The Celebration of Light, which will include four shows this summer, kicks off on Wednesday. (CBC)Throngs will pack Vancouver's beaches on Wednesday evening for the first of four fireworks shows on the waters of English Bay.
Hundreds of thousands of people from throughout the Lower Mainland are expected to come down to take in the performances.
The 2010 Celebration of Light runs on July 21, 24, 28 and 31. The shows start at 10 p.m. PT each night.
On event nights, vehicle access into the West End and Kits Point will be limited to residents who can prove residency through car registration or a resident permit decal. Taxis, emergency vehicles and valid delivery vehicles will also be allowed access.
Entry to the West End closes at 7:30 p.m. PT, and access to Kits Point shuts down at 6 p.m.
Motorists who are not residents of the area will need to arrive in advance of the area closures. Parking for people with disabilities will require a valid disabled person's decal or placard.
Public transit will also be affected by the road closures. TransLink is rerouting all its services away from the West End. Specific rerouting information can be found on the TransLink website.
TransLink is also putting extra buses on the road to help with the large volume of transit users on event nights.
In addition, TransLink is providing complimentary bike valet service at three locations: under the Burrard Street Bridge, near the Vancouver Aquatic Centre; Second Beach parking lot; and King George Secondary School at Bidwell and Denman streets.
Family friendly event
Vancouver police are once again warning people to keep their alcohol at home during the annual fireworks shows.
Const. Lindsey Houghton said officers will be focusing on keeping the event family friendly.
"Those people that are looking to come down here to cause problems — and every year it seems like there's a handful of them — know that we're down here specifically looking for them and watching out for them," he said.
"I think the tolerance level for those people from the citizens is at an all-time low. We saw that during the Olympics and we saw it last year at the fireworks, and I think we'll see it again this year."
Community groups are also asking for help in keeping the area clean by asking people to remove their own garbage.
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at 6:52 PM ETWhat a bunch of grouchy party poopers.
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