Vancouver Bach Festival 2019: Win a Prize Pack of Tickets

Comments 21 by Rebecca Bollwitt

Early Music Vancouver (“EMV”) presents the return of the Vancouver Bach Festival, July 30 to August 9, 2019 at Christ Church Cathedral and the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts.

Les Boréades de Montreal. Photo by Hugo B  Lefort.
Les Boréades de Montreal. Photo by Hugo B Lefort.

Vancouver Bach Festival

This year’s festival celebrates EMV’s 50th anniversary with performances by many of the top West Coast artists specializing in period performance, as well as gifted artists from across Europe and North America. EMV is particularly delighted to welcome Montreal’s internationally acclaimed Ensemble Les Boréades to participate in their second annual ensemble-in-residence program, which will see members of the ensemble perform in multiple concerts throughout the festival.

The 14-concert festival commences with EMV’s ensemble in residence, Les Boréades, in a spectacular two-night performance of J.S. Bach’s Complete Brandenburg Concertos. The Vancouver Bach Choir will also partner with the festival for the first time to perform a programme featuring Faure’s beloved Requiem with a professional core of twenty of the region’s best professional singers, accompanied by award-winning organist Christina Hutten.

Further highlights include the return of audience favourite soprano Amanda Forsythe with Pacific MusicWorks, in a performance of Handel’s early cantatas, as well as sopranos Suzie LeBlanc and Dorothee Mields’ dramatic interpretations of female composer Barbara Strozzi’s 17th century musings on love and loss. This year, the Vancouver Bach Festival also boasts a record number of partnerships with organizations including the Vancouver Chopin Society, the Pacific Baroque Orchestra (“PBO”), Pacific MusicWorks, and the Vancouver Bach Choir.

The festival’s popular weekday afternoon concert series also returns, offering diverse and delightful selections, and it will conclude with the presentation of Purcell’s Hail Bright Cecilia at the Chan Centre, starring six internationally renowned vocal soloists and the PBO led by Alexander Weimann.

Vancouver Bach Festival

Enjoy any four concerts at the Vancouver Bach Festival for the price of three. Purchases of more than four concert packages will also receive a 25% discount.

Win a Prize Pack of Tickets

I have 4 ticket packs to give away so a lucky Miss604 reader can attend each performance with a guest:

Bach Complete Brandenburg Concertos (Part 1) with Les Boréades
When: July 30 at 7:30pm (Pre-concert talk at 6:45pm)
Where: The Chan Centre (UBC, 6265 Crescent Rd, Vancouver)
Bach Complete Brandenburg Concertos (Part 2) with Les Boréades
When: July 31 at 7:30pm (Pre-concert talk at 6:45pm)
Where: Christ Church Cathedral (690 Burrard St, Vancouver)
Bach Cantatas (BWV 12, 39,161) with Les Boréades
When: August 2 at 7:30pm (Pre-concert talk at 6:45pm)
Where: The Chan Centre (UBC, 6265 Crescent Rd, Vancouver)
Purcell Hail Bright Cecilia
When: August 9, 2019 at 7:30pm (Pre-concert at 6:45pm) 
Where: The Chan Centre (UBC, 6265 Crescent Rd, Vancouver)

Here’s how you can enter to win tickets to all 4 of these shows!

  • Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
  • Click below to post an entry on Twitter
[clickToTweet tweet=”RT to enter to win a ticket pack to 4 #VanBachFest performances http://ow.ly/vSsD30pc3r6 @earlymusicvan” quote=” Click to enter via Twitter” theme=”style6″]

Follow Early Music Vancouver and #VanBachFest on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for more information. I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Friday, July 26, 2019.

UPDATE The winner is Eileen!

Vancouver Pride Parade Route and Event Info for 2019

Comments 1 by Rebecca Bollwitt

It’s a highlight of summer in Vancouver, and one of the most diverse festivals in the city. The Vancouver Pride Society will host over 50 Pride events throughout the season and none draws as many people as the legendary, inclusive, and super fun 41st annual Vancouver Pride Parade!

