12 Spots to watch the Celebration of Light in Vancouver

July 27, 2016
DV
By Destination Vancouver
5 min read

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Vancouver is never more alive than it is during the summer, and the yearly-anticipated Celebration of Light plays a big part in bringing some of that lively magic to the city! The fireworks show takes place every July in Vancouver over 3 nights and these are some of the best viewing points to experience the fun whether it’s on your own, with your partner, or in the company of family and friends!

Restaurant -
photo: Colin Knowles / Flickr

12. Restaurant Patio

All of the restaurants along the beach offer incredible, premium views, so you can watch the fireworks in style and comfort with a glass of vino.

Apartment Deck
photo: Colin Knowles / Flickr

11. Apartment Deck

If you’re lucky enough to have an apartment with water views in the West End, your balcony may be the desired spot for all your friends. You could also look into an AirBnB for the night.

photo: @_phaneron
photo: Colin Knowles / Flickr

10.Revolving Restaurant

Views from atop at either the Harbour Center or Empire Landmark Hotel revolving restaurants won’t disappoint. You’ll get as close to the real action as possible.

Photo: @beeblancs
photo: Colin Knowles / Flickr

9. Rent a Boat

There are lots of options for renting boats, if you or someone you know doesn’t have one. Granville Island is a great spot to rent for a few hours, but get your reservation in early, as nothing is more beautiful than watching fireworks from the water.

Burrard Bridge
photo: Colin Knowles / Flickr

8. Burrard Bridge

If you don’t want crowds, but still want the unobstructed view of the fireworks, the bridge is a great place to stop over.

photo: @vancouverama
photo: Colin Knowles / Flickr

7. Cafes

Stanley Park has a few water-view cafes that you can sit and enjoy a tea or coffee, relax and take in the beauty.

photo: Jon Rawlinson
photo: Colin Knowles / Flickr

6. The Seawall

Rent a bike, take a picnic and bike the seawall, while watching the fireworks. You can stop along the way and have a snack.

photo: @meshart
photo: Colin Knowles / Flickr

5. Kits Beach

Kitsilano Beach is a great place to see the fireworks, without having to deal with the crowds downtown. Bridges and buses might be chaotic, so if you’re already on the south side, enjoy.

YouTube Image
photo: Colin Knowles / Flickr

4. Third Beach

Third Beach is still a bit of a hidden gem as it’s a destination, but still conveniently downtown. Less crowd, more peaceful and the best view.

photo: Andrew Jason Jimenez
photo: Colin Knowles / Flickr

3. Second Beach

If you don’t want to make the trek all the way to Third Beach, but you want to get away from the crowd, Second Beach is conveniently located right in Stanley Park and facing the fireworks boat.

photo: Jenn Chan Photography / Flickr
photo: Colin Knowles / Flickr

2. Sunset Beach

An alternative, if you’re trying to avoid the mad crowds at English Bay and just as good of a view. There are also plenty of logs to sit on if you don’t want to be right in the sand.

photo: @rorycoomeyphotography
photo: Colin Knowles / Flickr

1. English Bay

English Bay is THE prime location to watch the second night of the fireworks. You can grab a spot on the beach and cuddle up with some blankets if you get there early enough. If you’re really into splurging, you can even get a VIP seat on the risers, built specifically for this show.

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