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Thousands of people descended onto downtown Vancouver last night on New Year’s Eve, but unlike other major global cities, they had to find their own fun and revelry to ring in 2023 as there was no official public celebration.
Once again, Concord’s New Year’s Eve Vancouver’s fireworks celebration was cancelled. For a number of years, it was previously held at Coal Harbour and the Vancouver Convention Centre, attracting upwards of over 100,000 people. Organizers were looking to move the event to East False Creek and Concord Pacific Place starting in 2020.
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But the pandemic forced a prolonged NYE fireworks hiatus in Vancouver, and its impacts continued into 2022 — even though this was the first NYE without health safety restrictions since the pandemic began.
In a press release last month, the volunteer-based, not-for-profit organization behind the celebration said “a very difficult decision was made to postpone the inaugural event [at the new location] due to escalating costs in logistics, and challenges with securing the necessary critical labour in completing the required site-wide security and crowd control measures across East False Creek.”
They were working with “a proven team of global contractors to bring back the first full-scale New Year’s Eve fireworks celebration at the event’s new location of East False Creek (between Cambie Bridge and Science World), complete with activations, experiences, and pyro special effects that have never been seen before in Vancouver. This new, truly world-class event concept would have made all Vancouverites proud, and rekindled a sense of civic pride, hope, and betterment during the most auspicious night of the year.”
Organizers say they are now working on returning NYE fireworks to Vancouver on December 31, 2023 to ring in 2024.
Photos and videos uploaded to social media last night show crowds descending onto Concord’s NYE Vancouver’s pre-pandemic location at Coal Harbour, with smartphone cameras pointed towards the water and people counting down to midnight. To their disappointment, there were no fireworks.
Without an official public celebration, thousands of people also gathered on the Granville Entertainment District in downtown.
But small fireworks events were held atop Cypress Mountain and Grouse Mountain, and at Whistler Village.
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Big crowds on #Granville St – people having a good time on #NYE in #Vancouver #HappyNewYear! @VancouverPD pic.twitter.com/hTj93qgrMY
— Adam Palmer (@ChiefPalmer) January 1, 2023
Around 5,000 people in Vancouver, BC went downtown to watch the fireworks that have been cancelled for three years. I wish I would have gotten a pic of the crowd all standing at the beach waiting in front of a gigantic flashing sign NO FIREWORKS This YEAR! 😂🤣🤣🤣🤣
— Samson Simpson® (@TheRealSamsonS) January 1, 2023
Watch out for all the people in Vancouver that will show up at False Creek thinking there will be fireworks.
Really no fun city.— (╯°□°)╯︵ ┻━┻ (@electric_g) January 1, 2023
Although health safety restrictions were lifted for most of the year, 2022 was a tough year for the return of major public events within Vancouver; the Port of Vancouver cancelled its traditional Canada Day fireworks at Canada Place due to rising costs, the Santa Clause Parade was cancelled due to lack of sponsorship, the two-night Christmas-themed drone show, sponsored by Best Buy, using 300 drones, at Canada Place was completely cancelled due to last minute technical difficulties with signal interference, and various other events were also either cancelled or downsized.
The much-anticipated FIA Formula E car race was set to have its inaugural Vancouver event over the Canada Day 2022 long weekend. The race was cancelled due to a myriad of reasons, including organizational disarray, and tens of thousands of ticket holders have yet to receive their refunds.
However, the major Lunar New Year Parade in Vancouver’s Chinatown will be making its first return since the pandemic’s onset on Sunday, January 22, 2023.
Vancouver was not the only major city in Canada without a major NYE public celebration. The traditional fireworks event at downtown Montreal’s Old Port was cancelled due to both rising costs and a shortage of labour.
But Toronto celebrated the new year with fireworks on its downtown waterfront, effectively a major improvement from the previous celebrations traditionally held in Nathan Phillips Square at Toronto City Hall.
Fireworks also erupted off the top of the Calgary Tower at the stroke of midnight.
In Seattle, the Space Needle’s traditional NYE fireworks returned with not only even more fireworks, but also an integrated drone show using 250 drones. However, there were major technical challenges with the drones, which were out of synchronization with the fireworks, and only began their “countdown clock” sequence in the sky three minutes after midnight.
What are your thoughts on the lack of a major public celebration with fireworks to ring in the new year in Vancouver? Let us know in the comments below.
It’s insanely disappointing that #Vancouver is one of the last NYE celebrations and we don’t even have a big fireworks show or anything. Nothing to show the world. Just a big dud.
— Annie Williamson (@anniewills13) January 1, 2023
No fireworks in Vancouver what type of fuckery is this city on #Vancouver
— NS (@nsinvestments_) January 1, 2023
Seattle’s Space Needle NYE fireworks were accompanied by drones, but they were so out of synch with the fireworks… the countdown clock in the sky lit up 3 minutes after midnight.
Still pretty cool, and at least they’re a city with a real celebration! pic.twitter.com/H3JGe8NafB
— Kenneth Chan (@iamkennethchan) January 1, 2023
Another year watching the Canadian NYE countdown on TV showing highlights of other celebrations because it seems Vancouver is completely incapable of throwing even the most basic of parties
— Simon Best (@temporarypen) January 1, 2023
Once again @CityofVancouver is letting down it’s citizens with no major events or fireworks during another holiday.
At least I can watch @cityofsydney on YouTube. Nobody does NYE like them. Vancouver could learn so much from Sydney – but probably won’t.— Luna (@aryerson) January 1, 2023
Yet all the cities in the Metro Vancouver area still seem determined to live up to the “no fun Vancouver” motto with hardly any public or family oriented events and no fireworks.
— Brad Braun (@B_radBraun) January 1, 2023
Happy New Year 🎆 from Vancouver 🇨🇦
Sadly no fireworks this year but have some beautiful lights instead.
May 2023 bring health and happiness to all ❤️🤲🏻🥂 #Welcome2023 pic.twitter.com/Ieqw5YdzZ2
— Saba 🧕🏻 (@SabaLovesDean) January 1, 2023
Vancouver isn’t having Fireworks again this year
— Sue 🇺🇦🌻 (@SuzieCanuck) January 1, 2023
When we were in Vancouver, we were told that they’re not holding any fireworks display for NYE because of budget constraints. The city also took down the Christmas Markets early. Bummer.
— WILDFLOWERS ALL DAY 💐 (@blueg3org3) January 1, 2023
No fireworks in Vancouver for New Year’s this year, guess I’ll just have to stand in the shower and remember what it was like watching the Guy Fawkes Day Fireworks in Southampton in the rain 😜https://t.co/7kHM9bbM6M
— CoW mAn (@CoW_mAn) December 31, 2022
What the fuk! Vancouver is special in the world! No fireworks!
— Arasn919 (@arasn919) December 31, 2022
- You might also like:
- Vancouver events scene marred by disappointing cancellations in 2022
- A colourful Lunar New Year parade is returning to Vancouver's Chinatown in 2023
- Canada Day 2022 fireworks in Vancouver cancelled due to rising costs
- The Vancouver Santa Claus Parade is officially cancelled in 2022
- Vancouver Formula E refund progress stalled as organizer rejects city funds
- "Hugely disappointed": Canada's largest drone show in downtown Vancouver cancelled completely