It began in 2014 as a simple, beautiful, elegant way to bring light to the West End during its darkest season. This year, re-envisioned Lumière Festival will embrace all of Downtown Vancouver with its warmth while shining a light on local artists. Returning November 17-27 with the theme: Dream the Future, elements of light, art and storytelling will be woven together to redefine winter as a season of inspiration and connection.
Chris Davis, AJ Simmons, Feven Kidane
Lumière Festival Vancouver 2022
When: November 17-27, 2022
Where: Various public locations in Downtown Vancouver, the West End (English Bay, Jim Deva Plaza, Denman Street), Yaletown (Roundhouse Plaza, Bill Curtis Square, Helmcken Plaza), Gastown (Maple Tree Square)
Admission: Free!
Follow Lumière through Downtown Vancouver, the West End, Yaletown and Gastown, and discover 55+ artists and performers, illuminated Dream beacons, pop-up performances, workshops and demonstrations, as well as neighborhood parades throughout the course of the festival.
Each night, at a new location, festival Dreamers will come together and celebrate with light, music, art and dance; no two nights will be the same during this free family-friendly celebration.
Kicking off the Lumière Festival is an open air spectacle at šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl’e7énḵ Square (formerly: Vancouver Art Gallery North Plaza) on the evening of Thursday, November 17, 2022, and wrapping up in iconic Morton Park on November 26, 2022, is another outdoor stage showcasing artists, light and performances.
Featured artists include two-time Western Canadian Music Award winning soul, jazz and R&B singer Krystle Dos Santos, explosive, high-energy dance band Queer As Funk and Vancouver event band Trilojay. Visual artists include Zachery Cameron Longboy, Lee Rosenbaum, and Jed Mangahis. Dancers from Harbour Dance, Mozaico Flamenco and many more of Vancouver’s best will be Dreaming throughout Lumière.
This fall, the three-time Grammy Award-winning Soweto Gospel Choir returns to Vancouver as one of two Canadian stops on its North American tour. Presented by Caravan World Rhythms, the group will perform their new concert, “HOPE: It’s Been a Long Time Coming”, which draws from music that inspired and supported South Africa’s Freedom Movement and the American Civil Rights Movement.
Soweto Gospel Choir Photo by Stephen Garnett
Soweto Gospel Choir in Vancouver
When: Saturday, November 12, 2022 at 8:00pm
Where: Queen Elizabeth Theatre (630 Hamilton St., Vancouver)
This timely celebration of human resilience will uplift weary audiences after recent years of increasing political and social struggle around the world.
The Soweto Gospel Choir was formed in 2003 in Soweto (South West Township), a town outside of Johannesburg and home of Nelson Mandela and South Africa’s democratic movement. They came together just as South Africa was coming out of apartheid. Since then, they have performed at some of the country’s biggest events, such as the first of the 46664 AIDS benefit concerts and the 2010 FIFA World Cup, including singing for leaders like Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
With this history woven tightly into the choir’s fabric, “HOPE: It’s Been a Long Time Coming” commemorates South Africa’s Freedom Movement and the American Civil Rights Movement through music that inspired and strengthened these events. Audiences will hear South African struggle songs and traditional music, alongside familiar tunes like Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On,” Sam Cooke’s “A Change is Going to Come” and Ben E. King’s “Stand By Me”.
The 24-piece Soweto Gospel Choir is comprised of some of South Africa’s best vocalists. They have long been renowned for their energizing concerts across the globe and have shared the stage and collaborated with some of the biggest names in contemporary music, including U2, Stevie Wonder, Celine Dion, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Josh Groban. They perform a range of African gospel, freedom songs, and international classics, through heartfelt renditions that are at once both distinct and familiar. Their arrangements showcase powerful solos and exuberant harmonies, supported by percussion, clapping, and traditional South African dancing.
A new month is here and with it comes another giant event list, more festivals, more markets and attractions, and these fun things to do in Vancouver this weekend will kick it all off!
Things to do in Vancouver This Weekend November 4-6
The 26th annual Eastside Culture Crawl Visual Arts, Design & Craft Festival is coming up November 17 to 20, 2022 featuring more than 425 artists who will welcome tens of thousands of visitors. This year, arts patrons can explore more than 68 buildings and studios, and reconnect with new and returning artists through studio visits, gallery displays, and artist demonstrations and talks.
Desiree Patterson. Photo by artist. / Arleigh Wood at Parker Street Studio. Photo by Jodie Ponto / Tiffany Blaise. Photo by Oliver Rathonyi.
