The August long weekend is here and the Vancouver event lineup is FULL! There’s the internationally-renown Vancouver Pride Parade, the 47th annual Powell Street Festival, free gallery admissions on Friday, tours, fairs, theatre and more! Find these events and so many more things to do listed below:
Don’t miss the 3rd Annual International Indigenous Hip Hop Awards Show, a two-day celebration of arts and culture with a trade show, conference, live music and more live in Vancouver.
International Indigenous Hip Hop Awards Show
When: August 11-12, 2023
Where: Vancouver Playhouse (600 Hamilton St) + live stream
The unceded traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations
Join the International Indigenous Hip Hop Awards movement as it aims to increase the national and international exposure of Indigenous urban arts performers and small businesses through live music engagement and educational conferences.
Red Carpet (presented by All My Relations): DJ O Show and Sly Skeeta
Headlining Awards Artists: Dakota Bear, Drmngnow, Christie Lee, Curtis Clear Sky and the Constellationz, DJ Kookum, Def-i, Rude Gang Ent, Lady Sinncere, Quanah Style, Nimkish, She-Rōze.
Featured Trade Show Performances (presented by Native Hip Hop Society): LOCVHONTVS, Tiago Vasquez, JayRed & Kenny Murkz, Sekawnee, Nowujalo, Pindian, The Ra11n, Valkyrie, HK, GoldKid, Feel Good Entertainment, Sly Skeeta Tawahum
Special Guest Judges: Blahzay Blahzay, Chip Fu, Masta Ace, Christie Lee, Rex Smallboy, Mamarudegyal MTHC
Hosted by: Suzette Amaya and DJ Kookum
From the organizers: “Through the execution of a music conference followed by an awards show, we will shed light on the movers and shakers who are helping shape our urban economy, by celebrating and acknowledging the dedication, community impact and artistic merit of export-ready Indigenous hip hop artists, singers, visual artists, spoken word poets, producers, deejays & more that all make up the Indigenous urban entertainment culture.”
Membership
Becoming a member of the International Indigenous Hip Hop Awards Show is a unique opportunity to support and promote the growth of Indigenous hip hop music and culture. Members will have access to exclusive content and opportunities to connect with artists and industry professionals. Additionally, as a special perk, all members will be added to the Indigenous Hip Hop Card Collection, which is the world’s first Indigenous hip hop exclusive collection. This collection features cards of Indigenous hip hop artists and industry professionals, highlighting their contributions to the scene. Being a part of this collection is not only a way to showcase your support for Indigenous hip hop, but also a way to preserve the history and legacy of the genre for future generations.
The ninth NBA Canada Series is bringing the Toronto Raptors and Sacramento Kings to Vancouver for a preseason game this October.
NBA Canada Series – Raptors vs Kings in Vancouver
On Sunday, October 8, 2023 two-time NBA All-Star Pascal Siakam, 2021-22 Kia NBA Rookie of the Year Scottie Barnes and the Toronto Raptors will take on the 2022-23 NBA Pacific Division champion Sacramento Kings at Rogers Arena in Vancouver.
The Kings feature three-time NBA All-Star Domantas Sabonis, 2023 NBA All-Star De’Aaron Fox and Canadian Trey Lyles, and are coached by unanimous 2022-23 NBA Coach of the Year Mike Brown.
On Thursday, October 12, 2023, Canadians Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luguentz Dort, and the Oklahoma City Thunder will take on the Detroit Pistons at the Bell Centre in Montréal.
The Pistons feature 2021-22 Kia NBA All-Rookie First Team member Cade Cunningham, 2022-23 Kia NBA All-Rookie Second Team member Jaden Ivey and 2023 No. 5 overall draft pick Ausar Thompson.
In total, 15 NBA teams have participated in 16 preseason games across six cities as part of the NBA Canada Series, drawing a total attendance of more than a quarter of a million. For more information, fans in Canada can download the NBA App and follow the NBA in Canada on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.
The Blind Pig Music Festival, Vancouver’s newest music festival, is taking over Granville Island’s Performance Works for two weekends in August. Enjoy vibrant and local lineup of live music, cocktails, food trucks, and a thriving sense of community.
