The team from the U.S. kicked off the first night of the annual fireworks festival as thousands watched from the shores of English Bay. (CBC)

It was a relatively quiet night for police and thousands of spectators at the first night of Vancouver's annual summer Celebration of Light fireworks festival, as the team from the U.S. kicked off the event from a barge on English Bay.

"We've had 280 liquor pour-outs, four arrests for public intoxication, a number of violation tickets, about nine drug seizures and then three different weapons were seized — some bear spray, a couple of batons," said Const. Jana McGuinness.

"Obviously we don't want to see those down here, and those were taken away and the people are being dealt with by the police," she said.

Police were also active on the water, checking that boater operators were sober and properly equipped.

"Only a few boaters were turned around for not having all the necessary safety equipment. Most were able to collect the equipment and return in time to enjoy the show," said McGuinness.

Officials with TransLink says the public transportation system managed to move the heavy crowds without a hitch, with the SkyTrain and Canada Line trains both operating past 1 a.m. PT.

Blue box program a success

City of Vancouver crews were out early Thursday morning cleaning up an estimated 10,000 kg of garbage left behind by the spectators, according to Todd Harris, the supervisor of sanitation for the Vancouver Park Board

Officials estimate there was about 10,000 kg of garbage left behind by fireworks spectators along Vancouver's waterfront. (Steve Lus/CBC)

Harris said a new program to put out blue box recycling bins amongst the crowds was a big success, with almost all of the recyclable drink containers ending up in the bins, instead of the trash.

But overall, the mess was about the same as the past three years, but far less than the crowds used to leave behind a decade ago, Harris said. It was expected it would take the crews about four hours to clean up the mess.

Larger crowds are expected on Saturday night when Spain launches a fireworks display called Heaven and Hell. Mexico and China face off next week.