# Celebration of Light

The Honda Celebration of Light (formerly known as the Benson & Hedges Symphony of Fire and the HSBC Celebration of Light) is an annual musical fireworks competition in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The first "Symphony of Fire" was held from July 25 to August 5, 1990. The celebration is one of Vancouver's largest and most well-known festivals, and is recognized as the longest-running offshore fireworks competition in the world. The multiple-day event has an estimated annual attendance of 1.4 million people.

## 2024 program

The 2024 competition took place on July 20, 24, and 27. The participating countries were Portugal, Malaysia, and the United Kingdom. The winner of the 2024 competition was United Kingdom.
Saturday, July 20 :
| Country: | Portugal |
| Team: | Macedos Pirotecnia |
| Theme: | Tune In |
| Wednesday, July 24 ||
| Country: | Malaysia |
| Team: | Pyro Tact |
| Theme: | Majestik in the Dark |
| Saturday, July 27 ||
| Country: | United Kingdom |
| Team: | Pyrotex Fireworx |
| Theme: | Lights, Camera, Action - Saturday Night at the Movies |

## 2023 program

The 2023 competition took place on July 22, 26, and 29. The participating countries were Australia, Mexico, and the Philippines. The winner of the 2023 competition was Philippines.
Saturday, July 22 :
| Country: | Australia |
| Team: | Howard & Sons Pyrotechnics |
| Theme: | Good Night Out |
| Wednesday, July 26 ||
| Country: | Mexico |
| Team: | Grupo AVACON |
| Theme: | The Time Machine |
| Saturday, July 29 ||
| Country: | Philippines |
| Team: | Blue Peacock Fireworks |
| Theme: | Independence Day (Liberation) |

## 2022 program

The 2022 competition took place on July 23, 27, and 30. The participating countries are Japan, Canada, and Spain. The winner of the 2022 competition was Canada.
Saturday, July 23 :
| Country: | Japan |
| Team: | Akariya Fireworks |
| Theme: | None |
| Wednesday, July 27 ||
| Country: | Canada |
| Team: | Midnight Sun Fireworks |
| Theme: | Pirates of the Caribbean |
| Saturday, July 30 ||
| Country: | Spain |
| Team: | Pirotecnia Zaragozana |
| Theme: | Heroes |

## 2021 program (cancelled)

The event was postponed until July 23, 27, and 30 in 2022 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in British Columbia.

## 2020 program (cancelled)

In 2020, the competition was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in British Columbia.

## 2019 program

The 2019 Honda Celebration of Light took place on July 27, July 31, and August 3, 2019. The participating countries were India, Canada, and Croatia. It was the first year where India and Croatia have participated in the competition. The winner of the 2019 competition was Canada.
Saturday, July 27 :
| Country: | India |
| Team: | Amir Morani Fireworks |
| Theme: | Love |
| Website: | Amir Morani Fireworks |
| Wednesday, July 31 ||
| Country: | Canada |
| Team: | Firemaster Productions Inc. |
| Theme: | "Feel Good Hits of the Summer" |
| Website: | Firemaster Productions |
| Saturday, August 3 ||
| Country: | Croatia |
| Team: | Mirnovec Fireworks |
| Theme: | "Journey Through Cinema" |

## 2018 program

The 2018 Honda Celebration of Light took place on July 28, August 1, and August 4. The participating countries were South Africa, represented by Fireworks for Africa; Sweden, represented by Unique Pyrotechnic; and South Korea, by Daehan Fireworks Co. For the first time, all three competitors were required to incorporate the same theme into their fireworks display and musical accompaniment. The theme, which was voted by the public, was love. The winner was South Korea.
Saturday, July 28 :
| Country: | South Africa |
| Team: | Fireworks for Africa |
| Website: | Fireworks for Africa |
| Wednesday, August 1 ||
| Country: | Sweden |
| Team: | Unique Pyrotechnic |
| Website: | Unique Pyrotechnic |
| Saturday, August 4 ||
| Country: | South Korea |
| Team: | Daehan Fireworks Co. |

