Summer Salsa Cruises in Vancouver

Comments 14 by Rebecca Bollwitt

The Summer Salsa Cruise season is here! Enjoy a lineup of five sensational events on the seas with something for everyone.

Vancouver Salsa Cruises - MV Britannia. Photo submitted.
Vancouver Salsa Cruises – MV Britannia. Photo submitted.

Summer Salsa Cruises in Vancouver

Tickets are available now for:

  • Afternoon Family Cruise July 2
  • Fiesta Blanca Salsa Cruise with Latincouver July 15
  • Salsa Cruise August 12 (Barbie & Ken theme)
  • Salsa Cruise August 26 (Hawaiian theme)
  • Salsa Cruise September 9 (Decades theme)

The Summer Salsa Cruise Series has been a staple of the season in Vancouver for the last 23 years! Aboard the MV Britannia, you’ll find three levels of music and dancing with Vancouvers best DJs along with the opportunity to participate in dance lessons – from salsa to other sultry Latin-style dance such as Bachata or Reggaeton.

The first salsa event will be the July 15th Fiesta Blanca Salsa Cruise in partnership with Latincouver, celebrating Latin American Week in Vancouver.

Come and find out for yourself why this has been a Vancouver tradition for over two decades! Whether it’s your tenth or first time, you’re on a date night, just visiting the city, or celebrating a birthday, or simply enjoying a night on the town– on the water.

The Salsa Cruises play a mix of all types of Latin music on the lower level and main level while the upper deck is a mix of Latin and Top 40 and Club Hits. Whether you want to partake in a night of lessons and dancing or just sit back and watch Vancouver’s stunning scenery both on and off the boat, this will be a night to remember. Savour the tropical atmosphere, themed décor, sultry rhythms, and the delicious taste of Latin American food available on board.

Afternoon Family Cruise

Family Salsa Cruise 2023

Don’t miss the one-of-a-kind Afternoon Family Cruise on July 2nd. This two hour boat cruise for the whole family is themed for kids of all ages with princesses, superheros, face painting, hair braiding, dancing and singing along to all your favourite songs. This year’s theme celebrates the launch of the new Little Mermaid live action movie with Ariel, Ursula and special guest The Black Panther.

Follow Salsa Cruises Vancouver on Instagram for the latest news.

Enter to Win

You can enter to win a pair of tickets to any of the five Salsa Cruise dates! Follow @miss604 and @salsacruises_vancouver on Instagram and like or comment on this post to enter to win. You can also leave a comment below on the blog for a bonus entry. I will draw one winner at 12pm on Monday, June 19, 2023. Good luck!

UPDATE! The winner is @hatboxghost1313

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Rebecca Bollwitt (@miss604)

Afternoon Family Cruise is not included in the contest

Miss604 is a sponsor of the Vancouver Salsa Cruises season again in 2023.

Fashion Fictions at The Vancouver Art Gallery

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The Vancouver Art Gallery presents: Fashion Fictions, an ambitious exhibition exploring experimental design practices that exist at the intersection of fashion and other modes of cultural production. Featuring more than 50 designers, the exhibition explores the influence of research-based, materially driven practices on the global fashion scene, while acknowledging the proliferation of creative practices that challenge the aesthetic, material and technological conventions of fashion.  

Fashion Fictions Vancouver Art Gallery Exhibit
Caroline Monnet, Echoes from a Near Future, 2022, inkjet print mounted on aluminum, Courtesy of the Artist

Fashion Fictions at The Vancouver Art Gallery

  • When: May 27 – October 29, 2023
  • Where: Vancouver Art Gallery, 750 Hornby St, Vancouver
  • Admission: Tickets available for purchase online.

The exhibition is divided into three thematic sections: Material Futures, which explores the relationship between technological and scientific innovations in material research to create fabrics. Aesthetic Prophesies, which highlights the fusion of cultural traditions with speculative creations and designers that push the boundaries of wearability with extreme fashion. And Responsible Visions, which explores the importance of sustainable discourse in fashion culture, with designers incorporating adaptive reuse, upcycling and digital design into their explorations.

Fashion Fictions is more than mannequins and dresses, it’s an exploration of creativity drawing on cultural traditionsscience fiction, technology and an interest in the natural world and sustainability

The curatorial approach favours the unexpected: established and celebrated brands are juxtaposed with emerging designers. Contributing curator, Amber-Dawn Bear Robe, selected work by several Indigenous designers and artists addressing social and environmental issues through designs.

The exhibition will be accompanied by a magazine-style publication released this summer and available online and in the Gallery Store. It will be activated through collaborations and special programs, including a creative research laboratory pop-up. This multipurpose lab, conceived and programmed by Material Matters from Emily Carr University of Art + Design, will function as a workshop, studio space and classroom showcasing current faculty and student work in process and will also serve as the site for programs, talks and design charrettes.

Fashion Fictions is a must-see for anyone interested in the future of fashion, design and cultural production!