Vancouver Pride Parade. Photo by Tyler Ingram.
Vancouver Pride Parade. Photo by Tyler Ingram.

Vancouver Pride Parade

Where: Downtown Vancouver along Robson, Denman, and Beach Ave
When: Sunday, August 4, 2019 12:00pm to 3:00pm

The parade will travel from Thurlow, down Robson St towards Denman. It will turn left on Denman all the way to Beach Ave and flow into the Sunset Beach Festival.

Vancouver Pride Parade Route 2018
2018 Parade Map – 2019 Follows the same route

“A celebration. A protest. A party.” The diverse and colourful Pride Parade is a staple of the Vancouver summer calendar, and with 100+ parade entries, there will lots of amazing floats you won’t want to miss.

Be on the lookout for volunteers along the route again this year collecting donations that will help fund another year of amazing events for the LGBTQAI2S+ community and beyond.

Vancouver Pride Parade 2011

Vancouver Pride Parade Road Closures

There will be road closures and transit re-routes in place until about 4:00pm. Check the City’s VanConnect app for more info.

Sunday, August 4, 2019 7:00am to 1:00pm closures
Robson St from Burrard St to Bute St
Thurlow St from W Georgia St to Nelson St

Sunday, August 4, 2019 10:00am to 3:00pm closures
Robson St from Bute St to Denman St

Sunday, August 4, 2019 10:00am to 4:00pm closures
Denman St from Robson St to Beach Ave
Beach Ave from Denman St to Jervis St
Pacific St from Jervis St to Burrard St

Vancouver Pride Parade 2015

Sunset Beach Festival

The parade ends in style with the Sunset Beach Festival, which will be rockin’ from 11:00am onward at Beach and Broughton. Catch Main Stage entertainment, the Sunset Beach Oasis, a Community Zone, Family Fun Zone, beer garden, food trucks, interactive art and more.

For all of this information and more, follow the Vancouver Pride Society on FacebookTwitter, and Instagram.

Best Photo Ops at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park

Add a Comment by Rebecca Bollwitt

Call it Insta-worthy, call it memory-making, but you’re going to want to bring your camera to Capilano Suspension Bridge Park during its 130th anniversary this summer. From the local history, to exciting attractions and spectacular natural elements, you’ll want to capture – and share – the fun. Here are my top picks for the best photo ops at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park:

Capilano Suspension Bridge Park Continue reading this post ⟩⟩

Farm Festivals Around Metro Vancouver

Add a Comment by Alexis

Eating fresh and local this summer is as easy as visiting one of our awesome farmers markets that come into town, but with a lineup of farm festivals around Metro Vancouver, you can get your goods right from the source – and enjoy some extra fun in the process!

Farm Festivals You Won’t Want to Miss

Fresh Farm Festivals You Won't Want to Miss

Farm Fest at Garden City Lands

When: Saturday, August 10, 2019, 10:00am to 3:00pm
Where: Garden City Rd & Lansdowne Rd, Richmond
Admission: Free
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Things to do: Richmond celebrates local food, sustainability and its agricultural past, present and future. Visit the Farmers Market, see local performers on the Community Stage, and enjoy children’s activities, local food trucks, agricultural demonstrations and displays by local farmers, community partner displays, and more.

Coquitlam Farmers Market Corn Festival

When: August 11, 2019 at 9:00am
Where: Dogwood Pavilion (Poirier and Winslow) in Coquitlam
Admission: Free
Website | Facebook
Things to do: The Coquitlam Farmers Market is hosting their first ever Corn Festival, celebrating all things corn. They’ll have an expanded kids area, cooking demos, a corn boil, and of course lots of delicious BC corn.