## 2017 program

The 2017 Honda Celebration of Light took place on July 29, August 2, and August 5, featuring competitors from Japan, the United Kingdom, and Canada. The competitor for Japan, Akariya, previously won the 2014 Honda Celebration of Light. Widely regarded as the premiere pyrotechnic company in the UK, the multi-award-winning Jubilee Fireworks Ltd became the holders of the first "Champions of Champions" title after winning both national competitions: The British Fireworks Championships and The British Musical Fireworks Championships. Royal Pyrotechnie, recognized as the most decorated fireworks firm in Canada, is the only group to win three Gold Jupiter awards during the annual L'International des Feux Loto-Québec competition.
To celebrate Canada's 150th anniversary, each of the competitors were required to include one iconic Canadian song into their display, extending the traditional length of the shows (25 minutes) for an additional 3 minutes (for a total of 28 minutes). The songs were voted by the public on Honda's Celebration of Light Facebook page; the three chosen were "Ahead by a Century" by The Tragically Hip, "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen, and "Summer of '69" by Bryan Adams. The winner of the competition was Japan.
Saturday, July 29 :
| Country: | Japan |
| Team: | Akariya Fireworks |
| Theme: | Land of the Rising Sun |
| Canada 150 song selection: | "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen |
| Wednesday, August 2 ||
| Country: | United Kingdom |
| Team: | Jubilee Fireworks |
| Theme: | Kiss The Sky |
| Canada 150 song selection: | "Ahead by a Century" by The Tragically Hip |
| Website: | Jubilee Fireworks |
| Saturday, August 5 ||
| Country: | Canada |
| Team: | Royal Pyrotechnie |
| Theme: | Legends of Fire |
| Canada 150 song selection: | "Summer of '69" by Bryan Adams |
| Website: | Royal Pyrotechnie |

## 2016 program

The 2016 Honda Celebration of Light took place on July 23, July 27, and July 30. The event featured the Netherlands, Australia, and the United States in competition. Notably, 2016 was the first time that the Netherlands has competed in the event. The Walt Disney Company, the world's largest consumer of fireworks, was the competitor for the United States, while Australia was represented by Howard & Sons, whose displays have included the opening and closing ceremonies for 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney and opening and closing ceremonies for the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi and 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. Team USA won the competition. Vancouver Police had to shut down English Bay Beach for the Team USA show, due to capacity concerns.
Saturday, July 23 :
| Country: | Netherlands |
| Team: | Royal Fireworks |
| Theme: | Journey in Time |
| Website: | Royal Fireworks |
| Wednesday, July 27 ||
| Country: | Australia |
| Team: | Howard & Sons Pyrotechnics |
| Theme: | Live and Loud |
| Website: | Howard & Sons Pyrotechnics |
| Saturday, July 30 ||
| Country: | United States |
| Team: | Walt Disney Company |
| Theme: | Disney Music Extravaganza |
| Website: | Walt Disney Company |

## 2015 program

The 2015 Honda Celebration of Light was scheduled for July 25, July 29, and August 1. For the 25th anniversary of the event, three returning competitors from China, Brazil, and Canada participated. The 2015 competition winner was Canada.
Saturday, July 25 :
| Country: | China |
| Company: | Jiangxi Province Lidu Fireworks Corporation Ltd. |
| Team: | Team Lidu |
| Website: | www.lidufireworks.com |
| Wednesday, July 29 ||
| Country: | Brazil |
| Team: | Group Vision Show |
| Saturday, August 1 ||
| Country: | Canada |
| Team: | Archangel Fireworks |
| Website: | www.archangelfireworks.com |

## 2014 program

The 2014 Honda Celebration of Light was scheduled for July 26, July 30, and August 2, featuring performances by the United States, France, and Japan respectively. The competitors were newcomers to Vancouver, though their respective countries have previously participated before. The 2014 competition winner was Japan.
Saturday, July 26 :
| Country: | United States |
| Team: | Pyrotecnico |
| Website: | www.pyrotecnico.com |
| Wednesday, July 30 ||
| Country: | France |
| Team: | F.C. Pyro |
| Saturday, August 2 ||
| Country: | Japan |
| Team: | Akariya Fireworks |
| Theme: | "The Art of Survival" |

## 2013 program

The 2013 Honda Celebration of Light was scheduled for July 27, July 31, and August 3, with performances by the United Kingdom, Canada, and Thailand respectively. 2013 was the first year that Thailand participated in the event as part of the organizers' ongoing efforts to introduce a new nation to the program each year. The 2013 competition winner was Canada.
Saturday, July 27 :
| Country: | United Kingdom |
| Team: | Pyro 2000 |
| Theme: | "Licence to Thrill" (James Bond) |
| Website: | www.pyro2000.co.uk |
| Wednesday, July 31 ||
| Country: | Canada |
| Team: | Calgary-Based Fireworks Spectaculars |
| Theme: | "A Wonderful World/Into a Raging River" |
| Website: | www.fireworksspectaculars.com |
| Saturday, August 3 ||
| Country: | Thailand |
| Team: | Thailand Fireworks |
| Theme: | Classical Thai music |
| Website: | thailandfirework.net |

