Vancouver’s famous fireworks festival will be all-Canadian this year

The Celebration of Light is returning to English Bay for its 33rd anniversary with an all-Canadian showdown this summer.

This summer’s Celebration of Light comes with a twist.

The typically international affair showcasing the best in pyrotechnics from around the world will be exclusively Canadian, organizers announced Thursday.

Teams from Portugal, Malaysia, the U.K., Australia, Mexico and the Philippines visited Vancouver’s English Bay to compete in the last two iterations of the fireworks festival, now in its 33rd year.

In 2025, companies from three Canadian provinces will perform in the showcase.

The Yukon’s Midnight Sun will light up the sky on July 19, Quebec’s Royal Pyrotechnie on July 23, and Nova Scotia’s Fireworks FX on July 26.

The decision to feature homegrown fireworks this year was prompted by a “wave of national pride” in recent months, organizers said.

“The last several months have proven to be a challenging period for our great nation. However, the circumstances have also contributed to a wave of nationalism that is unprecedented,” said Michael McKnight, co-chair of the Vancouver Fireworks Festival Society, in a news release.

“It’s in that spirit that we are wrapping our 2025 event in the Canadian flag and celebrating everything that is great about this country.”

Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim is quoted as saying he’s excited to welcome locals as well as visitors from across the country and the globe to the event that usually draws hundreds of thousands of spectators.

“The Honda Celebration of Light is a summer tradition that brings people together and highlights the energy, diversity, and spirit of our city. It’s a celebration of everything that makes Vancouver special and what it means to be Canadian,” he said, in the release.

Other festival features returning this year include demonstrations from the Royal Canadian Air Force’s Snowbirds, and drone shows before the fireworks.

There’s also a draw for one Metro Vancouver family to become official judges of the competition.