Summer is here and that means the July event list for Vancouver is packed with outdoor festivals, music, markets, movies and so much more.
This month Miss604 is proud to sponsor FREE fun all around the region at: Canada Together at Canada Place (July 1); Canada Day StreetFest in Burnaby (July 1); Chinatown Festival (July 13-14); Classical Weekend at Deer Lake Park (July 13-14); Burnaby Summer Stages and Sounds Like Summer (various dates); Canada Place Summer Series (various dates); and Summer at Burnaby Village Museum!
July Events in Vancouver
This list is updated daily. If you have any events to add, please send them in for a free listing.
See some of the fastest cyclists around, including elite racers from the U.S. and other countries with Amateur Races, a Kids 3-12 Fun Track Lap, and Men’s and Women’s Pro Races – all on a fully contained and upgraded 900-metre cycling course.
There will also be a Charity Race in support of the St. Paul’s Foundation’s drive to transform health care at the new St. Paul’s Hospital on the Jim Pattison Medical Campus – bringing state-of-the-art, compassionate, care to patients and families in Vancouver and across BC. Teams of three cyclists will complete a 7km race to raise funds for the foundation.
The Family Kids’ Zone triples in size this year. The festival also has a beer garden, more food trucks, free treats, various bike vendors, and direct up-close viewing access to the exhilarating races.
By registering for free festival admission online, checked-in attendees receive complimentary bike valet service, free popcorn for kids, a bike safety check and mini tune-ups by Trek, and entry to lots of giveaways.
The festival site also boasts a newly expanded HopOn bike obstacle course by Cycling BC, thrilling live performances by Zero Gravity Trials showcasing their spectacular riding skills, and an arts and crafts tent to enjoy. Additionally, there will be two Fun Track Laps for kids to ride the professional cycling course, ages 3-6 and 7-12. Follow Concord Pacific on Facebook for updates.
The Theatre Under the Stars (TUTS) season at Malkin Bowl in Vancouver this summer includes performances of CATS, and School of Rock – and you can enter to win tickets to opening night!
Theatre Under the Stars at Stanley Park’s Malkin Bowl. Photo by Shawn Bukhari.
CATS and School of Rock at Theatre Under the Stars
Date: July 5 to August 24, 2024 (opening nights July 10 and 11)
Time: All shows begin at 8:00pm except on Fireworks Nights (July 20, 24, and 27) when shows begin at 7:00pm
Location: Malkin Bowl in Stanley Park (610 Pipeline Rd, Vancouver)
CATS took the theatre world by storm upon its debut in the West End and on Broadway in the early 80’s, winning both the Tony and Olivier Award for Best Musical. It is recognized as one of the longest-running musicals of all time, with more than 15,000 combined performances in London and New York over two decades. Performed entirely in song, CATS relies heavily on dance to tell its story about a tribe of exceptional cats called the Jellicles. They must decide which feline will be selected at their annual Jellicle Ball to ascend to the Heaviside Layer and come back to new life. The musical sensation, based on T.S. Eliot’s whimsical Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, is overflowing with unforgettable songs, including ‘Mr. Mistoffelees,’ ‘Macavity: The Mystery Cat,’ and, the all-time favourite, ‘Memory.’
About the Team
The CATS creative team, led by director Ashley Wright and choreographer Julie Murphy–who both make their TUTS debut–and returning music director Sean Bayntun (The Prom) will bring a fresh new vision to the TUTS stage this summer, featuring a contemporary urban alley setting and characters clothed in highly stylized costumes befitting of their eclectic personalities.
Based on the hit 2003 film, School of Rock is a high-voltage, exuberantly loud, feel-good show that showcases the strength of coming together and the irrepressible power of rock ‘n roll. In partnership with School of Rock Vancouver, the show will feature local youth musicians in its ensemble cast.
Featuring a “rabble-rousing rock score” (The Guardian), School of Rock is a Tony and Olivier-Award-nominated musical that debuted to critical acclaim on Broadway (2015) and in London’s West End (2016), before touring across North America, Australia, Europe, and Japan. The musical follows down-on-his-luck, wannabe rock star, Dewey Finn, who has been kicked out of his band and is facing eviction. When he’s serendipitously mistaken for a substitute teacher at a straight-laced private school, he seizes his chance to make some quick cash. Avoiding the prying eyes of the school’s principal and parents, Dewey teaches his uptight classroom how to let loose, chase their dreams, and express themselves through their music.
About the Team
The School of Rock creative team includes director Tracey Power, who returns for her second consecutive year directing with TUTS, following last year’s The Prom; choreographer Matthew Rossoff, who first performed on stage with TUTS in the early 2000’s; and music director Eliza De Castro, a 2023 TUTS Music Directing Fellow for The Prom. Together, the team hopes to inspire audiences with the power music holds to bring people together.