## 2012 program

The 2012 Honda Celebration of Light saw teams from Vietnam and Brazil as newcomers, while the Italian team of Pirotecnica Soldi was more established. Canada did not participate for the first time in six years as producers of the event had been looking for new countries to compete from each continent for the next three years. The 2012 competition winner was Italy.
Saturday, July 28 :
| Country: | Vietnam |
| Team: | Team Danang Fireworks |
| Wednesday, August 1 ||
| Country: | Brazil |
| Team: | Group Vision Show |
| Saturday, August 4 ||
| Country: | Italy |
| Team: | Pirotecnica Soldi |
| Website: | www.pirotecnicasoldi.it |

## 2011 program

The 2011 HSBC Celebration of Light presented a "Battle of Champions" by featuring three previous competition winners: China (represented by 2009 winner Red Eagle Industrial and Trade Co. Ltd), Spain (represented by 2010 winner Pirotecnia Igual), and Canada (represented by 2007 and 2008 winner Archangel Fireworks Inc). The winner for the 2011 competition was China.
Saturday, July 30 :
| Country: | China |
| Team: | Red Eagle Manufacturing Industrial and Trade Co. Ltd |
| Theme: | China Storm |
| Wednesday, August 3 ||
| Country: | Spain |
| Team: | Pirotecnia Igual |
| Theme: | Odyssey |
| Website: | www.pirotecniaigual.com |
| Saturday, August 6 ||
| Country: | Canada |
| Team: | Archangel Fireworks |
| Theme: | Then and Now |
| Website: | www.archangelfireworks.com |

## 2010 program

The 2010 HSBC Celebration of Light winner was Spain (Pirotecnia Igual).
Wednesday, July 21 :
| Country: | United States |
| Company: | Rozzi Inc. |
| Theme: | In the Mood |
| Saturday, July 24 ||
| Country: | Spain |
| Team: | Pirotecnia Igual |
| Theme: | Heaven and Hell |
| Website: | www.pirotecniaigual.com |
| Wednesday, July 28 ||
| Country: | Mexico |
| Team: | Lux Pirotecnia |
| Theme: | Journey |
| Website: | www.luxpirotecnia.com |
| Saturday, July 31 ||
| Country: | Canada, China |
| Team: | Groupe Fiatlux-Ampleman |
| Theme: | Tribute to China/The Butterfly Lovers |

## 2009 program

The 2009 HSBC Celebration of Light winner was China (Red Eagle Industrial and Trade Co. Ltd.).
Wednesday, July 22 :
| Country: | Canada |
| Company: | Archangel Fireworks Inc. |
| Theme: | No Place Like Home |
| Website: | www.archangelfireworks.com |
| Saturday, July 25 ||
| Country: | South Africa |
| Team: | Fireworks for Africa |
| Theme: | Tapestry of Colour |
| Wednesday, July 29 ||
| Country: | United Kingdom |
| Team: | PYRO2000 |
| Theme: | Parasols Over the Pacific |
| Saturday, August 1 ||
| Country: | China |
| Team: | Red Eagle Industrial and Trade Co. Ltd. |
| Theme: | Through the Looking Glass |

## 2008 program

The 2008 HSBC Celebration of Light winner was Canada, making back-to-back wins for Archangel Fireworks Inc.
Wednesday, July 23 :
| Country: | Canada |
| Company: | Archangel Fireworks Inc. |
| Theme: | Attack |
| Designer: | Kelly Guille & Sean Procter |
| Website: | www.archangelfireworks.com |
| Saturday, July 26 ||
| Country: | United States |
| Company: | Western Enterprises, Incorporated |
| Theme: | Love Will Change the World |
| Designer: | Gary P. Caimano |
| Website: | www.fireworksbywestern.com |
| Wednesday, July 30 ||
| Country: | China |
| Company: | Pyromagic Productions Ltd. |
| Theme: | Power of the Dream |
| Designer: | Wilson Mao |
| Website: | www.pyromagic.com.hk |
| Saturday, August 2 ||
| Grand Finale ||

