46th Annual Powell Street Festival

Celebrate Japanese Canadian art and culture at the 46th Annual Powell Street Festival in Oppenheimer Park and Paueru Gai (the Powell Street area) this July 30 and 31. Enjoy three stages feature contemporary and traditional artists, community food vendors and crafters offer favourite Japanese delights and designs, plus traditional Powell Street Festival touchstones are in place throughout the weekend.

46th Annual Powell Street Festival

• When: Saturday, July 30 & Sunday, July 31, 2022 11:30am to 7:00pm
• Where: Oppenheimer Park & Paueru Gai (the Powell Street area)
• Admission: Free

Staying committed to showcasing dynamic, engaging, and diverse arts and culture programming, Japanese Canadian and beyond, the Festival is excited to present an excellent lineup of dynamic programming this summer.

Embrace technology and new forms of art at Kūsou/空相, an interactive and immersive audio-visual installation merging Japanese calligraphy, computer generated art, and western flute at the Anvil Theatre in New Westminster. Plus, see artists’ talks and panels with the creative production team and participate in interactive AI Workshops for Families back on the Festival grounds.

Catch live performances by violinist-extremist Kytami & Phonik Ops, stirring Butoh by Kokoro Dance set to the sublimely edgy music of jo passed, an exhilarating combination of Onibana Taiko with vocals from opera singer Teiya Kasahara, Hiromoto Ida’s ICHIGO-ICHIEH NEW THEATRE solo show Homecoming 2020, and many more.

New this year, The Asahi Baseball Association joins us to promote their forthcoming baseball tour to Japan. Attend a Buddhist blessing of the legendary pre-war players in the Demo Area. You’ll find the new Asahi players at the festival’s Asahi Pitch Game in the park.

Cool off and fill your reusable water bottle under new bespoke misters and water fountains, Fuki no Mizu, created by UBC School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture students.

There is something for everyone as Festival touchstones return: learn the Paueru Mashup dance in free lessons in July and join the Community Dance on Saturday July 30, try your luck in the annual Festival Lottery, visit the interactive zone and children’s tent, and much more.

This year Powell Street Festival will also host the Festival Connect Live Stream program for those unable to join in person. For the latest updates and announcements, follow the festival on Facebook.

The Powell Street Festival Society’s (“PSFS”) mission is to celebrate Japanese Canadian art and culture to connect communities. The main activity is producing the Powell Street Festival, an annual celebration of Japanese Canadian arts, music and culture in Vancouver’s historic Japanese Canadian neighbourhood,  Paueru Gai in the Downtown Eastside. With the support of over 250 volunteers, this free, two-day event is the largest of its kind in Canada and the longest running festival in Metro Vancouver, entering its 46th year.