The Vancouver Vaisakhi Parade will take place Saturday April 13th in South Vancouver, and everyone is invited to join the Sikh community in celebration.
Khalsa Diwan Society Photo
Vancouver Vaisakhi Parade
Date: Saturday, April 13, 2024
Time: 11:00 am to 4:00pm
Location: E 49 Avenue between Main & Fraser Street
The Vancouver Vaisakhi Parade is one of the largest Sikh parades in the world! Vancouver’s Nagar Kirtan (religious procession) started in 1979 to celebrate the revelation of the Khalsa in 1699. Attendees of all cultures are welcome at this celebratory event, which features a large number of floats, community performers, songs and live music.
Parade Route & Road Closures
The Parade will proceed from the Ross Street Temple (8000 Ross St, Vancouver) at 11:00am, turn onto Marine Drive, Main Street, follow along East 49th Street, Turn right onto Fraser Street, then onto East 57th Ave and then follow back along Ross towards the Temple for 5:30pm.
To accommodate the parade, road closures will be in effect on Saturday, April 13, from 10:00am to 6:00pm on the following streets:
Main St closed from E 49th Ave to SE Marine Dr
Fraser St closed from E 41st Ave to SE Marine Dr
Westbound SE Marine Dr closed from Knight St to Main St
Free vegetarian meals, prepared by volunteers, are served by families along the route. This practise is in-line with the concept of Langar Seva (blessed food/communal meal and selfless service). In BC and around the world, this tradition carries forward in every Gurdwara.
“For many thousands of years, Vaisakhi has been the time when farmers have put their sickles to harvest and celebrated the coming of a new year. Since 1699, the Sikhs have had a further reason to celebrate at this time of the year. Now Vaisakhi is celebrated with even more energy, pomp and fanfare. It has become a holy day to mark the birth of the Khalsa fraternity.” Learn more here.
Shop local and in season at Vancouver Farmers Markets and more around Metro Vancouver. Showcasing the best of fresh, local food while focusing on community connections, shop any of these Vancouver and Metro Vancouver farmers markets this summer season:
Vancouver Summer Farmers Markets
As one of the largest farmers market organization in Canada, VFM operates nine markets throughout the year, playing a vital role in supporting local food systems and enhancing food security in communities. In 2023 alone, markets in Vancouver served 668,435 customers and facilitated over $15.8 million in sales for local farmers.
Across the province in 2023, $118.51 million was spent by farmers market shoppers at local, neighbouring businesses (source) a 61% growth from 2012, demonstrating the incredibly supportive impact that farmers markets have on other local businesses!
Theatre Under the Stars presents 2024 summer season, featuring CATS and School of Rock, on stage July 5 to August 24, 2024, at Stanley Park’s Malkin Bowl.
Theatre Under the Stars in Stanley Park
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)
Tickets: Earlybird subscription packs on sale online or by calling 1-800-514-3849 now through May 17.
Earlybird single tickets on sale online May 23 to June 19. Regular single and subscription pack tickets go on sale online June 20.
From one of the longest-running musicals of all time to a feel-good tribute to rock ‘n roll, Theatre Under the Stars (TUTS) invites audiences to dream big and live boldly this summer. Enjoy CATS and School of Rock on stage at the Malkin Bowl in Stanley Park this summer.
CATS will be directed by Ashley Wright, who makes his TUTS debut, and choreographed by Julie Murphy. The creative duo will bring a synergistic energy and love for storytelling to this groundbreaking production. A director, actor, and playwright, Wright has directed for Edmonton’s Freewill Shakespeare Festival and Citadel Theatre. Murphy is a Vancouver-based dancemaker, who has choreographed more than 200 dance pieces for live performance. CATS’ music director will be Sean Bayntun, who has worked with TUTS as rehearsal pianist, orchestra player, guest conductor, and as music director for The Prom, in 2023.
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. The musical follows wannabe rock star Dewey Finn. Kicked out of his band and facing eviction we watch as he seizes the opportunity to make some quick cash when he’s mistaken for a substitute teacher at a straight-laced, uptight private school. Avoiding the prying eyes of the school’s principal and parents, Dewey teaches his classroom the one thing he knows best: How to rock! In partnership with School of Rock Vancouver, the show will feature local youth musicians in its ensemble cast.
