I’ll take any opportunity I can get to re-run this photo of V.I.A.’s youngest blogger, Arlo, standing in front of the Himalaya Restaurant on Main Street and 50th Avenue last Halloween. Today I’m sharing it to remind you that the Celebration Of Light fireworks competition launches this Saturday with what promises to be an incredible showing by China’s pyrotechnics team.

When you say “The Fireworks” in Vancouver, there’s never any mistaking that it’s the annual competition set to music in English Bay that you’re talking about. While every October you can buy your own from various stores (and, um… restaurants) to put on a mini display in your front yard, this awe-inspiring staple of the culture of summer in this city has been shaped by years of work by The Vancouver Fireworks Festival Society non-profit. Since 1990 they’ve been keeping it alive with help from the city, many sponsors and of course the supportive crowds of us who line English Bay and all of the beaches on the West side from Kits to Jericho.

Last year I was incredibly honoured to be asked to come on board as one of the judges (see my post, “How Do You Even Judge Fireworks?“), and this year I was invited to return! I’ll be joined by the likes of:

Jill Krop (head judge) from Global BC
Councillor Raymond Louie from the City Of Vancouver
Bev Wake from the Vancouver Sun
Matt Meehan from Concord Pacific
Lara Gerrits from YVR
A contest winner from Shore 104.3 FM
And a TBD employee from The Keg

As I said in that post linked above, the idea of the judging panel is that we’re supposed to represent the eyes and ears of all Vancouverites as a sort of “for the people, by the people” panel. This year Shore 104.3 FM is mixing it up by adding a contest winner to truly round out the panel. Entry to their contest closes tonight at 6:00PM, ENTER NOW!