Celebration of Light 2010: Team Spain

It’s fireworks time in Vancouver, with the Celebration of Light, taking place on July 21, 24, 28 and 31. I have already gone to the first two shows—Team USA and Team Spain, and will definitely see the rest. Hey, it’s great entertainment, and I live right by Sunset Beach, so why not?

It’s fireworks time in Vancouver, with the Celebration of Light, taking place on July 21, 24, 28 and 31. I have already gone to the first two shows—Team USA and Team Spain, and will definitely see the rest. Hey, it’s great entertainment, and I live right by Sunset Beach, so why not?

The Team USA show on the 21st was good but not great. Honestly, I’d half-expected them to do a long rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner and a red-white-blue theme, but they stuck to red and green, with Big Band and old-school rock music, which was all kinds of fun. Yet, it didn’t rise much above fun. Catchy? Entertaining? Definitely. But, it didn’t feel creative or inventive; it didn’t feel special.

I didn’t have my tripod with me on Wednesday because I’d come straight from volleyball to the beach. Saturday, though, I came prepared. That included getting there extra early, and staking out a spot by the Inukshuk. The crowds were already fierce, even a couple hours before sunset, but at least I had a good unobstructed view.

And my god, was it worth it! The Spanish fireworks were moving and captivating, telling half-understood stories in sound and light and overheard snatches of music. Beginning with sharp, shocking thunderclaps—guns, war, death—rousing music (I think I heard Flight of the Valkyries) interspersed with calm, soothing, Celtic-ish-sounding notes, gold light falling like rain—heavenly grace, peace, or death—all leading up to a deliriously over-the-top explosive finale, it drew me in as non-verbal art rarely does.

Later I found out the theme was “Hell and Heaven”, so I was kind of right. Great job, Pirotecna Igual!

Crowd at Second Beach

Planetarium and Reflected Sunset

Five Minute Warning

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