5X Festival returns this summer from June 11 to 18, 2023 with a line-up that brings together storytelling, pride, music, and art while celebrating South Asian youth culture! Join in the celebration with a multi-day, multi-venue festival covering music, arts, fashion, and culture.
Surrey 5X Festival – Photo submitted
5X Fest Lineup
5X Press Panel Tuesday, June 13 from 6:00pm to 9:00pm at The Beaumont Studios, Vancouver If you could build your own futuristic utopia, what would it look like? Multimedia artist Ruby Singh and 5X Press Editor-in-Chief Jeevan Sangha lead us through our imaginations as we dream up a new future in this interactive workshop. Tickets available for $20.
5X Storytelling Wednesday, June 14 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm at The Beaumont Studios, Vancouver Poetry, prose, and stories are woven together in this showcase of viral poet and singer Robyn Sandhu’s words. Tickets available for $25.
5X Pride Thursday, June 15 7:00pm to late at Village Studios, Vancouver A night of love, joy, and Queerness. 5X Pride is co-presented with your favourite desi drag queen Jolene “Queen” Sloan who is bringing some of her most special guests. Shut down the night with a DJ set by Bianca Maeli (No Nazar, LA) and guests. Tickets available for $27.
5X Blockparty Saturday, June 17 from 2:00pm to 9:30pm at Surrey Civic Plaza Festival tickets include concert access, an array of food vendors, art installations, and a vendor village of some of the coolest local brands. Tickets are free when you RSVP online, VIP tickets are also available for purchase. Once again, the 5X Blockparty is free to the public. Your RSVP will enter you into a chance to win an All Access Pass 5X Fest 2023 for you and a friend. That means you get to hit up all 5 festival events and party it up with VIP Blockparty tickets!
5X Art Party Sunday, June 18 from 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm at Surrey Art Gallery & Surrey Civic Theatres Signature art event celebrates creativity and artistic expression. Bringing together some of the most exciting artists Metro Vancouver’s South Asian art scene has to offer. Tickets available for $30.
5X is the essential festival and digital community elevating South Asian youth culture. Run year-round by a young team of activists and thought leaders from Surrey, 5X Fest is the organization’s flagship event. Championing the best of South Asian music, art and culture for millennial and Gen Z audiences, the festival brings the liberated spaces of social media into a real, physical experience.
For more information and updates about the 5X Festival, follow along on Facebook and Instagram.
The 2023 Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival returns to Sen̓áḵw/Vanier Park in Vancouver from June 8 to September 30. The festival’s 34th season brings back the most successful production in Bard’s history, plus a famous tale of political intrigue, a sweeping historical drama, and a unique interpretation of Shakespeare’s Macbeth.
Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival Photo: Tim Matheson
On the BMO Mainstage the season takes off with the return of Bard’s triumphant production of As You Like It. Enjoy Shakespeare blended with The Beatles hits in this romantic comedy conceived and directed by Daryl Cloran (As You Like It, Shakespeare in Love). It plays in repertory with a contemporary setting of Shakespeare’s gripping political drama, Julius Caesar, directed by Cherissa Richards (Harlem Duet). This tale of our drive to get—and hold on to—power resonates especially powerfully in today’s fractured political landscape.
The Howard Family Stage will host two contrasting productions. Adapted by Lois Anderson (Lysistrata), Henry V is a historical drama with a twist running from June 28 to August 13. At the edge of the world, at the end of the world, a troupe of actors explore themes of love and warfare via Shakespeare’s text. On August 19, the clever and hilariously imaginative Goblin:Macbeth, created by Rebecca Northan with Bruce Horak, takes over the Howard Family Stage until September 17. This production asks audiences to imagine, “what if a group of Goblins discovered Shakespeare, and staged Macbeth?”
