This weekend around Vancouver you can enjoy events related to Indigenous Peoples Day, the Dragon Boat Festival (with drone show), a fundraising festival for the food bank and more! Find these activities and more things to do listed below:
The Concord Pacific Dragon Boat Festival this Saturday will host a free public drone show in Vancouver, featuring artwork celebrating Chinatown, Indigenous communities, and dragon boat racing.
If you can see Science World from your spot (Seawall, Plaza of Nations, Cambie Bridge, Yaletown, Olympic Village) you should be able to see the drone show. Of course the best viewpoint will be from the Dragon Boat Festival ground although capacity limits may apply.
Viewers who stake out a spot along False Creek will enjoy a multisensory celebration of imagery linked to dragon boat racing tradition, Chinatown, Vancouver, and artwork from renowned Squamish artists Chepximiya Siyam’ Chief Janice George and Skwetsimeltxw Willard Joseph.
Saturday’s drone show is expected to start around 9:30pm and will include traditional Chinese elements celebrating Chinatown, the dragon boat festival, and modern Vancouver culture. The show will be synchronized to a 100% local music soundtrack featuring local artists Lights, Felix Cartal, SABAI, and Sekawnee.
Jumbotrons broadcasting the show will be placed near Creekside Community Centre, the Concord Pacific Presentation Centre, and by the TD Main Stage. The broadcast will also be carried online.
Preceding the drone show will be dragon boat races until 8:00pm, and Hey Ocean! and Blonde Diamond on the TD Main Stage until 9:15pm.
The event is billed as the first public drone show in Vancouver, and the festival has worked closely with the City of Vancouver, Vancouver Park Board, Vancouver Police Department, and other partners to ensure the show runs successfully. Through this event, new guidelines have been developed to support future presentations of eco-friendly aerial entertainment across the region.
About the Festival
In addition to the drone show, the Festival will feature the biggest dragon boat race in North America; a larger-than-ever cultural programming lineup anchored by the TD Main Stage; expansions to the Pavilion program with the Pride Pavilion joining the Chinatown and Indigenous Pavilions; a new Concord Community Zone for families; and the city’s biggest outdoor patio, featuring waterfront views of downtown and the races.
Visitors are encouraged to take public transit down to the site, with the closest SkyTrain stops being Main Street Science World and Stadium-Chinatown stations.
UPDATE: If you missed the show, here’s a clip provided by the Concord Pacific Dragon Boat Festival:
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by Rebecca BollwittDisclosure: Review — Miss604's stay was compliments of the Westin Bayshore. Opinions and views are that of the author. Please review the Policy & Disclosure section for further information.
I always say the Westin Bayshore is the best place in Vancouver for locals and visitors so stay for a real vacation vibe while still experience the best of city. The resort has activities, pools, spa, and restaurants while you’re still just steps from downtown, the park, and the waterfront. You can enter to win a Westin Bayshore Staycation!
Westin Bayshore Vancouver Staycation
The Westin Bayshore rooms are comfy and spacious, with thoughtful amenities (soaps, lotions, shampoo, hair dryer), lots of places to recharge your devices or take a quick work call if you’re not fully disconnected (boo!) and lovely views of either the city, the courtyard, or the harbour. I knew they’d have an umbrella in the room, robes, and I actually needed a sewing kit too which is such a classic yet handy amenity to have at a hotel. The in-room fridge also came in handy for storing our leftovers from dinner since we were so full from the feast.
Dining Options
As a local, I’ll pop into T & Co Café for a coffee and wrap when I’m out on the Seawall, book a dinner at H2 Kitchen + Bar during their seasonal events, graze the extensive breakfast buffet, or enjoy an evening on the patio with local live music. During my stay a few weeks ago, I enjoyed a meal at H Tasting Lounge, which had a variety of vegetarian options for me to pick from.
H Tasting Lounge at the Westin Bayshore
Located just off the lobby, and also right on the Seawall, H Tasting Lounge offers creative cocktails complemented by tasting plates. I ordered the Fake History (0% mocktail) with vanilla rooibos tea, smoked plum, frankincense, non-alcoholic bitters. For the table we ordered a variety of sides like roasted garlic mushrooms, sautéed vegetables, and I had a delicious mushroom gnocchi. I can’t spot the exact meal I had on the menu on the website anymore since they use in-season ingredients and the menu has been updated for summer so you know you’ll be getting the freshest and best of the season on your plate.