Special Event Nights
Rock Your Favourite Band Tee Night – July 13
School of Rock Vancouver Pre-Show Performances – July 13, July 27, August 4, August 24
VOKRA Night – July 20 & August 17
Pride Night (with Vancouver Pride Society) – July 22
Relaxed Performance (with Canucks Autism Network) – July 29
VocalEye Performance – August 2
PAL Pass the Hat Night (with PAL Vancouver)– August 16 & 17
Win Tickets
I have a pair of tickets to give away to each opening night at TUTS, so there will be two winners! Here’s how you can enter to win and be sure to select which show you’d like to see:
Vancouver Whitecaps FC will host the Indigenous Peoples Celebration Match on June 29th and they have also announced the launch of two new mini-pitches. Last week, Hope and Health, with the support of the Whitecaps, opened their seventh and eighth mini-pitches in First Nations communities across the province.
The pitches will provide innovative, high quality and inspiring play environments to engage Indigenous children and youth in the beautiful game.
On June 17, the Sts’ailes Strong Mini-Pitch officially opened. A traditional welcome to the territory was led by Grand Chief Willie Charlie and council, as well as an inspiring speech from youth council leader Jeremy Charlie. In addition, Sts’ailes member Terry Felix was honoured as the former Canadian international and forward with Vancouver Whitecaps during the NASL-era had his number 15 highlighted on each of the four archways.
On June 20, the Cowichan Strong Mini-Pitch was opened. A community celebration featured a welcome to the territory from Cowichan Tribes with Chief Cindy Daniels, ribbon cutting and ball drop.
In addition to the pitch being built, a 5V5 Champions League will be activated to give youth a competitive environment with high-level coaching to help their technical development. As more pitches are constructed, Champions League play will expand across communities and fellow nations.
Penelakut Strong was the first mini-pitch opened in September 2021, additional pitches include Snaw-naw-as Strong, Tla’amin Strong, Stz’uminus Strong, Snuneymuxw Strong, Ts’uubaa-asatx Strong, and Malahat Strong, set to open this summer.
About Hope and Health
The The Hope and Health movement utilizes the beautiful game of soccer and mentorship to inspire hope, as well as improve the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health and life conditions for Indigenous children and youth. The team is committed to come together as one heart, one mind to maximize sport as a tool for reconciliACTION in relation to the Canadian Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls To Action, specific to Sports and Reconciliation (87-91). The Hope and Health vision is for Indigenous children and youth to carry themselves with pride and confidence, achieve their highest potential and dream big.
Enter to Win & Support a Great Cause
If you’ve noticed the Winning Wednesday box on Miss604.com lately, it’s in support of Hope and Health’s weekly 50/50 draw. Every Wednesday they’ll draw a new winner this summer so there are lots of chances to win. They are also giving away tickets to the Whitecaps match on June 29th (Indigenous Peoples Celebration). Follow on Facebook for details.
2024 Whitecaps FC Indigenous Peoples Celebration logo by Austin Aan’yas Harry
Whitecaps Indigenous Peoples Celebration Match
The 2024 Whitecaps FC logo for the Indigenous Peoples Celebration was designed by Austin Aan’yas Harry, a digital artist and a dedicated member of the Squamish Nation, with ancestral ties to the Namgis Nation. There will be an artisan market and performances from Land Back Records recording artists and dancers. Visit the Warmup at Terry Fox Plaza from 12:00pm to 4:00pm, and during the match the anthem will be sung by Hayley Wallis, with Eli Gosselin-Rattlesnake and Dakota Bear performing at the half.
Did you know that we have a professional rugby team? Not only that, the Vancouver Highlanders have announced that tickets to their opening matches against Barbados and Canada Selects on June 28th will be free! This is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to watch and enjoy international-calibre rugby up close and personal pitchside.
Photo courtesy of Vancouver Highlanders Rugby
Vancouver Highlanders Professional Rugby
Location: Burnaby Lake Rugby Club (3760 Sperling Ave, Burnaby)
Fans are encouraged to bring their own chair and grab a seat close to the action.
Canada’s only professional rugby team, will kick off its first season of play with the inaugural Rugby Player’s Challenge Summer Series. It begins on Friday, June 28th when the Highlanders play a double bill against the Canada Selects and the Barbados National Team. On July 20th, they will face Germany, with Brazil next up for the challenge on August 3rd. The series will close out on August 17th with the arrival of the Canada XV national team.
Each of the five matches will showcase elite rugby in a festival atmosphere at Burnaby Lake Rugby Club with traditional bagpipes, DJs, food, and a fully licensed fan zone. Sports lovers and rugby die-hards can gather pitchside to experience bone-crunching hits and the immersive atmosphere in an intimate and unique sporting environment.
In preparation for the season, Vancouver Highlanders will be hosting an open practice from 7:00pm to 9:00pm on Friday, June 21st at Burnaby Lake Rugby Club. Members of the public are warmly invited to watch Vancouver’s newest professional sports team go through their paces as they prepare for a summer of international competition.
About the Team
Vancouver Highlanders were founded with the mission to offer a pathway for players to develop their game and grow as a person while building their rugby skills. The Highlanders also aim to grow the sport’s grassroots and community by creating a style of play Canadian fans can embrace and tapping into British Columbia’s deep-seated passion for rugby. The team name, Gaelic player names and tartan jerseys celebrate Scottish heritage, while the team motto “Fortitude” captures the values the sport encompasses. Follow the team on Facebook for more info.