Play run dates and special events for 2023:
As You Like It, June 8 to September 30 – Opening Night June 18
Julius Caesar, June 15 to September 23 – Opening Night June 23
Henry V, June 28 to August 13 – Opening Night July 5
Goblin: Macbeth, August 19 to September 17 – Opening Night August 23
Bard Fireworks Nights: July 22, 26, & 29- As You Like It followed by catered picnic dinner, performance by Coastal Wolf Pack, and firework views
Wine Wednesdays: July 12, August 16, & September 20 – Enjoy some wine before one of three performances throughout the season
Family Days: July 16 & August 20 – Encouraging young theatre patrons to discover Shakespeare and the Sen̓áḵw/Vanier Park festival experience
Bard Pride Night: June 24 – Its second year, which includes early site access for special activities to celebrate Pride with the Bard Family
Relaxed Performance: July 1 – A less structured experience of As You Like It for patrons
Bard Explored: July 15, August 5, & 19 – A deep dive into the world of Shakespeare with Simon Fraser University’s Paul Budra
Talkback Tuesdays: Every Tuesday in July & August: Performers take part in free post-show discussions
Tickets are available online now. Prices for special events, group bookings and multi-play ticket packages can be found online or by calling the Bard Box Office at (604) 739-0559. Early booking is recommended for best seat selection (all seats are reserved) as many performances sell out in advance.
The Vancouver Street Soccer League (“VSSL”) is currently fundraising for an exciting opportunity to take part in a tournament in Alert Bay.
Vancouver Street Soccer League June Sports Tournament 2019. Photo by VSSL on Facebook
June Sports is an annual soccer tournament that is hosted and organized by the ‘Namgis First Nation. Around thirty players and volunteers from the VSSL will be heading to Alert Bay to participate this year. The village parade and traditional longhouse ceremonies that kick off the tournament resonate deeply with many of the players, particularly those from the Downtown Eastside neighbourhood.
Vancouver Street Soccer League Tournament Fundraiser
Your donations will help pay for food, transportation, and camping.
Established in 2008, the Vancouver Street Soccer League is a volunteer-run, non-profit organization which reaches out to individuals who have been or currently experiencing the spectrum of houselessness, as well as individuals that are marginalized within their communities, and/or struggle with substance use or mental health conditions.
They address the issue of homelessness, marginalization, and addiction through inclusivity and soccer – believing they can enhance all of our lives through the principles of Fair Play, Community Building, Supportive Partnerships, and Health and Safety.
From VSSL: “The long trip up Vancouver Island the natural beauty of Alert Bay, and scenic boat-rides are particularly refreshing and rejuvenating for the players. The camaraderie forged on the soccer field or at the camping site, while dining over communal meals after a hard-fought match, makes this trip a highlight of the year. One of the most powerful things about the June Sports tournament is how it allows Indigenous players to reconnect with the community. This is the first year the VSSL will be participating at June Sports since COVID. It’s an important event for the players and it’s been deeply missed!”
For more information, follow the Vancouver Street Soccer League on Facebook.
Look for my in-depth VSSL feature in an upcoming issue of Megaphone Magazine!
Miss604 is proud to sponsor the Portobello West Spring Market at the Roundhouse in Yaletown 10:00am to 5:00pm this Saturday and Sunday. Find this and many more things to do in Vancouver this weekend listed below:
Things to do in Vancouver This Weekend April 21-23, 2023
Save the date! The 10th annual Dan’s Legacy Chefs’ Charity Dinner is heading to Fort Langley on November 2nd. Come and discover how your support is helping Dan’s provide opportunities for at-risk youth in Langley, whether that’s stabilizing their mental health, building connections to community and culture, or obtaining work skills leading to employment.
2023 Dan’s Legacy Chefs’ Charity Dinner
When: Thursday, November 2nd, 2023 from 6:00pm to 9:00pm
Where: Fort Langley Community Hall (9167 Glover Rd, Langley Township)
Enjoy live entertainment, an extensive silent auction, and a gourmet dinner by our celebrated guest chefs, each of whom will prepare a unique dish created entirely from recovered (surplus) food.
This signature event celebrates Dan’s Legacy’s partnerships in the community while raising much-needed funds for their trauma-informed and no-barrier counselling and wrap-around programs for youth at risk. Enjoy an evening out with friends, family and colleagues and demonstrate your commitment to giving a hand up to marginalized young people in our community.
No other organization in Metro Vancouver does what Dan’s Legacy does and they have an over 50% success rate in helping youth to stabilize, and begin working towards their education, employment and recovery goals. Last year they helped over 450 youth overcome their mental health and addiction challenges and lead productive and fulfilling lives.