Related: Vancouver Art Gallery Free First Friday Nights

Weekend Events in Vancouver – Things to do June 2-4

Add a Comment by Rebecca Bollwitt

This weekend Miss604 is proud to sponsor Summer at Burnaby Village Museum, and I’m very excited to check out my local farmer’s market, go to a soccer match, and enjoy some live music. Find these events and many more things to do around Metro Vancouver listed below:

Things to do in Vancouver This Weekend Summer

Weekend Events in Vancouver
Things to do June 2-4, 2023

Friday, June 2, 2023

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Summer at the Sea to Sky Gondola

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With warmer temperatures and sun-filled days on the horizon, there’s nothing better than getting outside and experiencing all that BC has to offer. The Sea to Sky Gondola is a great place to take in the summer season with non-stop views, a gondola ride, fun summertime activities, trails suitable for all fitness levels, along with tasty new food options, live music, and more.

Sea to Sky Gondola Spring-Summer

Summer Season at Sea to Sky Gondala

  • When: June through September
  • Where: Sea to Sky Gondola, 36800 BC-99, Squamish
  • Admission: Ticket prices vary, available for purchase through the Sea to Sky website

Beginning June 19, Monday through Friday mornings this summer, enjoy Mountain Top Yoga & Fitness Classes. An assortment of classes will also be available including Mindful Yoga, Yoga Flow, Mountain Camp, and more.

Kick off summer weekends every Friday with Mountain Music from June 9 through September 8, 2023. The line-up of bands will hit the outdoor stage and include popular local favourites, such as The Hairfarmers, The Whiskeydicks, Ruckus Deluxe, and more.

Food Options

To cap off the summer experience are all the amazing food options offered throughout the summit. From the Backyard Plaza to the spectacular front deck and the Co-Pilot Cafe, Sea to Sky Gondola has cooked up a whole new menu of delicious good eats and sweet treats for everyone to enjoy. 

Olé! New Taco Bar at the Co-Pilot Cafe – The ultimate street tacos have arrived! Fan favourites include pulled beef/chicken/pork, battered cod, and a plant-based vegan option. Created with fresh ingredients and served with a margarita (traditional, pineapple or spicy) or two, this is one taco bar visitors will want to come back to again and again.

Firing Up the Grills – It’s BBQ Season!  – There is nothing like a summer BBQ and instead of just one, Sea to Sky Gondola is firing up two grills. New this season are artisan created pizzas with fresh local ingredients, smokies, corn on the cob, and more at the Backyard BBQ. Take in views like no other at the Oceanview BBQ on the summit patio while enjoying all the classics including, mouth-watering brisket and pulled pork with all the fixings.

The Sweetest Spot on the Summit – Satisfy your sweet tooth with a visit to Summit Sweets. This new addition at Sea to Sky Gondola will literally make you feel like a kid in a candy shop. With ice cream, cotton candy, popcorn, slushies, and of course, candy galore, it offers the ultimate treat for all visitors this summer. 

Take in the stunning views on one of many hiking and walking trails, and enjoy this treats and tunes!

Follow Sea to Sky Gondola on FacebookInstagram, and Twitter for more information.

Talking Stick Festival 2023

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The 22nd annual Talking Stick Festival 2023: Summer Reverb celebrates and honours National Indigenous History Month. The event series unites Indigenous art and culture with people from all walks of life and offers a unique opportunity to reflect and reconnect. 

Talking Stick Festival 2023

The Festival’s theme, “Summer Reverb” brings together the idea of amplified sound and amplified voices in musical performances, similar to the star and water ripples reverberating outwards. The Talking Stick Festival celebrates diversity and inclusivity, welcoming Two-Spirit and Indigiqueer Artists, and promises vibrant entertainment.

Talking Stick Festival 2023

Headlining this year’s festival, is singer-songwriter and musician Logan Staats. Staats won the Indigenous Music Award for Best Radio Single “The Lucky Ones.” Also headlining, is DJ KOOKUM, an open format DJ and multi-media maker from the Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation and Cold Lake First Nations. Indigenous singer-songwriter, activist, and storyteller Pura Fé will also perform at multiple events throughout the month, intertwining her talents with cultural traditions. 

The wide range of events include: a documentary screening, a theatre performance, a book launch (accompanied by a conversation with an award-winning author and local journalist), a Burlesque show, the Summer Reverb Gala, Dj Spins, and an immersive 4D audio performance

June 21 marks National Indigenous Peoples Day, and on this day, the Talking Stick Festival features a diverse mix of ceremony, storytelling, dance and music, paired with a fashion show curated by a local designer. Indigenous Day Eve, on June 20, is also celebrated with an unforgettable event, spotlighting hip-hop and its connection to Indigenous traditions. 

The festival concludes with a series of roundtables, welcoming an open discussion on various topics, including the evolving Canadian art landscape, which has been impacted by social justice movements, digital shifts, and new funding models.

“As a Māori Pacific Islander producer from Aotearoa, I’m proud to be part of this year’s Talking Stick Festival. This event truly enhances the visibility of Indigenous arts, culture, and narratives. As we navigate beyond COVID-19, we stand on the precipice of a new era. Through the continued sharing and uplifting of our stories, we move towards an unequivocal truth – the future is Indigenous,” says Nathan Mudge from Full Circle.

The month-long celebration includes a mix of exclusive in-house produced events as well as co-productions with arts partners such as: The Cultch, Punctuate! Theatre, Massy Books, Massy Arts, Vancouver Public Library, Queer Arts Festival, Coastal Jazz, VIFF, Primary Colours/Couleurs primaires, and Delinquent Theatre. 

Ticket prices vary, with some free events and others starting at $15.

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