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Celebration of Lights has a new Sponsor on a 3yr Contract (Honda)


Financial certainty for the Celebration of Light festival - News1130

Financial certainty for the Celebration of Light festival
Honda is the new sponsor of the annual, often cash-strapped summer festival


VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - Finally, the annual Celebration of Light has some financial certainty. The often cash-strapped summer festival has a new title sponsor.

Honda has signed on for the next three years, keeping the annual event afloat through the summer of 2014. The fireworks show will be known as the Honda Celebration of Light.

"It makes all the board members sleep a lot better," believes John Reynolds, Chair of the Vancouver Fireworks Festival Society.

In past years, the show has been on the brink of being cancelled because of a lack of funding. "It's very, very good. It's good free enterprise, and good solid business."

If you're looking to get you tickets early, reserved seating is already available.

"We've already sold tickets this year," says Reynolds. "[It's] amazing that we just put [the website] up softly a few weeks ago with no advertising and there's a few hundred tickets already sold."

He says the format for the reserved seats, and the number of seats available, will be much the same as last year.

"The reserved seating worked very well last year because there are some people who don't have the ability to come at the last minute, or they've got kids. It give some of them a chance to get seating."

"We're looking at increasing that [reserved seating] hopefully a little bit this year, a couple hundred more. But the beaches are beautiful, it's a great family event."

Canada will not be competing in this year's festival, but Reynolds stresses there will be great content from other countries.

"Kicking off this year's event on Saturday, July 28, will be Vietnam," says Reynolds. "This is the first competition for Vietnam outside of its home country, and marks a landmark event in the pyrotechnic community."

"Next up on Wednesday, August 1, will be Brazil. Known for its flamboyant, innovative displays, this show will certainly be one to watch," adds Reynolds. "And finally, on Saturday, August 4, bringing its rich tradition of pyrotechnics will be Italy."

Last year's show received a major award. The 21st Annual Celebration of Light was given the Best Public Entertainment Award at the 2012 Canadian Event Industry Awards.

The prize was handed out March 30 at the Hyatt Hotel in Toronto. Festival organizers say they are thrilled to be recognized nationally for their efforts.