Richmond Garlic Festival

When: Sunday, August 18, 2019, 10:00am to 3:00pm
Where: Terra Nova Rural Park (The Sharing Farm) 2771 Westminster Hwy, Richmond
Admission: By donation. All proceeds from the festival go to supporting The Sharing Farm in their mission to grow fresh healthy produce for families in need.
Website | Facebook | Twitter
Things to do: Over 1,000 pounds of locally grown garlic for sale! The festival will also feature live music, garlic ice cream, a large selection of The Sharing Farm’s own produce, giveaways and a children’s area with family friendly activities. To celebrate the 10-year milestone for this event, The Sharing Farm is partnering with the City of Richmond to create an enhanced festival. Along with the usual foods and local farmers market, expert bird handlers will educate and entertain event attendees with flying demonstrations of native birds of prey.

Chilliwack Garlic & Harvest Festival

When: August 24 & 25, 2019 from 9:00am to 3:00pm
Where: Fantasy Farms (9423 Gibson Rd, Chilliwack)
Admission: TBD
Website | Facebook
Things to do: Local music, great food trucks, fun contests. Make it, back it or grow it, artisans. More details coming soon!

Chilliwack Sunflower Festival

When: Opening August 1, 2019
Where: 41310 Yale Road, Chilliwack
Tickets: Available online now with single day or season pass options
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Things to do: Food trucks, vendors, and of course the flowers! Wander through 35 different varieties of sunflowers planted over 6 acres with some that can reach heights of 12 feet and taller.  There is also 5 acres of Sunrich Orange, 2 acres of display garden, and 4 acres of u-pick sunflowers. This year there will also be a 3 acre field of Dahlias to enjoy, over 50 varieties of beautiful blossoms.

Abbotsford Corn and Peach Festival

When: August 10 & 11, 2019 from 11:00am to 4:00pm
When: Lepp Farm Market (33955 Clayburn Road, Abbotsford)
Admission: Free to attend.
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Things to do: Enjoy barbecue treats like Lepp’s signature shaved brisket sandwich, premium Angus burgers, hotdogs, and their new plant-based burgers. Mexican street corn is always a favourite too! Live music, free kids activities, and free canning demos. Sign up to judge to compete in the peach pie competition.

There’s also the 147th annual Chilliwack Fair (August 9-11, 2019) and the Abbotsford Agrifair (August 2-4, 2019).

Stay on top of these events and more by following Miss604 on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. If you have one to add, send in your event for a free listing!

Vancouver Chinatown Festival

Add a Comment by Rebecca Bollwitt

The 19th annual Vancouver Chinatown Festival will be held at the Keefer at Columbia Street in Vancouver’s historic Chinatown on August 10th. This family-friendly event, presented by the Vancouver Chinatown Business Improvement Area Society (“VCBIA”) and Coromandel Properties, is one of the largest summer multicultural events in BC, attracting over 50,000 attendees.

Post for the 19th annual Vancouver Chinatown Festival on August 10, 2019

Vancouver Chinatown Festival

Where: Keefer at Columbia in Vancouver
When: Saturday, August 10, 2019 from 11:00am to 9:00pm
Admission: FREE!

This year’s festival theme features martial arts (Kung Fu) performances. Around the event you’ll find traditional arts and crafts, Chinatown walking tours, an open-air market filled with exotic goods, multicultural stage performances, live music, outdoor movie, and games for kids of all ages. Keep an eye out for the Chinatown Mascot, Van Van, who will also be around during the day.

Other attractions include Lion Dance and Opening Ceremony, Kung Fu competitions, Climb the Wall, Mobile Aquarium, over 20 food trucks, a photo booth, Wheel of Fortune, Tamiya Mini 4WD racing, a magic performance and more.

Parking for the event will be limited and biking, walking or transit is encouraged. This year, there is a free shuttle bus to our festival and bike valet on site. The bus stop will be across from Waterfront Station on West Cordova St (600 W Cordova St, Vancouver) and the shuttle will run every 30 minutes from 10:00am to 7:00pm. 

Follow the Vancouver Chinatown Festival on InstagramFacebook, and Twitter for more information. Miss604 is proud to be a media sponsor of this event.