Summer in Vancouver means a trip to the PNE with the family and no experience is complete without checking out the amazing entertainment lineup that the fair offers each year. This summer is no exception with a roster of exciting concerts announced today.

Photo credit: Rikki / Julius Reque on Flickr

The Summer Night Concerts will run every evening starting on Saturday August 22nd in the PNE Amphitheatre, and are FREE with admission to the Fair. For super fans, the PNE will be offering reserved seating at each of the shows with tickets going on sale starting Saturday May 23, 2015 at 10:00am.

PNE Concerts Summer 2015

Saturday, August 22, 2015 Colin James
Sunday, August 23, 2015 Clint Black
Tuesday, August 25, 2015 Sloan
Wednesday, August 26, 2015 The Beach Boys
Thursday, August 27, 2015 Daughtry
Friday, August 28, 2015 The New Pornographers
Saturday, August 29, 2015 Tom Cochrane with Red Rider
Sunday, August 30, 2015 Girls Night Out, Boys Can Come Too, Colbie Caillat & Christina Perri
Tuesday, September 1, 2015 Lee Brice
Wednesday, September 2, 2015 Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo– 35th Anniversary Tour
Wednesday, September 2, 2015 Dennis DeYoung and the Music of Styx
Thursday, September 3, 2015 Boyz II Men
Friday, September 4, 2015 Daryl Hall and John Oates
Saturday, September 5, 2015 Brett Kissel
Sunday, September 6, 2015 MAD DECENT (Ticket now required regardless). Free with admission is now Platinum Blonde
Monday, September 7, 2015 Loverboy

New 2015 PNE Entertainment and Attractions

Peter Pan starring Cathy Rigby
Nightly 7:30pm, Pacific Coliseum
For the first time anywhere, all the majesty of a true Broadway show is available for fans young and old to experience- FREE with admission to the Fair.

Just Announced!
All Canadian Lineup for Mosaic Music Series

A mosaic of national, cultural and iconic acts performing nightly in the Mosaic Music Series on the Chevrolet Performance Stage.

Saturday, August 22, 2015 The Tourist Company 7pm & The Zolas 9pm
Sunday, August 23, 2015 Lee Aaron 7pm & Headpins – 35th Anniversary 9pm
Tuesday, August 25, 2015 Babe Gurr 7pm & Royal Wood 9pm
Wednesday, August 26, 2015 Barney Bentall and the Legendary Hearts 7pm & 9pm
Thursday, August 27, 2015 Bobby Bazini 7pm & Tyler Shaw 9pm
Friday, August 28, 2015 Old Man Canyon 7pm & Mounties 9pm
Saturday, August 29, 2015 Five Alarm Funk 7 & 9pm
Sunday, August 30, 2015 Dave Gogo 7 & 9pm
Tuesday, September 1, 2015 Good for Grapes 7pm & Head of the Herd 9pm
Wednesday, September 2, 2015 The Boom Booms 7 & 9pm
Thursday, September 3, 2015 Bif Naked 7 & 9pm
Friday, September 4, 2015 Madeline Merlo 7pm & Wes Mack 9pm
Saturday, September 5, 2015 Locarno 7 & 9pm
Sunday, September 6, 2015 Platinum Blonde 7 & 9pm
Monday, September 7, 2015 The Walkervilles 7 & 9pm

Also at the Fair…

The Magical History Tour: The Beatles Memorabilia Exhibition
Daily 11am-10pm, Garden Auditorium
The Magical History Tour: The Beatles Memorabilia Exhibition will be making its world premiere on the Fair’s opening day, August 22nd, which also happens to be the 51st anniversary of the Beatles historic concert at the Fair in 1964.

Craft Beer Festival
Daily 2:00pm to 9:30pm, Miller Drive
The Fair at the PNE is excited to feature a new and exciting area, the Craft Beer Festival. This licensed area will feature 20 local craft brewers each week for guests to sample the diverse craft beers being developed in the Lower Mainland. Twenty vendors will be featured between August 22nd-30th, and a new group of 20 vendors from September 1st-7th.

Dinosaurs Alive! A Jurassic Experience
Daily 11:00am to 11:00pm, Miller Drive
This new outdoor exhibit will offer guests a spectacular and representative snapshot of thirteen different dinosaurs that roamed the Earth during the Jurassic and Cretaceous Periods.

The Superhero Discovery Centre: The Hall of Heroes Exhibit
Daily 11:00am to 11:00pm, Rollerland
This interactive exhibit will thrill every Superhero fan in the family.

PNE Donut Dash
9:00am Sunday August 23, 2015, Empire Fields and PNE Fairgrounds
The inaugural PNE Donut Dash 5km presented by TRY EVENTS is Vancouver’s tastiest 5km run where runners will be re-energized with tasty Fair treats throughout the course including mini donuts, cotton candy and more! Registration includes a PNE Donut Dash t-shirt, race bib, finisher’s medal and FREE admission into The Fair at the PNE on Sunday, August 23. Entry fee: Early bird registration fee is $30 to the first 500 people to register! Regular registration fee is $35 until July 31, late registration fee is $40, August 1 to 16. Entry fees (plus service fees) are per person. More info at the PNE website.

