More than 300,000 people flocked to the area around Vancouver’s English Bay for this year’s second Celebration of Light fireworks display, Wednesday night.
The throngs of spectators seemed generally impressed with the pyrotechnics show, put on on by Team Brazil. Vancouver Police say there were 50,000 or 60,000 more spectators downtown, compared to Saturday night, when Team China performed.
Const. Brian Montague said there were the usual liquor pour-outs and trouble with people smoking cigarettes and marijuana on the beach, but it was otherwise fairly peaceful.
“We did have some minor problems, like we usually see every fireworks. It’s the nature of having such a large crowd in a small area, but we managed to deal with it very quickly, and didn’t have anything escalate,” said Montague.
He said the Vancouver Police Marine Unit was kept busy with the heavy boat traffic in English Bay, and there was one incident on the water when someone tried to swim out toward the fireworks barge.
The year’s third and final Celebration of Light fireworks display will be put on by Team Canada this coming Saturday.
