West Vancouver’s long-standing Community Day is being transformed into Bridge Festival, a new multicultural celebration taking place on Friday, May 31 and Saturday, June 1, 2019. The community is invited to come together to enjoy food, live music, performances and culture.
West Vancouver Bridge Festival
When: Friday, May 31st and Saturday, June 1, 2019 Where: Ambleside Park 1150 Marine Dr, West Vancouver Admission: Free! RSVP on Facebook for more info »
Cultural pavilions organized by West Vancouver residents will showcase the customs and traditions of their diverse ethnic identities, a new pedestrian beach parade will wind its way around Ambleside, and delicious food and cold drinks at the International Lounge will fuel this large-scale neighbourhood gathering.
At Bridge Festival, tasty dishes and flavours from around the world will be served. The food trucks will include Come Arepa with tasty Venezuelan food including their namesake cornbread sandwich; fine Persian fare from Cazba Express; and Brazilian Roots Truck, Vancouver’s first food truck to focus on indigenous influence’s on Brazil’s cuisine.
There will be two full evenings of free concerts at the main stage in Ambleside Park. On Friday, Mariachi Los Dorados takes the stage from 4:00pm to 5:00pm, followed by Kow Kanda from 5:45pm to 7:15pm and headliners TANGA from 8:00pm to 9:30pm This world-fusion group mixes tropical dance beats with East African marimba, Colombian cumbia and Cuban jazz, lighting up the stage with party grooves and Latin style.
On Saturday, Amir Haghighi & Amy Stephen open the live concert from 4:00pm to 5:00pm and Herbert Kwan will take the stage from 6:00pm to 7:00pm. and The Starbirds will close Bridge Festival with their blend of folk, Celtic, gospel and Latin music from 8:00pm to 9:30pm.
Ambleside Park will also host two other stages—a cultural dance stage and a contemporary dance stage—to showcase the traditional and modern dance talent of West Vancouver performers.
For more information follow West Van District on Twitter and Facebook.
If you like live music, food trucks and family friendly entertainment you’ll love these free festivals happening in metro Vancouver this summer. Check back often as this list will be updated throughout the season too!
Burnaby Heights Hats Off Day
When: Saturday June 1st, 2019 from 9:30am to 4:00pm Where: Hastings St, all the way from Boundary Rd. to Gamma Ave. Hats Off Day is a huge, one-day street festival featuring a colourful main-street style parade with real local flavour, followed by a big street party. Hastings Street from Boundary Road to Gamma Avenue is car-free, and our streets are packed with families, friends, neighbours, and merchants! More Info:Website | Facebook | Twitter
Italian Day on The Drive
When: Sunday June 9, 2019 12:00pm to 8:00pm Where: Commercial Drive Italian Day on The Drive is a vibrant cultural street festival celebrating Italian culture, heritage and community. The event includes over 120 street participants, comprised of partners, vendors, community organizations – and an estimated 300,000 attendees of all ages and cultures. More Info: Website | Facebook |Twitter
Point Grey Fiesta
When: June 21-23, 2019.Friday June 21, 2019 from 3:00pm to 10:00pm (10:30am to 8:00pm on Saturday and 12:00pm to 5:00pm on Sunday) Where: Trimble Park (2250 Trimble St, Vancouver) Come kick up your heels at the annual Fiesta Day parade on the Saturday morning and then head over to the celebration at Trimble Park. More Info:Website | Facebook
Lynn Valley Days
When: Saturday, June 22, 2019 from 9:00am to 4:00pm (pancake breakfast from 8:15am to 9:45am, beer garden from 12:00pm to 6:00pm) Where: Lynn Valley Park Lynn Valley Day starts with a local parade and continues with a day full of family focused activities including games, face painters, live entertainment and a pancake breakfast. More Info:Website | Facebook
Car Free Day in Vancouver
When: West End Saturday June 15th, Main Street Sunday June 16th, Commercial Drive Sunday July 7th, 2019 Where: Main Street, West End, Kitsilano, and Commercial Drive Highlights: 4 festivals, 3 days, 2 weekends of community block parties, live music, and more. Main Street spans 21 blocks and will have 15 stages; West End will be all along Denman from Robson to Davie, and there will be block parties all throughout Kitsilano. More Info:Website | Facebook | Twitter
