The 11th Annual Queer Arts Festival (“QAF”),Vancouver’s artist-run, professional, multi-disciplinary roister of queer arts, culture and history, takes place this year from June 17 to June 28, 2019.
Queer Arts Festival in Vancouver
This year’s festival theme rEvolution gathers together artists who dissemble, push and transgress; art as the evolution of the revolution. QAF has assembled nearly 100 artists and more than 20 events and programming showcasing a variety of differing media on exhibit at the Roundhouse Arts Centre (181 Roundhouse Mews) in Vancouver’s Yaletown.
Here are some event highlights:
Art Party! Gala Opening Reception Tuesday, June 18, 2019 @7:00pm Roundhouse Exhibition Hall (181 Roundhouse Mews) Tickets: Free QAF opening night galas are one of Vancouver’s best attended visual arts events, making this a party you don’t want to miss!
Technical Knockouts On now until Saturday, June 22, 2019 Roundhouse Community Centre (181 Roundhouse Mews) Roundhouse Community Centre (181 Roundhouse Mews) Tickets: Free A female-centred music production drop-in lab for queer, Indigenous and allied youth led by Kinnie Starr, DJ O Show and Tiffany Moses. ASL interpretation available upon request. Calling all queer, Two-Spirit, and allied poets, lyricists, performers, truth-tellers and music-makers! Want to take your passion for words and music in a new direction? The Queer Arts Festival is here to help with the return of Technical Knockouts Emerging Artist Lab; a free, creative workshop series that invites you to tell your story, experiment, and access professional resources and mentors.
QAF’s Technical Knockouts music lab mentored by Kinnie Star
Relational Revolutions – Visual Art Exhibition Monday, June 17 to Wednesday June 26, 2019 Roundhouse Community Centre (181 Roundhouse Mews) QAF’s signature curated visual art exhibition for 2019, Relational Revolutions, posits a rumination on the theme of rEvolution and extends an invitation to recalibrate our desires, how we hope, how we sense, how we love, and above all to re-examine our relationships with each other, with the land, with time, with form and with space. Curator Elwood Jimmy, of the Thunderchild First Nation, is an artist, facilitator, cultural manager and writer. This exhibit will showcase an eclectic array of artists including Thirza Cuthand, Raven Davis, Vanessa Dion Fletcher, Alexandra Gelis, Jessica Karuhanga, Lisa Myers, David Ng, Jessa Chse, and Ty Sloane.
Diaspora with the Frank Theatre Tuesday, June 25, 2019 @ 7:00pm Tickets: Pay what you can Roundhouse Exhibition Hall (181 Roundhouse Mews) The Frank Theatre presents a reading of Diaspora: an interdisciplinary, devised performance created by queer refugees and immigrants.
Queer Songbook Orchestra. Photo Tanja Tiziana
Queer Songbook Orchestra Friday, June 28, 2019 @ 7:00pm Tickets: $30-$40 Roundhouse Exhibition Hall (181 Roundhouse Mews) Celebrated national chamber ensemble Queer Songbook Orchestra unearth the queer backstories and personal narratives inspired by music of the past several generations. Weaving together stories told by local narrators with arrangements by Canada’s foremost composers.
Stonewall 50 Glitter is Forever Friday, June 28, 2019 @ 9:00pm Roundhouse Exhibition Hall (181 Roundhouse Mews) Tickets: Free with your Songbook ticket, otherwise $15-$20 On the 50th Anniversary of the Stonewall Riots that launched modern-day Pride, Vancouver Pride Society, Zee Zee Theatre, and The Frank Theatre join QAF’s final blowout, gathering together to revel in a half- century of queerevolution. Stonewall was a riot – now, we dance!
For more information, follow the QAF on Twitter and Facebook.
It’s Father’s Day weekend in Vancouver and local attractions and restaurants have special events planned to help you celebrate dad. Miss604 is proud to sponsor the BC Highland Games and Scottish Festival on Friday (free) and Saturday (ticketed) at Coquitlam’s Town Centre Park. This event and more things to do in Vancouver this weekend are listed below:
The city comes alive in the summer with a lineup of affordable festivals, concerts, and events. One of the most vibrant, is free outdoor dancing in Vancouver! Take a lesson, watch some pros, enjoy music and movement at the Vancouver Art Gallery’s plazas, Robson Square, and Jim Deva Plaza. Here are the two main organizers:
Free Outdoor Dancing in Vancouver
Salsa at Robson Square – Photo by John Bollwitt
Dance in Transit Schedule
When: Fridays and Saturdays, July 5 to August 9, 2019 Where: Robson Square, VAG South Plaza, VAG North Plaza (šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl’e7énk Square) and Jim Deva Plaza on Davie Follow Dance in Transit here »
Friday, July 5 @ 6:30pm to 9:00pm at Jim Deva Plaza The first outdoor event of this season features the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence on July 5th at Jim Deva Plaza. Warm up with some Zumba and DJ MiXXX playing Top 40, some oldies, and some requests. Saturday, July 6 @ 8:00pm to 11:00pm at Robson Square Carnaval del Sol Bachata edition Friday, July 12 @ 7:00pm to 10:00pm at VAG South Plaza Tango edition Saturday, July 13 @ 8:00pm to 11:00pm at Robson Square Kizomba edition Friday, July 19 @ 7:00pm to 10:00pm at šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl’e7énk Square Bhangra edition Saturday, July 20 @ 8:00pm to 10:00pm at Robson Square Salsa edition Saturday, July 27 @ 8:00pm to 11:00pm at Robson Square Friday, August 9 @ 7:00pm to 10:00pm at at šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl’e7énk Square Urban Kiz edition with Zumba warmup
Sunday Afternoon Salsa at Robson Square
When: July 7, 14, 21, 28 and August 4, 11, 18, 25, 2019 Where: Robson Square Sunday Afternoon Salsa at Robson Square is an annual series of FREE outdoor salsa dances held at Robson Square in downtown Vancouver (since 2006) during the summer months of July and August.
