A troublesome lighting storm didn't stop the Celebration of Light fireworks competition from going ahead on Saturday night. But it did halt a number of other Lower Mainland events, including a Vancouver Whitecaps soccer game, and a music festival in Burnaby.

Over 2,608 BC Hydro customers in the Lower Mainland and Sunshine Coast were also left without power on Saturday.

Lightning also started a number of forests fires in the B.C. Interior, including one near Salmon Arm, where several people were evacuated.

But back in Vancouver, it was business as usual for the HSBC Celebration of Light fireworks competition.

As bolts of lightning flashed across the sky, 300,000 enthusiasts converged on English Bay to watch South Africa take its turn.

Canada kicked off the annual competition on Wednesday, which proved to be a relatively trouble-free evening.

On Saturday, police were hoping that people would once again focus on enjoying the show and take public transit in and out of the West End area.

Beach-front area

The HSBC Celebration of Light continues on Saturday July 29 with the United Kingdom lighting up the skies, and China on Saturday, Aug. 1.

To help people get to English Bay where the majority of people will watch the fireworks, here are some of the public transportation options that can get to within a few blocks of the beach-front viewing area.

---CITY BUSSES---

  • #5 Robson will go as far as Denman and Georgia
  • #6 Davie will terminate at Davie and Thurlow
  • C21 Beach will go as far as Beach and Hornby
  • C23 Davie will go as far as Davie and Thurlow
  • #22 Knight/Macdonald will use Granville Street Bridge, 4th Ave., Burrard and Cornwall in both directions
  •  The #22 line offers access to those to want to watch the fireworks from Kitsilano Beach or Vanier Park.

Transit supervisors will be available to judge on-hand if more buses are needed to serve the public.

West Vancouver Blue Bus will provide buses from Dundarave and Park Royal. Buses returning to West Vancouver will load east of the regular bus stop (nearer to Stanley Park) at Georgia and Denman.

--SKYTRAIN--

SkyTrain will operate at "rush hour" service levels throughout the evening, with the last trains leaving Waterfront Station for King George at 1:15am, VCC-Clark at 12:31am and Lougheed at 1:11am.

Extra trains will be available for customers still inside stations after the last scheduled train leaves so no one is left behind.

Cyclists will not be allowed to bring bicycles on the Skytrain after 3pm on the four fireworks days.

--SEABUS--

SeaBus will have both vessels in operation throughout the evening: 15-minute service will run between Lonsdale Quay and Waterfront station until 12:15am on Wednesdays and 12:45am on Saturdays.

--WEST COAST EXPRESS--

West Coast Express will run a special train on August 1 - Finale Night - only. The train will leave Mission City Station at 7:00 pm and return from Waterfront at Midnight.