day of exploring Vancouver.

Ride and Shine this summer with transit — enjoy discounts and special offers to some of Metro Vancouver’s most popular attractions with your Compass Card.* Here’s a list of nearby attractions:

• Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art: Show your Compass Card or proof of fare to receive 2-for-1 admission. Valid on in-person admission payment only.
• Chinatown Storytelling Centre: $5 off admission. Valid on in-person admission payment only.
• Contemporary Art Gallery: 10% off at the book store when you present your Compass Card or valid proof of fare.
• Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden: Show your Compass Card or proof of fare to receive 2-for-1 admission. Valid on in-person admission payment only.
• FlyOver Canada: Show your Compass Card or proof of same-day fare to receive 20% single feature admission. Valid for in-person payment only, cannot be combined with any other offers.
• Museum of Vancouver: Show your Compass Card or proof of fare to receive 2-for-1 admission. Valid on in-person admission payment only.
• MacMillan Space Centre: Show your Compass Card or proof of fare to receive 25% off general admission. Valid on in-person admission payment only.
• Roedde House Museum: Show your Compass Card or proof of fare to receive 2-for-1 admission. Valid on in-person admission payment only.
• Science World: Show your Compass Card or proof of fare to receive 20% off general admission. Valid on in-person admission payment only.
• Vancouver Mysteries: Get 20% off when you book online using the promo code TRANSIT for games of 2-30 players. Must show your Compass Card or proof of same-day fare upon arrival.

*TransLink is not responsible for delivery or execution of offers and is not liable for any costs associated with providing offer to customers. We recommend checking with the offer location for the terms & conditions of each specific offer.