Thousands gather to watch fireworks from Vancouver's English Bay
South Africa kicked off 2018 Celebration of Light, Sweden is Wednesday, South Korea next Saturday
Thousands of people lined the beaches in English Bay to watch the first night 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.
All three teams were required to design their shows this year around the theme of love.
South Africa's Fireworks for Africa began the festival on Saturday.
Vancouver police said overall the event went smoothly with few problems. VPD spokesperson Cst. Jason Doucette estimated the crowd was in the hundreds of thousands.
'Great event, family event'
Police conducted about 100 pour-outs of alcohol, which Doucette said was an average number for the size of the event.
There were also a few breaches of the peace and one arrest for a stolen backpack. Doucette said the bag was returned to its owner.
"Overall this was a great event, a family event," he said.
If you didn't make it down to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EnglishBay?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EnglishBay</a> to see <a href="https://twitter.com/CelebOfLight?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CelebOfLight</a> tonight, here are a few pics of the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/fireworks?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#fireworks</a>! Stunning as always! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VPD?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#VPD</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CelebOfLight?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CelebOfLight</a> <br>Thanks to <a href="https://twitter.com/VPDSuperDavey?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VPDSuperDavey</a> & Cst Doucette for the pics! <a href="https://t.co/Dbzltf5FGg">pic.twitter.com/Dbzltf5FGg</a>
—@VancouverPDLeave the car at home
Heather Owen, co-chair of the Honda Celebration of Light, said the event is one of the "best free family events in Vancouver."
But it's best to leave the car at home.
"I would encourage attendees to not bring their cars downtown," Owen said. "Transit is available."
Up 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.
Clean-up underway
Crews were on scene early Sunday morning at English Bay to clean up.
On Wednesday, Sweden's Unique Pyrotechnic will take to the skies, followed next Saturday by South Korea's Daehan Fireworks Co.
All the performances start at 10 p.m. PT. and CBC will stream the shows on its website and Facebook page.