Bayshore bees’ honey served at the H2 Kitchen + Bar breakfast buffet
Pro Tip: My sister was craving ice cream when we got back to the room after a sunset walk and while it wasn’t on the regular in-room dining menu, the kids menu had a mango sorbet that hit the spot.
On select mornings, H2 Kitchen + Bar is transformed into a giant buffet room with hot and cold items, fresh fruit, juices, and smoothies, cereals, and an omelette station. During our visit they also had congee, all the breakfast meats you could desire, and house-baked goods.
Activities
Take your pick of an indoor (with hot tub) or outdoor pool (with sauna), book a treatment at Vida Spa sign up for a liquid yoga class, or use the complimentary guest bikes to explore the area. Walk the grounds and visit the apiary where the Bayshore honey comes from, or chill on the lounge chairs by the firepit on the lawn near the pool.
The runWESTIN experience is powered by the Strava app and you can join a Run Concierge guided run Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Surrey-based nonprofit organization Options Community Services (OCS) hosts the Building Hope Gala Concert with Jann Arden, a fundraiser for their second affordable housing build for the community.
Ticketholders will enjoy performances by award winning Indigenous folk duo Twin Flames, Surrey-based Ranj Singh and The Discriminators, and multi-platinum, award-winning Canadian singer and songwriter, Jann Arden.
Surrey-based media personality, and Virgin Radio morning host and producer, Nira Arora will MC the Building Hope experience and guests will enjoy a live auction led by Howard Blank, Auctioneer & CEO, Point Blank Entertainment.
A variety of ticket options are available for purchase. Tickets start at $200, with various ticket levels, up to the $,1000 VIP tickets which include VIP seating, a hosted bar, and more. All proceeds go towards the OCS affordable housing initiative.
About the Fundraiser
Having just completed Habitat@81st in Surrey, mixed income affordable housing building with onsite supports, OCS is now stepping up to support others in the community. Habitat@81st was supported by the Women of Options campaign (which Miss604 was a part of). Its 100 units are now home to many individuals and families in the community.
Britannia Mine Museum presents the return of Old Town, New Queens, a Pride night drag event on June 22nd. Hosted at the Museum’s 20-storey Mill No. 3 building, a National Historic Site, the stage is set and will be transformed for two incredible shows featuring an expanded performer lineup of some of the most amazing 2SLGBTQIA+ drag artists from the Lower Mainland.
Pride at the Britannia Mine Museum
Dates: Saturday, June 22, 2024 6:00pm to 9:00pm
Act I: 7:15pm; Act II: 8:15pm
Location: Britannia Mine Museum (150 Copper Dr, Britannia Beach)
45 minutes north of Vancouver on the picturesque Sea-to-Sky highway
Includes two 45-minute drag performances in the Mill as well as access to the Museum’s summer exhibit and the Museum’s lower site permanent exhibits, including the gold panning station.
To tie into this year’s summer exhibit Rock Solid: Safety in Mines theme, local Squamish drag superstars Dust Cwaine, Homo Hardware and Sativa the Diva will lead an all-star cast of drag queens, drag kings and drag things through fierce lip sync numbers inspired by all things ‘mine safety’.
In addition to returning superstars Dolly Hardon, Dust Cwaine, Flemme Fatale, Homo Hardware, and Sativa the Diva, the 2024 cast will include Acacia Gray, AndrogynAss, Justin Abit, and Theo Rhetical for their Old Town, New Queens debuts. This year’s cast has focused on bringing more drag kings and non-binary performers to the spotlight.
The Baba’s House Kitchen food truck will have food and non-alcoholic beverages available on site. Local community organizations Pride Squamish and Sea to Sky Allies will also be present at the event.
As with previous years, some performances may include ‘grown up humour’ including stronger language and edgier content; however, audiences of all ages who are looking to celebrate Pride are welcome. The Britannia Mine Museum recommends pre-purchasing tickets online as events tend to sell out.
About Britannia Mine Museum
The Britannia Mine Museum provides unique and memorable experiences that engage visitors of all ages. Enjoy fun exhibits and crowd favourites like the underground mine train, gold panning, the historic 20-storey concentrator Mill building and its BOOM! special effects show, the minerals and gem gallery, the gift shop and the Beaty Lundin Visitor Centre.