Khatsahlano Street Party
When: Saturday, July 6, 2019 11:00am to 9:00pm Where: Along West 4th Ave in Kitsilano Highlights: Khatsahlano, features multiple stages showcasing more than 50 of Vancouver’s top musical performers as well as the eclectic work of local artisans and street performers. This 10-block street fair, spanning from Burrard to MacDonald Street also features a wide variety of food options, bustling patios, giveaways, special activities, and licensed beer gardens! More Info:Website | Facebook | Twitter
Carnaval del Sol
When: Saturday, July 6th and Sunday, July 7th, 2019 Where: 88 Pacific Blvd, North False Creek Highlights: The largest latin carnaval in the Pacific Northwest. Live music, dancing, art, a beer plaza, a travel plaza with cooking demos, family plaza with fashion shows, kids plaza, food plaza and more. More Info:Website | Facebook | Twitter
Surrey Fusion Festival
When: Saturday, July 20th and Sunday, July 21st, 2019 Where: Holland Park, Surrey Highlights: Enjoy activities, crafts, food, and demos from dozens of vendors and over 40 cultural pavilions. Over 70 performances will be scheduled on 4 stages throughout the two-day festival. More Info:Website | Facebook | Twitter
Columbia StrEAT Food Truck Festival
When: Saturday, July 27, 2019 Where: Downtown New Westminster Highlights: Food trucks, beer gardens, live music, and more. Join 120,000 other attendees for North America’s largest one day food truck festival, admission is free. More Info:Website | Facebook | Twitter
Richmond Maritime Festival
When: July 27-28, 2019 11:00am to 6:00pm Where: Britannia Shipyards in Steveston Free family festival every summer, for seafarers and landlubbers alike to celebrate Steveston’s waterfront heritage at the spectacular Britannia Shipyards, National Historic Site in Richmond. More Info:Website | Twitter
Harmony Arts Festival
When: August 2-11, 2019 Where: West Vancouver’s waterfront, between 14th & 17th St on Argyle Ave Highlights: Enjoy visual art exhibit, art market (two weekends), outdoor concerts on two stages, licensed beachside restaurant spaces in the heart of the action, variety of food vendors and delicious treats, drop-in art activities for both kids and adults. More Info:Website | Facebook | Twitter
Kaleidoscope Arts Festival
When: August 10th, 2019 Where: Town Centre Park, Coquitlam Highlights: Celebrate the arts, indulge in delicious food and check out the craft brew scene and the unique finds at the artisan market, all while enjoying an amazing lineup of entertainment. More Info:Website | Facebook | Twitter
Coquitlam Farmers Market Blueberry Festival
When: Sunday July 14th, 2019 9:00am Where: Coquitlam Farmers Market 624 Poirier St Sample the best blueberry products vendors have to offer, play some blueberry-themed games, or check out a cooking demo. More Info:Website |Twitter
Bridge Festival
When: Friday, May 31st, 2019 4:00pm to 9:30pm Saturday, June 1st, 2019 11:00am to 9:30pm Where: Ambleside Park 1150 Marine Dr, West Vancouver West Vancouver’s long-standing Community Day is being transformed into Bridge Festival, a new multicultural celebration taking place on Friday, May 31 and Saturday, June 1, 2019. At this free event, people will come together at Ambleside Park to enjoy food, live music, performances and culture. More Info:Website | Facebook
The Shipyards Night Market. North Vancouver’s picturesque new waterfront neighbourhood, Lower Lonsdale The Shipyards District, is gearing up once again to welcome thousands every Friday night all summer long!
Shipyards Night Market on Friday Nights
When: Every Friday May 3 to September 27, 2019 5:00pm to 10:00pm
Where: Shipbuilders’ Square (15 Wallace Mews, North Vancouver)
Cost: FREE and no lineup to enter
Getting There: Catch the Seabus from Waterfront Station in downtown Vancouver – the Market is conveniently located just east of the SeaBus terminal and Lonsdale Quay.
Parking: There is street parking and free parking in the ICBC Parkade after 6:00pm on Fridays, which is adjacent to Lonsdale Quay.