Returning PNE Favourites

Mosaic Music Series
Nightly 7:00pm and 9:00pm, Chevrolet Performance Stage

PNE Prize Home
British Columbia’s most affordable home lottery is back for its 81st anniversary. This year’s Prize Home is a spectacular 3080 square foot contemporary home inspired by the views from the lake view lot in beautiful Naramata, British Columbia where it will be relocated after the Fair.

Dueling Pianos
Nightly 6:30pm and 9:15pm, Celebration Plaza Beer Garden
Every night at the Plaza Beer Garden, the Dueling Pianos will play all of your favourite tunes in a fun, head-to-head ‘battle’ with great music. Raise your glass, sing along, and hit the dance floor at 6:30pm and 9:15pm.

Superdogs
Daily 12:00pm, 2:30pm, & 4:30pm, Pacific Coliseum
The beloved Fair attraction and the World’s Most Popular Dogs are back and are loading up on star power for their brand new bling-filled, blockbuster show HOLLYWOOF!

Tooncity – Mermaid Tales- A Musical Journey Under the Ocean
Daily 12:30pm, 3:00pm and 5:30pm, ToonCity
Bring your kids or just your inner child to take a trip under the ocean and into the magical world of Mermaids! Swim with the jellyfish, snorkel through the kelp, and join the fun in this Mermaid musical celebration.

Safeway Farm Country
Daily, Livestock Barns

PNE 2015 Dates and Prices

The 2015 Fair will run from August 22nd until September 7th and will be closed on August 24 and 31. Open each day from 11:00am until late.

Fair Gate Pass (14 – 64 years) — $16.00
Fair Senior Gate Pass (65 years+) — $8.00
Fair Child Gate Pass (13 years and under) A maximum of five children aged 13 & under will be admitted free per one paying adult 21 years of age or older — Free

Fair Season Gate Pass
Online savings will go up to the gate price starting August 22, 2015 — $42.50

After Dark Gate Pass
Available only at on-site ticket booths after 9:00pm daily — $5

Summer Night Concerts Optional Reserved Seating — Starting at $20
Nightly concerts are free with Fair Gate admission. Venue has capacity and may close.

The Broadway Musical, Peter Pan, Starring Cathy Rigby Optional Reserved Seating — $20
Musical is free with Fair Gate admission. Venue has capacity and may close.

Pinwheel Deals Coupon Book
Available only at on-site ticket booths — $2

The Beatles Memorabilia Exhibition
13 years and under free. Available only at on-site venue ticket booth — $3

Craft Beer Fest — $10
Admission includes a 4oz-sampling cup and 2 drink tickets. Purchase online in advance and receive and additional drink ticket. $1.50 per additional beer token

PNE Donut Dash-5K Run — $30*
*$30 rate valid for the first 500 people to register, after this rate will increase to $35 until July 31. Late registration from August 1-16 is $40.

Follow the Fair at the PNE on Facebook and Twitter. All prices stated are those provided at the time of publishing and could be subject to changes, fees.

The Vancouver Heritage Foundation’s 13th annual Heritage House Tour is coming up on Sunday, June 7th. This popular event, that usually sells out, will give participants and exclusive look inside 14 historic Vancouver homes through a self-guided tour.

1928: Queen Charlotte Apartments at 1101 Nicola Street, Vancouver. Archives #Bu N261.1.

Vancouver Heritage House Tour

From luxury apartments and elegant homes to an industrial conversion and vintage charm. In 2015, Vancouver Heritage Foundation is looking at a range of ways Vancouverites are living in heritage. There are 9 stops on the tour, comprising 14 homes and 40 years of history. A special inclusion this year are two very different apartment buildings. See four lovingly cared for units inside the West End’s historic Queen Charlotte Apartments and three contemporary lofts inside a reinvigorated warehouse in Southeast False Creek.

Built in 1927, the Queen Charlotte Apartments is a prime example of the early luxury “hotel/apartment” buildings that dotted the West End with its once grand lobby, one of two of the province’s surviving still-operational cage elevators and beautiful early Art Deco details. In contrast, the industrial conversion of the 1913/15 B.C.Telephone building offers original exposed brick walls and some of the largest first growth wood beams you are likely to see.

For those who love a traditional heritage house, there are 7 more private homes on tour, ranging from a cozy and charming bungalow with quirky history and ties to the PNE to an 1899 West End masterpiece that recently benefitted from an award-winning major restoration.

There will be a pre-tour lecture on June 2nd with author Michael Kluckner, A Brief History of the Vancouver Apartment and Condo. Michael will offer an illustrated talk exploring the evolution of apartment and condo living in the city of Vancouver. Proceeds from both the tour and the talk support VHF’s efforts to conserve Vancouver’s heritage.