## 2007 program

The 2007 HSBC Celebration of Light winner was Canada.
Wednesday, July 25 :
| Country: | Spain |
| Company: | Ricardo Caballer Pirotechnica |
| Theme: | Fireworks and the 7th Earth |
| Designer: | Ricardo Caballer Cardo |
| Website: | www.ricardocaballer.com |
| Saturday, July 28 ||
| Country: | Canada |
| Company: | Archangel Fireworks Inc. |
| Theme: | Take Five to Jive |
| Designer: | Kelly Guille and Sean Procter |
| Website: | www.archangelfireworks.com |
| Wednesday, August 1 ||
| Country: | China |
| Company: | Jiangxi Province Lidu Fireworks Corporation Ltd. |
| Theme: | The Time Machine |
| Designer: | Xu Delong |
| Website: | www.lidufireworks.com |
| Saturday, August 4 ||
| Celebration Finale ||
| Designer: | Yves Relave |

## 2006 program

The 2006 winner was Mexico, who joined the competition for the first time.
Wednesday, July 26 :
| Country: | Italy |
| Company: | A.P.E. di Parente Romualdo |
| Theme: | Magia Di Fuochi |
| Designer: | Michele Parente |
| Website: | www.parenteape.it |
| The Italian team's presentation is a peculiar and charming pyrotechnic show with wide variety of effects ranging from the sky to the water, dancing volcanoes, golden rain and a fantastic closure. Attendance was estimated at 400,000. ||
| Saturday, July 29 ||
| Country: | China | A portion of China's 2006 Show |
| Company: | Jiangxi Province Lidu Fireworks Corporation Ltd. | A portion of China's 2006 Show |
| Theme: | Yellow River Odyssey | A portion of China's 2006 Show |
| Designer: | Xu Delong | A portion of China's 2006 Show |
| Website: | www.lidufireworks.com | A portion of China's 2006 Show |
| A portion of China's 2006 Show ||
| Wednesday, August 2 ||
| Country: | Czech Republic |
| Company: | Flash Barrandov Special Effects Ltd. |
| Theme: | Rhapsody in Blue |
| Designer: | Jaroslav Štolba |
| Website: | www.flash-sfx.cz |
| The Czech Republic show is an evening full of jazz music in four sections: Classical jazz, Conspiracy jazz, Latin jazz and Traditional jazz. ||
| Saturday, August 5 ||
| Country: | Mexico |
| Company: | Lux Pirotecnia, S.A. de C.V. |
| Theme: | Siente México: Feel Mexico |
| Designer: | Jorge M. Márquez |
| Website: | www.luxpirotecnia.com |
| Past and future values come together in a program full of joy. A musical score that includes pre-Hispanic sounds, music in the history of carnival celebrations, traditional sounds mixed with innovative rhythms, and some of the best Mexican known values, friendship and fraternity are present in this show with the purpose to make you feel a little part of Mexico. ||
| Celebration Finale ||
| Designer: | Jaroslav Štolba |
| The Celebration Finale is specially designed to pay tribute to the HSBC Celebration of Light competition. The 6-minute Celebration Finale did not include components from participating countries. ||

## Previous years

Because of the change in sponsor, records are difficult to find before the year 2001.

### 2006

Winner:  Mexico :
| Company: | Lux Pirotecnia, S.A. de C.V. |
| Show Theme: | Siente México: Feel Mexico |
| China ||
| Company: | Jiangxi Province Lidu Fireworks Corporation Ltd. |
| Show Theme: | Yellow River Odyssey |
| Italy ||
| Company: | A.P.E. di Parente Romualdo |
| Show Theme: | Magia Di Fuochi |
| Czech Republic ||
| Company: | Flash Barrandov Special Effects Ltd. |
| Show Theme: | Rhapsody in Blue |

### 2005

Winner:  Sweden :
| Company: | Unique Pyrotechnic AB |
| Show Theme: | Kisses of fire |
| Canada ||
| Company: | Concept Fiatlux Inc. |
| Show Theme: | Jazz in the sky |
| China ||
| Company: | Beijing ZhongFa A.F. Consulting Co. Ltd. |
| Show Theme: | Voix de feu, feu de voix |