Dogs: Well-behaved dogs, which are on a leash, are welcome.
Close to downtown Vancouver and easy to get to via the Seabus, those who join in on this weekly free event will see the Shipyards Plaza transformed into a lively celebration site and discover 150+ food and artisan vendors, a 19+ beer garden, and musical talent from across BC on the Shipbuilders’ Stage. Bonus: The Shipyards Friday Night Market recognizes its potential environmental footprint, and is dedicated to using compostable cutlery and straws and to sorting and minimizing all waste.
Night Market Features
Dining Skip dinner before heading to the night market, as there are typically 30+ local food trucks and food vendors set up in ‘hot food alley.’ New to the market this year are unique food trucks like the vegan double decker Buddha-Bus from the owners of Buddha-Full, the Chowdery and Truckin BBQ. Some returning favorites include Reel Mac & Cheese, Rolling Cashew, Tacofino, Mama’s Fish & Chips, Taters and Urban Wood Fired Pizza. Visitors should leave room for desserts such as Pocket Pies, Dolce Amore gelato, Chouchou Crepes, Kettle Corn, Slavic Rolls and more.
Beer Garden (must be 19+ to enter) Selections include local craft beer from a variety of local breweries including Bomber Brewing, vodka and gin sodas from Nude, red and white wine, and cider. With a 350-person capacity, there are plenty of seats with a great view of the stage and each evenings’ headlining band.
Shopping & Entertainment The Shipyards Friday Night Market believes in a local lifestyle and in showcasing BC’s artistic and culinary artisans. The artisan marketplace, which is both inside The Pipe Shop and outdoors, features products such as jewelry, clothing, kids wear, baked goods, distilleries, cideries, preserves, soaps, plants, chocolate and more. New this year is a used book trailer. Need more to do? Along with some fun kids’ entertainment, catch the weekly changing line up of BC bands and dance under the sun, and later, the stars.
Follow the Shipyards Night Market on Facebook for more info throughout the season.
Celebrating 15 years in 2019! Car Free Day Vancouver is a series of street festivals promoting the unique re-imagining of space that seeks to showcase the possibilities of a city less dependent on cars.
West End Car Free Day Festival
When: Saturday, June 15th 2019 noon to 7:00pm Where: On Denman from Davie to Robson The West End festival will also have roving entertainment, and Shutterbuggy, the mobile photo booth modeled after a 1940s camera that’s been featured at Burning Man. Sleepy Girls Productions will do both drag performance and interactive drag face-painting and airbrushing for kids and adults.
The West End festival has programmed three stages of their own, and has partnered with WE Arts for the fourth stage. WE Arts is a non-profit grassroots community organization working towards a thriving arts and culture community in the West End. The three Car Free Day-programmed stages will feature 21 performances, including the likes of Juno-winner Murray Porter, local indie darlings Sleepy Gonzales, and the multi-talented Ostwelve, aka Ronnie Dean Harris, who also designed the 2019 Car Free Day posters. Website: Website | Facebook
Main Street Car Free Festival
When: Sunday June 16th 2019 noon to 7:00pm Where: Broadway to 30th on Main Street With 14 stages across the festival, there’s something for everyone at Main Street. Local staples like Neptoon Records, Red Cat Records will return, as will Accordion Noir, Kits Rock School, the Watershed Jam Stage and the Vancouver Performing Stars, among others. Full Circle: First Nations Performance, The Avant Garden, Long & McQuade and Zilla Live are programming new stages. Website: Website | Facebook
Car Free Day on The Drive
When: Sunday July 7th 2019 noon to 7:00pm Where: Venables to N. Grandview on Commercial Drive The Drive’s entertainment will be as eclectic as ever, with many new and returning stages put on by community groups, businesses and individuals, including Zilla Live’s DJ van, the Vancouver Street Dance Festival, Highlife Records, and Renzo’s Cafe. There will be tons of roving entertainment from the likes of the Carnival Band, HoopDreamer, and Roller Skate Vancouver. Website: Website | Facebook
Kitsilano Block Parties
When: Host a Kitsilano Block Party celebrating Car Free Vancouver on June 15th or 16th. Instead of closing off a major street, people throughout Kits host block parties with their neighbours. The block parties are as individual as the people who pull them together. Some have dancing, some have music, some have couches, chairs and carpets in the middle of the street and some share chips and a drink together! All of them are a fun, relaxing chance to hang out with the people who live in your neighbourhood.
