The Challenge | Keeping The Flame Alive
Vancouver’s most beloved summer event, the Honda Celebration of Light, is the world’s longest-running offshore fireworks competition. The event welcomes over a million attendees annually during three spectacular nights of fireworks over English Bay, and is BC’s largest live event. BRANDLIVE is responsible for the on-going creative evolution of the festival, including programming, production, operations, and marketing, as well as raising millions of dollars in funding and sponsorship each year to keep the event flourishing and free for the community at large.
The Strategy | Continuous Evolution
Since 2010, BRANDLIVE has worked with the Vancouver Fireworks Festival Society’s Board on a strategy of continuous evolution, improving and expanding the festival each year to include VIP ticketed venues and entertainment alongside free community programming. In 2019, festival crowds reached 1.2 million across three days, enjoying free, family-friendly entertainment including the Park Stage, Red Bull air show, Z-Fest music at English Bay, sponsor activations, food trucks and – last but not least – some truly world-class pyrotechnic displays by teams from India, Canada, and Croatia.
The Impact | Building Community and Recognizing Diversity
Already the Province’s largest community event, 2019 featured debut performances by pyrotechnic teams from India and Croatia, recognizing and engaging these important Vancouver communities for the first time. Festival entertainment and food offerings were also chosen to reflect the competing nations, weaving a golden thread of content through the guest experience. Also new in 2019 was the expansion of the festival to include downtown programming outside the Vancouver Art Gallery, featuring the Hendrick’s hot air balloon and air departure lounge. Once again, the popularity of the Honda Celebration of Light succeeded in driving over $150m in economic benefit to the region.