What: Heritage House Tour
When: Sunday, June 7, 2015 from 10:00am to 5:00pm
Tickets: Available online for $40 / $30 with valid student ID. You can also purchase in person via At Home West Vancouver (1530 Marine Drive, West Vancouver), and Benjamin Moore – Coast Decorating Centre (4464 Main Street, Vancouver).

Follow the Vancouver Heritage Foundation on Facebook and Twitter for more information about the tour and other special events.

Vancouver is a city obsessed with its four legged friends, as companions, members of the family, and as fun photography subjects. I scoured the Miss604 Flickr Pool to find a collection of photos of Vancouver dogs to share with you all in this lighthearted feature:

Photo credit: Mark Faviell on Flickr

Photo credit: Guy on Flickr

Photo credit: Rosey-Noelle on Flickr

Photo credit: Ann Hung on Flickr

Photo credit: Ted McGrath on Flickr

Photo credit: Chris Maki on Flickr

Photo credit: Ruth Hartnup on Flickr

Photo credit: Don Janus & Rosey-Noelle on Flickr

Photo credit: TOTORORO.RORO & Norma Ibarra on Flickr

Photo credit: Juan Carlos Partidas & lens gazer on Flickr

Photo credit: John Allison on Flickr

Photo credit: Julie Morris on Flickr

Photo credit: Jason Gallant on Flickr

Photo credit: jeremylim.ca on Flickr

Photo credit: Mark Faviell & entheos_fog on Flickr

Photo credit: conradolson on Flickr & Michael Kwan (Freelancer) on Flickr

Photo credit: eych-you-bee-ee-ahr-tee on Flickr

Photo credit: Ruth and Dave & Matzuda & Clayton Perry Photoworks on Flickr

Photo credit: wukevinc on Flickr

Photo credit: PiscesDreamer & Questa_Durron on Flickr

Photo credit: Questa_Durron on Flickr

Photo credit: Colour on Flickr

Photo credit: Eric Flexyourhead & TheVancouverGuy on Flickr

Photo credit: Mark Faviell Photos on Flickr

Photo credit: rymndhng on Flickr

Presented by Pemberton Music Festival
The Pemberton Music Festival lineup packs a punch this year with alternative, EDM, rap, DJs, indie folk, and good ol’ rock and roll complimented by a guest list of comedians that are sure to have you in stitches between sets. I have studied the list of artist that will take to the numerous stages at this summer music festival and have put together a 7 song playlist to get you pumped for what lies ahead Thursday, July 16th through Sunday, July 19th.

My Pemberton Music Festival Playlist

The Decemberists – Down by the Water

Jane’s Addiction – Jane Says

Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros – Home

The Suffers – Gwan

Tiësto – Red Lights

Chvrches – The Mother We Share

Chromeo – Jealous (I Ain’t With It)

There are hundreds of options but I thought I would start here, with a plan to add The Black Keys, Weezer, Missy Elliott, Dan Mangan+Blacksmith, and Cut Copy to “Part Two”. Talk about variety! What would you put on your Pemberton Music Festival playlist?

Pemberton Festival Lineup

Follow Pemberton Music Festival on Twitter and Facebook for more information. The four-day contemporary music festival is produced and promoted by HUKA Entertainment, in collaboration with the Village of Pemberton and land partners the Sunstone Group, the Lil’wat Nation and Squamish-Lillooet Regional District.

Boca del Lupo presents Big Bad, a contemporary take on a fairytale for both children and adults commissioned by the Vancouver International Children’s Festival, at the Granville Island Revue Stage this month.

Fairytales have an enduring appeal because they deal with universal themes and because they mean different things to us at different points in our life. This is never truer than when a parent is retelling a classic to their children like Little Red Riding Hood. While both the parent and the child understand the story is “not real” there are very real and very different associations happening with each. For the child, the story deals with notions of identity, deception and fear while the parent cannot help but see the obvious metaphor around child predators. For the child the story is a safe tool for real and complex learning and for the parent it is a portal into their deepest fear.

It is this dichotomy that Boca del Lupo will explore in our next intergenerational performance. Using a contemporary retelling of Little Red Riding Hood and elements of interactive technology, Big Bad will provide parents and their children with multiple platforms to engage in an experience that tackles one of the most sensitive and complex issues between a parent and child. Incorporating an online platform that can be experienced before or after the performance, it will have two avenues to navigate based on whether it is the parent or the child engaging with the site.

Big Bad is performed by Leslie Dos Remedios, Lucia Frangione Milton Lim, Ming Hudson, Raugi Yu, and devised by Sherry J Yoon and Jay Dodge.

Performances run May 26th to May 31st at the Granville Island Revue Stage (1585 Johnston Street) and tickets are available online through the Vancouver Children’s Festival. Follow Boca del Lupo on Facebook and Twitter for more information. This show is for ages 5 and up.

Win Tickets to Boca del Lupo’s Big Bad

I have a pair of tickets to give away to the opening night of Big Bad, here’s how you can enter to win:

• Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
• Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)

I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 7:00am on Wednesday, May 20, 2015.

Update The winner is Annette!