Live entertainment kicks off each evening's festivities at the Starlight Stage on Beach Avenue near Broughton Street from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Spread out a blanket, unpack that picnic hamper and listen to performances by:

• Wed., July 25: Soul Stream
• Sat., July 28: Atlantic Crossing
• Wed., Aug. 1: Jim Byrnes
• Sat., Aug. 4: Wide Mouth Mason

Over at Vanier Park, the Celebration Stage, in its third year, continues to delight kids young and old with family-fun entertainment. Bobby Loonie and Zany Zack perform from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. When the show starts at 10 p.m., the stage will broadcast the fireworks simulcast.

Restaurants

• The Boat house: four-course dinner including private seats at the VIP area on top of the bathhouse. $125 per person, 7p.m.
• Raincity Gull: two seatings, ala carte at 6:30 p.m., three-course prix fixe at 8:30 p.m. $65 inside table, $90 for patio seating. Patio sold out for the finale.
• Sylvias Restaurant and Grill: fourcourse menu starts at 6:30 p.m. Guests go out to watch the fireworks on the street and come back for coffee and nightcap. $59 per person. Saturdays booked solid. Bistro and bar open for walk-ins.
• Cloud 9 Revolving Restaurant:fabulous views from the 42nd floor of the Empire Landmark Hotel. $40 three-course meal on Wednesdays, $45 on Aug. 4 and a $6() four-course menu on finale night.

Fireworks 101

Each night's shower of sparks starts with stars, small pellets packed tight with colour-producing chemical compounds such as strontium nitrate, potassium nitrate and chlorate.

The stars are assembled carefully into shells. Their position inside the cardboard or plastic shell casings determines the height at which the star is expelled and creates the desired shapes, such as hearts, circles or blossoms.

Once packed, the shell is inserted into a mortar, or the launch pad, which is wired to a central firing booth.

Inside the shell is a delay fuse, cut to a length that sets off the explosive charge at a specific height and time. There are about 200 fireworks manufacturers in the world.

The last new fireworks effect, the gold and sparkly “ponytail,” debuted two years ago. But new combinations keep fireworks fresh, said Maude Furtado, pyrotechnical supervisor for the competition.

There might not be new effects every year but there are new ways of putting together and assembling the fireworks and adding new colours.

From just two colours — white and orange — in the beginning, fireworks today have developed more than 50 different shades based on six common colours: white, yellow, red, green, blue and orange.

Good-quality fireworks mean the effect lasts long and shines bright.

Deep blue and purple are the most difficult colours to create well because the colours require near- flawless chemical reaction.

Green flames, made by barium nitrate or chlorate, and blue light, made by copper compounds, are the most dangerous to make.

Judging

Six judges will evaluate each night's performance based on presentation, structure, colour, originalit rhythm and synchronization of music. The panel includes:

• Tiko Kerr, artist and head judge;
• B.C. Lee, Vancouver councillor;
• Jill Krop, news anchor, Global B.C.;
• Karl Douglas, music director, Classic Rock 101;
• Kirk LaPointe, managing editor, Vancouver Sun;
• Dolly Wilson, London Drugs.

This year, the public is judge No.7.

Register to vote by texting "LIGHT" to 24365. After each performance, you'll receive a text message asking you to rate the show.

Text-to-vote is available on all Canadian and U.S. carriers (25-cent charge to send and receive).

Head judge Tiko Kerr shares some judging tips.

"You want something that engages visually," said Kerr, an artist who works with colour and composition every day. "The show should have continuity, like a stage production. Your eye is continually moving. That's what makes an interesting work of art."

Originality is also key, as is the architecture, he said. "You want to cover the entire sky, not just the lower part or a small section."

Finally, timing is crucial. "These teams don’t get a rehearsal," he said. "Choreography is important. When the music crescendos, it must also be reflected in the fireworks."

Tourism

The HSBC Celebration of Light is a tourist magnet, says Sarah Kirby Yung of Tourism Vancouver.

Last year's shows pulled in 1.4 million viewers over four nights. While 60 per cent were from the Lower Mainland, about 32 per cent came from out of town. Among them, 11 per cent are Canadians, seven per cent are from the U.S., and the rest are from Europe, Asia and South America.

"The Celebration of Light is a very positive event," said Kirby-Yung. "l;It enhances our reputation as a vibrant city with great festivals."

The majority of visitors —71 per cent — say the fireworks were the primary reason for their trip.

The average length of stay for B.C. visitors is about three nights. Overseas tourists usually stay a week.

Direct spending on hotel, food, and attractions tally up to $65.3 million. The economic spinoffs, including jobs, wages, salaries, taxes, are estimated at $114 million.