Butchart Gardens cancels fireworks show Saturday due to B.C. wildfire state of emergency

Butchart Gardens has cancelled its fireworks show scheduled for Saturday, August 15, due to the province's state of emergency as wildfire activity escalates across B.C.

The Brentwood Bay attraction, a major tourist draw, makes its scheduling decisions with weekly permits and ongoing discussions with the Central Saanich Fire Department about conditions. "At this time, we have cancelled it due to the provincial state of emergency, and we will evaluate week to week with the fire department on further shows," said Jill Smillie, director of public relations for Butchart Gardens.

The gardens had hosted fireworks displays on six successive Saturdays through July and had planned three more shows on August 22, August 29, and September 5. Those dates will be evaluated as conditions allow.

A performance by the Temps will proceed at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday as planned. Because there are no fireworks scheduled, 12-month passes will be honoured at the gate — a courtesy the gardens normally does not extend on fireworks nights.

Night illuminations, featuring thousands of garden lights creating a soft glow over shrubs, trees and flowers, will continue Wednesday through Saturday evenings through September 15.

Firework shows are subject to local weather and sudden changes in wind that may force cancellation up to five minutes before showtime, the gardens noted. Visitors are asked to check butchartgardens.com for updates.

The Vancouver Canadians baseball team also cancelled its fireworks show scheduled for Wednesday night, August 13, at Nat Bailey Stadium due to the provincial state of emergency.