### 2004

Winner:  Sweden :
| Company: | Fyrverkeri Expertena AB |
| Show Theme: | Aurora Borealis over Canada |
| China ||
| Company: | Beijing ZhongFa A.F. Consulting Co. Ltd. |
| Show Theme: | On ne dort pas ce soir |
| Spain ||
| Company: | Vicente Caballer e Hijos S.L. |
| Show Theme: | Plus Ultra |

### 2003

Winner:  China :
| Company: | Beijing ZhongFa A.F. Consulting Co. Ltd. |
| Show Theme: | From January to December |
| Canada ||
| Company: | Concept Fiatlux Inc. |
| Show Theme: | Pyrotechnic Symphony of Voices |
| Czech Republic ||
| Company: | Flash Barrandov Special Effects Ltg |
| Show Theme: | Woman on Fire |

### 2002

Winner:  Canada :
| Company: | Concept Fiatlux Inc. |
| Show Theme: | The Desert Rose |
| Italy ||
| Company: | Nanna Fireworks |
| Show Theme: | Fire into the Music |
| Spain ||
| Company: | Fuegos Artificiales Antonio Caballer S.A. |
| Show Theme: | The Party of the Sense |

### 2001

Winner:  Spain :
| Company: | Fuegos Artificiales Antonio Caballer S.A. |
| Show Theme: | Soul to Fire |
| South Africa ||
| Company: | Pyro Spectacular |
| Show Theme: | Cosmos |
| China ||
| Company: | Beijing ZhongFa A.F. Consulting Co. Ltd. |
| Show Theme: | Odyssee |

### 2000

Winner:  Spain :
* Company:
* Show Theme:
* Australia |
* Company:
* Show Theme:
* Italy |
* Company:
* Show Theme:

### 1999

Winner:  Spain :
| Company: | Fuegos Artificiales Antonio Caballer S.A. |
| Show Theme: | Carácter Latino |
| Canada ||
| Company: | Sirius Pyrotechnics |
| Show Theme: | Voices of the Night |
| France ||
| Company: | |
| Show Theme: | Fascination |

### 1998

| Winner: Spain |
| Company: | Fuegos Artificiales Antonio Caballer S.A. |
| Show Theme: | The Mythical Land |
| United Kingdom |
| Company: | Pyro 2000 |
| Show Theme: | Fire and Fantasy |
| Italy |
| Company: | Nanna Fireworks |
| Show Theme: | Voices in the Sky |

### 1997

Winner:  United Kingdom :
| Company: | Pyro 2000 |
| Show Theme: | |
| Canada ||
| Company: | Sirius Pyrotechnics |
| Show Theme: | |
| China ||
| Company: | Beijing ZhongFa A.F. Consulting Co. Ltd. |
| Show Theme: | |

### 1996

Winner:  Spain :
| Company: | Ricardo Caballer |
| Show Theme: | |
| Portugal ||
| Company: | Pirotecnia Minhota |
| Show Theme: | |
| Canada ||
| Company: | Concept Fiatlux |
| Show Theme: | |

### 1995

Winner:  Portugal :
| Company: | Pirotecnia Minhota |
| Show Theme: | |
| China ||
| Company: | Beijing ZhongFa A.F. Consulting Co. Ltd. |
| Show Theme: | |
| Italy ||
| Company: | Parente Chieri |
| Show Theme: | |

### 1994

Winner:  Italy :
| Company: | Parente Chiere |
| Show Theme: | |
| Spain ||
| Company: | Pirotecnia Caballer |
| Show Theme: | |
| Japan ||
| Company: | Fireworks Artists Association |
| Show Theme: | |

### 1993

winner  Canada :
| Company: | Concept Fiatlux Inc. |
| Show Theme: | |
| Italy ||
| Company: | Parente Chieri |
| Show Theme: | |
| France ||
| Company: | Groupe F |
| Show Theme: | |

### 1992

Winner:  Canada :
| Company: | Concept Fiatlux Inc. |
| Show Theme: | |
| United Kingdom ||
| Company: | Standard Fireworks |
| Show Theme: | |
| Australia ||
| Company: | Howard & Sons |
| Show Theme: | |

### 1991

Winner:  Australia :
| Company: | Howard & Sons |
| Show Theme: | |
| Spain ||
| Company: | A.Caballer Llorens |
| Show Theme: | |
| Hong Kong ||
| Company: | Hop Kee |
| Show Theme: | |

### 1990

Winner:  Spain :
| Company: | A. Caballer Llorens |
| Show Theme: | |