Blind Pig Music Festival on Granville Island
The Festival will host six nights of music, both indoors and outdoors, from August 10-12 and then again August 17-19. Tickets are now available for $35 online in advance or $40 at the door.
Don’t miss Happy Hour (4:00pm to 6:00pm) each performance day before the shows start at 8:00pm.
At the heart of The Blind Pig’s mission is the dedication to supporting local musicians during these challenging post-pandemic times when we, as Vancouverites, need music, art and community more than ever. The lineup includes:
“We believe that music has the power to unite and uplift us all,” said the festival organizer, Melodie Creegan. “Through The Blind Pig Music Festival, we aim to create a joyous legacy that celebrates local talent and to promote a strong sense of community in Vancouver.”
About Performance Works
1218 Cartwright St, Vancouver on Granville Island
Originally a machine shop in the 1920s, Performance Works opened in 1992 with a mandate to provide the arts community with a permanent rehearsal and performance venue. It is popular concert venue, known for its great acoustics. Performance Works is a flexible and beautiful performance space with a wooden floor, surrounded by impressive wooden beams, and flanked with large roll-up doors to let in the gorgeous scenery that surrounds the building. There is a bar service area, a large outdoor patio, and outdoor performance space right next to Ron Basford Park.
Follow The Bling Pig on Instagram for their latest festival updates.
Two new exhibitions launched at Science World this summer and you can enter to win a pack of tickets to check them out! Here’s what’s happening under the dome:
Trailblazing: Women in Canada since 1867 explores how women have transformed Canadian politics, work, and everyday life. The exhibition also examines work that still needs to be done in the 21st century with respect to women’s rights, different experiences based on race, class and ethnicity, and the experiences of the “everyday” woman. Currently in Canada, there is no national women’s history museum or long-term exhibition devoted to this topic.
Highlighted throughout the exhibition are Canadian women who have been “trailblazers” in bringing about social and political change. Visitors will learn about the accomplishments of hundreds of remarkable women. From Hide Hyodo Shimizu, a teacher who organized a school system in British Columbia’s Japanese internment camps during the Second World War to Sheila Watt-Cloutier, a Nobel Peace Prize nominee in 2007 and Inuk who advocates for the environmental, cultural and human rights of Inuit of the Arctic. All their stories will inspire.
Science World Photo
James Cameron – CHALLENGING THE DEEP explores film-maker James Cameron’s extensive career as a deep-sea explorer and his many history-making expeditions. Developed by the Australian National Maritime Museum, this exhibition takes visitors to the depths of our oceans through the lens of Cameron’s underwater cameras and his other incredible technological innovations that have enabled us to see the least known places on earth.
Cameron has led eight major deep-sea expeditions and many submersible dives, setting world firsts including the first solo dive to the Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench, the first exploration of the interior of the wreck of RMS Titanic, and the first seafloor-to-surface live broadcast.
His expeditions, in collaboration with oceanographic and scientific institutions, have documented the shipwreck of RMS Titanic, explored deep ocean phenomena such as black smoker hydrothermal vents and discovered new species from the lowest point on earth. They have been chronicled in his documentaries and now, for the first time, in a major exhibition James Cameron – CHALLENGING THE DEEP.
A few more things to check out at Science World this summer:
Twilight Tuesdays: Every Tuesday through the summer, Science World will be open to explore until 8:00pm. Not only that, admission is only $16.50 for adults and $13 for kids aged 3-12 after 5:00pm.
Gwenyth Chao’s apodeme of a line: This new art feature considers “how lines can create space when they are given space to freely meander.” In this ongoing project, Gwenyth finds existing holes in the architecture for the lines to latch on to rather than nailing the lines to the wall. You can find it in the first-floor atrium until October 30th.
From tie-dye t-shirts to bucket hats and fanny packs, the limited-run Expo 86 Summer Capsule combines nostalgic charm with vibrant 80s-inspired summer gear. Embrace the nostalgia and vibrant spirit of Expo 86 by visiting the Science World gift shop or online.
Win a Family Pack of Tickets
I have a family 4-pack of tickets to give away to Science World this season. Here’s how you can enter to win:
