47th Annual Powell Street Festival

Add a Comment by Alexis Monday, July 10th, 2023 — 3:45pm PDT

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The 47th annual Powell Street Festival is a free two day celebration of Japanese Canadian arts and culture happening this August. Oppenheimer Park and surrounding areas will host a variety of entertainment for all ages, live performances, food options, and a craft marketplace all mixed with traditional elements.

Powell Street Festival 2023

When: August 5 and 6, 2023 from 11:30am to 7:00pm
Where: Oppenheimer Park 400-block Powell Street at Jackson Ave
Admission: Free!

Catch any of the 35 live performances scheduled on three festival stages from local, national, and international artist. Experience Daikagura, a rare 1000-year-old art form with ceremony and juggling, performed by Michiyo Kagami. Witness the resurrection of Okuni, the 17^th-century cis-female founder of kabuki, reimagined in a multidisciplinary dance by Aretha Aoki and Ryan MacDonald. Dance along to EPITHYMiA, an up-and-coming J-pop dance and vocal group from Japan and even more performances to delight attendees.

This year’s festival features panels, workshops, walking tours, martial arts demonstrations, a Sumo tournament, and more exciting event. In between happenings, wander around Paueru Gai, stop in on beloved Powell Street Festival favourites including a community Japanese food and handmade crafts marketplace, an interactive zone, children’s activities, and the Festival Lottery.

And you don’t even have to wait until August to join the fun as festival vibes reverberate through partnerships new and renewed across the city starting in July: Jump into the festival spirit and learn the Paueru Mashup Dance alongside talented instructors through free lessons Tuesdays in July in Oppenheimer Park. Strike a pose in the ballroom scene at the Van Vogue Jam’s Posh Ball on July 28 and learn about the myth behind the star festival tanabata at the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre’s family friendly presentation on August 4.

Friends from afar can join in too, with a special two-hour Festival Connect Online Live Stream on Saturday, August 5 at 12:30pm on the Powell Street Festival Society website and YouTube channel.

Visit the Powell Street Festival Society on Facebook for more info.

Browse more Vancouver Festivals this season »