Eastside Culture Crawl 2022
When: November 17-20, 2022
Thursday & Friday, 5:00pm to 10:00pm; Saturday & Sunday, 11:00am to 6:00pm
Where: In-person at Various Eastside locations
Between Columbia St., 1st Ave., Victoria Drive, and the Waterfront
Tickets: No charge to attend!
One of the biggest cultural events of the fall season, the Eastside Culture Crawl attracts and inspires tens of thousands of visitors. Encompassing the region bounded by Columbia Street, 1st Avenue, Victoria Drive, and the Waterfront, the Eastside Arts District is the most concentrated area of artists, designers, performers, craftspeople and culture producers in Vancouver and is known nationally as an area rich with creativity and inspiration. Here, the festival offers visitors a sneak peek into the lives of artists living and working on Vancouver’s Eastside and provides a glimpse into studios and the inventiveness and imagination that goes into creating art — be it painting, jewelry, sculpture, furniture, poetry, prints, photography, glass works or other creative forms.
Culture Crawl goers are invited to interact with artists and their work through a variety of feature presentations and exhibitions, including:
Preview Exhibition “NEXT” November 1 to 27, 2022 with Opening Receptions on November 10th Pendulum Gallery (885 W Georgia St) Alternative Creations (1659 Venables St) The Cultch (1895 Venables St) Charles Clark Gallery (Strange Fellows Brewing, 1345 Clark Dr) Firehall Arts Centre (280 E Cordova St) A multi-venue, salon-style curated exhibition, “NEXT” explores the aftereffects of living through a pandemic as we long for and ponder about what’s next. After the extraordinary challenges of the last couple of years, there seems to be a longing for change or a sense of normalcy. The exhibition gives 90 selected artists the opportunity to reach for something new, perhaps a fresh start, or maybe the progression of current practices.
Take Flight Virtual Benefit October 11–November 5, 2022 An online benefit, this year’s auction features a John Fluevog gift card, a Burrowing Owl magnum, a Sechelt getaway package, and more incredible local items. This year, the Art Roulette fundraiser includes an in-person cocktail party at the Georgia Art Studios for ticket holders on November 5 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm.
Talking Art November 7-9, 2022 This year’s virtual Talking Art series focuses on perspectives of form in Culture Crawl art practices.
Moving Art November 7, 2022 at 7pm (online premiere) The 9th annual Eastside Culture Crawl Film and Video Exhibition is curated around the theme of “A Collective Point in Time.” As the cloud of restrictions lifted, artists emerged from time machines of self-reflection to embrace time, space and travel. This year’s selections reflect an awareness of our shared humanity buffeted by space, time, and the stardust that weaves us together and populates our genetic code. Participating artists include Rosalina Libertad Cerritos, Zoran Dragelj, Claudine Gévry, Alger Ji-Liang, Sunny Nestler, Yaimel López Zaldívar, and Sally Zori.
This year, Moving Art is partnering with the Lumière Festival, where the film and video exhibition can be viewed on roving bicycle projections nightly from November 17-27, 2022.
Enter to Win
I have a prize package to give away, valued at over $300! Here’s how you can enter to win:
The Culture Crawl is thrilled to welcome art lovers, Vancouverites, and tourists alike to rediscover its classic, in-person festival experience. For four incredible days, streets and studios on Vancouver’s Eastside will be filled with visitors taking in the best of the community’s arts scene.
The Portobello West Holiday Market will have two full days of shopping November 25-26 at the Roundhouse in Yaletown featuring over 60 BC artists, designers and producers. Check out what’s in store and enter to win a prize package valued at $220!
Portobello West Holiday Market 2022
When: Saturday November 26 & Sunday, November 27 from 10:00am to 5:00pm
Where: Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre
Support local and shop safely from our curated selection of vendors. Meet vendors that produce quality and handmade fashion, jewelry, art, home decor, and skincare. In addition, you can also find kids special interest, pet accessories, gourmet treats, and wine and spirits. Enjoy offerings from local food trucks, Camion Café and KYU Grill, on site throughout the day as well.
There are more ways to enter to win when you click the “View This Photo on Instagram” as well. Follow Portobello West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for the latest market updates, vendor news, and more.
For over 15 years, Portobello West has sought and presented top-notch emerging and established BC local talent. Featuring up to 90-local artists, designers and producers at a time, Portobello West’s seasonal markets offer up a curated selection of locally designed fashion, jewelry, art, home decor, skincare, gourmet treats, wine and spirits, and more. Portobello West’s nonprofit mandate is to foster support and a sense of community for local creatives living and working here.