Each event starts with a free beginner dance lesson at 3:00pm, followed by social dancing 3:30pm to 5:00pm and performances 5:00pm to 5:30pm. Then it’s a free dance for all from 5:30pm to 7:00pm.
The largest one day food truck festival in North America, Columbia StrEAT Food Truck Fest, is back again! On July 27th, it will feature over 100 food vendors, live entertainment, and awesome local shopping in Downtown New Westminster.
Columbia StrEAT Food Truck Fest
When: Saturday, July 27, 2019 4:00pm to 10:00pm Where: Downtown New Westminster Admission is free for this festival of food along the riverfront with live music, beer garden, fashions, and more.
Food Truck Lineup and More
Aloha Poke
Lemon Heaven
Arturos Mexico 2 Go
Lenny’s Lemonade
BC Taco
Los Guerreros Mexican Foods
Beljam’s Waffles
Mama’s Fish and Chips
Betty’s Greek Honey Ballz
Meat and Bread Food Truck
Boca´O
Meet2Eat
Brazilian Roots Truck
Memphis Mike’s BBQ
Bread & Cheese
Mini Donuts and More
Cannoli King
Mo bacon
Cazba Express
Mr. Arancino
Chouchou
Mr. Tube Steak
Come Arepa
Old Country Pierogi
Cravings Kettle Corn
Porkmafia
Dim Sum Express
Porky’s Food Truck
Dogs’n’Roses
Praguery Food Truck I
Dolce Amore
Praguery Food Truck II
Don Churro
Prebak Cookie Dough
Fat Duck Mobile Eatery Ltd.
REEL Mac and Cheese
Fijian Fusion Catering Inc.
Rico & Lalo Frozen Fruit Bars
Flying Fish N Chipper
Roasted Revolution
Fratelli On Wheels
Rocky Point Ice Cream
Frying Pan
Rolling Cashew
Fusion Icy
Sarcastic Bean
Govindas Veggie Bomb
Slavic Rolls
Greek On The Street
Super Thai
Green Coast Cafe
Taco’N Todo
Guerilla Q
Tacofino Pink Truck
Holi Masala
Taters – The Baked Potato Co.
Hugs by Mollie’s Minis
Teapressu
Hunger Management
The JerkShack
Ice Cream by Mario’s Kitchen
The Original Hurricane Potato
Iron Dog Books
The Reef Runner
Island Time Food Truck
The Schnitzel Shack
It’s All About Grill
The Snow Cloud Shavery
JAPADOG
TLC Poutine
Japanese Teriyaki Express
Twisted Creamery
JJ’ Hot Cobs Ltd.
Vancouver Fashion Truck
Juicy Green Express
Vick & Jas’ Kitchen
Kampong – Taste Of Malaysia
Watermelon Mojito Bike
Whatafood – Brazilian Street Food
Whistler Wood Fired Pizza Company
Enjoy live music, brought to you by Westminster Savings and curated by the Arts Council of New Westminster. Visit the numerous beer gardens along the street hosted by our famous pubs and restaurants. Feel like shopping? Drop into the Anvil Centre’s Artisan Market for unique handmade items or visit the New West Farmers Market for delicious local eats. Looking for even more? Check out the Bubble Zone by Bobacabana, dance with Royal City Swing or find the Mexican Fiesta.
Delicious downtown restaurants will be open too, in case you’d like to stay around even longer and savour the flavours of the royal city. Follow the Columbia StrEAT Food Truck Fest on Facebook and Twitter for more info. Check out Fridays on Front for more fun in Downtown New West this summer.
The Kitsilano Showboat returns for its 84th season of free seaside entertainment in Vancouver! Performances run every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from June 17 to August 17, 2019.
Kitsilano Showboat
Since 1935 this summer staple has featured musical acts, plays, and dancers all near the pool at Kitsilano Beach. Here are just a few of the performances, which take place at 7:00pm unless otherwise noted:
Performers include Sambacouver, Vancouver School of Highland Dance, LiveWire4, Brazilian Swag, Top Line Vocal Collective, Heart and Sole, Royal City Concert Band, All for Dance, Studio Cloud 30, Wailele Wai Wai, 6oh4 Band, Bella Domingo Polynesian Dancers, Mexican Dance Ensemble… and many, many more!
Kitsilano Showboat History
In 1935, the Kitsilano Showboat was founded by Bert Emery. That same year the new Kitsilano Chamber of Commerce organized its first evening of events which included swimming, diving, acrobatics and other entertainment. As the Showboat began during the depression, performers also benefitted as they were not able to secure jobs during those hard times. Made up completely from volunteers, the Showboat has provided free entertainment for almost 70 years. The iconic outdoor stage, built in 1954, represents a Mississippi River showboat. [Source]
This summer, visit the Kitsilano Showboat at 2300 Cornwall (at Kitsilano Beach) in Vancouver, and online on Facebook and Twitter.
