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travel / adventure zone
| The Adventure Zone |
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| Photo courtesy Vancouver
Fireworks Festival Society |
Fire in the sky
The HSBC Celebration of Light adds some sizzle to the Vancouver night
By Tracy C. Read
As the midsummer dusk fades to black on July 25, 2007, people
of all ages will settle down along the Vancouver waterfront at English
Bay, Kitsilano, Vanier Park, Jericho Beach and West Vancouver. In
nearby apartment buildings, residents will appear on their balconies
while kayakers and canoeists will direct their gaze to two sand-covered
barges 300 metres offshore. When the hour strikes 10 p.m., the air
will fill with music, and the sky will explode with an assortment
of incendiary shells, rockets, roman candles, fountains, flying
saucers, wheels and waterfalls.
There are countless reasons to visit Vancouver but since 2001,
the four-night HSBC Celebration of Light is a competitive fireworks
extravaganza that has added an irresistible frisson to the downtown’s
summertime schedule. Each year, the event draws more than one million
citizens and tourists oceanside for the most sophisticated pyrotechnical
display in the world.
The secret ingredient of all fireworks is that old black magic
called gunpowder. The 9 th-century invention of gunpowder has been
credited to the Chinese, who incorporated the dark dust in a range
of handmade explosives used both to ward off evil spirits and to
mark celebrations from weddings to eclipses of the moon. Marco Polo
was first to ship fireworks to the western world where the whimsical
displays have provided holiday entertainment for centuries.
In Canada, fireworks have evolved since those nostalgic 1950s
backyard efforts each Victoria Day. Today, thanks to complex, star-packed
shells and electronic ignition, these elaborate light shows unfold
with surgical precision. The result is a complex blend of art and
science set to music — a feature unique to Canadian fireworks
competitions — that is orchestrated by expert designers and
pyrotechnicians who get the most colourful bang for their buck.
The 2007 HSBC Celebration of Light welcomes three international
teams competing over four nights. Each team has 25 minutes to wow
the judges and audience with its carefully scripted "story" and
the presentations will be judged on synchronization, architecture,
colour, design, music and duration. Spain is first to light up the
sky on July 25, followed by Canada on July 28 and China on August
1. The grande finale takes place Saturday, August 4, with a short
segment from each competitor. Organizers encourage visitors (with
blankets and lawn chairs) to come early — rain or shine, the
show will go on.
For more information about the HSBC Celebration of Light, visit www.hsbccelebrationoflight.com/fireworks/info.html
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