New This Year at Car Free Day Vancouver
This year Car Free Day is excited to launch an expanded Activity Funds program. This year the program has expanded to also include art installations and a special category to waive vendor fees for grassroots nonprofits and emerging Indigenous artisans.
Indigenous Live Music Initiative
In addition to the expanded categories, this year Car Free Day received a grant from Creative BC’s Music Industry Initiatives program to increase performance opportunities for Indigenous musicians.
Both Indigenous and non-Indigenous programmers are encouraged to apply for this Car Free Day funding to run stages at the events. Non-Indigenous programmers who apply to receive this special funding to present Indigenous live music will be able to attend a training session as part of the program. This educational component will cover Coast Salish cultural awareness training, and how to best engage with Indigenous performers and artists.
For more information follow Car Free Day on Twitter and Facebook.
Showcasing some of Vancouver’s most talented young artists, the annual festival boasts a curated selection of theatre and musical theatre classics. The festival features performances by students in the Pre-Professional Program: Arts Umbrella’s Junior and Senior Musical Theatre Troupes, and its Junior and Senior Theatre Troupes.
Expressions Theatre Festival
Where: Waterfront Theatre ( 1412 Cartwright St, Granville Island) When: May 17-25, 2019 Tickets: Available online now
This year audiences will be treated to a selection of family-friendly programming, including the fairy-tale classic Peter Pan, the whimsical musical rendition of James and the Giant Peach, the mythical Animal Farm, and the magical tale of Into the Woods.
James and the Giant Peach Sunday May 19 @ 4:00pm & Thursday May 23 @ 7:00pm Tickets: $12 When James is sent by his conniving aunts to chop down their old fruit tree, he discovers a magic potion that results in the growth of a tremendous peach… and launches a journey of enormous proportions. Suddenly, James finds himself in the center of the gigantic peach, among human-sized insects with equally oversized personalities. After the peach falls from the tree and rolls into the ocean, the group faces hunger, sharks and plenty of disagreements. Thanks to James’ quick wit and creative thinking, the residents learn to live and work together as a family.
Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie Saturday May 18 @ 7:00pm & Friday May 24 @ 7:00pm Tickets: $12 Peter and his mischievous fairy sidekick Tinkerbell visit the Darling children nursery late one night and, with a sprinkle of pixie dust, begin a magical journey across the stars that none of them will ever forget. In the adventure of a lifetime, the travelers come face to face with a ticking crocodile, the lost boys, a band of bungling pirates and, of course, the villainous Captain Hook.
Animal Farm by Nelson Bond, George Orwell Saturday May 18 @ 9:00pm & Friday May 24 @ 9:00pm Tickets: $12 George Orwell’s stinging allegory to communism is brought to life on stage. Old Major’s dream comes to fruition after the creatures emancipate themselves from the cruel mastery of a human owner during their triumphant rebellion. His dream inexorably turns to a nightmare of disillusionment in which the other animals discover themselves now subject to the rule of even more ruthless autocrats: the greedy, cunning pigs. Meet the beasts whose prototypes continue to dominate news headlines. Animal Farm wrings the emotions, leaving audiences shaken with the tale of a tragedy that happened in a mythical barnyard far away but could happen in our own backyard.
Into the Woods Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim; Book by James Lapine May 17, 19, 21, 22, 25 @ 7:00pm Tickets: $20 James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim take everyone’s favorite storybook characters and bring them together for a timeless, yet relevant, piece. The story follows a Baker and his wife, who wish to have a child; Cinderella, who wishes to attend the King’s Festival; and Jack, who wishes his cow would give milk. When the Baker and his wife learn that they cannot have a child because of a Witch’s curse, the two set off on a journey to break the curse.
Win Tickets and More
I have a family four-pack of tickets to give away plus $200 towards registration for an Arts Umbrella program! Here’s how you can enter to win:
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