TUTS offers its two-show subscription pack – allowing audiences to secure their seats to both productions for one great price – on sale now through May 17. Subscriptions are $90 for adults and $60 for youth ages 5-12, and include premium tickets to both productions, souvenir programs, and exchange insurance for both nights. Early bird single tickets, from $20, will go on sale May 23.
Weather permitting, you’ll be able to catch a glimpse of the solar eclipse in Vancouver on Monday April 8, 2024 when it crosses North America, passing over Mexico, United States, and Canada.
3D visualization of the 2024 total eclipse is built with real science data, and shows the shadow of the Moon on Earth. NASA/JPL-Caltech/VTAD
How to View the Solar Eclipse in Vancouver
According to the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre, our area will be able to observe a partial solar eclipse starting at 10:43am, when 27.8% of the sun will be covered by the Moon.
Viewers in BC are not in the eclipse’s path of totality, which means it will not be safe at any point of the eclipse to look directly at the sun without special protective eyewear. We are likely to see a crescent ‘cut out’ move across the sun peaking at 11:40am and finishing about 12:20pm.
A crowd uses handheld solar viewers and solar eclipse glasses to safely view a solar eclipse.
Credit: National Park Service
Eclipse Viewing Safety
Safety is the number one priority when viewing a solar eclipse and NASA has issues these safety guidelines – eye protection being a top priority. Viewing any part of the bright Sun through a camera lens, binoculars, or a telescope without a special-purpose solar filter secured over the front of the optics will instantly cause severe eye injury.
View the Sun through eclipse glasses or a handheld solar viewer during the partial eclipse phases before and after totality.
You can view the eclipse directly without proper eye protection only when the Moon completely obscures the Sun’s bright face – during the brief and spectacular period known as totality. *NOTE we will not observe totality in Vancouver so do not do this!
As soon as you see even a little bit of the bright Sun reappear after totality, immediately put your eclipse glasses back on or use a handheld solar viewer to look at the Sun.
A cool effect is to observe the shadows during the eclipse. Let the sunlight pass through something, like a colander, and you’ll see crescent shapes, instead of a circle of light. Here it is through the trees in Downtown Vancouver in 2017:
The Space Centre in Vanier Park (at 1100 Chestnut Street) will be viewing the sun through their solar filtered telescope in the observatory, and have solar eclipse glasses available at their front desk by donation. If you would like to watch a show in the planetarium after the eclipse tickets will be required.
UBC Solar Eclipse Viewing
UBC department of physics and astronomy researchers will host a public solar eclipse viewing event outside the UBC Bookstore on April 8, weather permitting, or otherwise, in the UBC Robert H. Lee Alumni Centre lobby. Members of the public can borrow eclipse-viewing glasses to safely view the eclipse. The event will also feature two solar telescopes, edible pin-hole cameras for children and a live feed of NASA’s eclipse coverage.
The next total solar eclipse visible from North America will be in 2033, but only over Alaska. Then in 2044, a total solar eclipse will cross Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, parts of Canada and Greenland.
We have curated a list of our current and upcoming culinary favourites and notable limited edition menus, into one convenient spot for the Vancouver Foodie Friday April feature. Here are our updates for all foodies alike as we welcome spring:
Vancouver Foodie Friday – Cherry Blossom Specials, Dumpling Fest and More
Fairmont Hotel Vancouver Cherry Blossom Tea, photo by: Leila Kwok
Openings
New Cocktail Bar, Prophecy, Beneath Historic Rosewood Hotel Georgia
When: Spring 2024
Where: 801 W Georgia St., Vancouver
Details: A new trendy cocktail bar, Prophecy, – opening later this spring – is opening as Vancouver’s newest historic cocktail destination. Beneath the Rosewood Hotel Georgia, Prophecy will combine vintage charm and cutting-edge mixology in a space known for it’s history. The space is ready to begin its next chapter in the hands of owner-operators, At Home Hospitality. For more information or to stay up to date on all the latest news, follow @prophecybar on Instagram or learn more here.
New Indigenous Restaurant at Fort Langley
When: Now Open
Where: 23433 Mavis Ave., Fort Lagnley
Details: Drop by Tradish’s The Ancestor Cafe for some ”tradishional” nourishment for both urban Indigenous and non-Indigenous health-conscious diets. Try some of their savoury menu items such as their Bison or Elk Bannock Tacos or sweet cookies and teas infused with plant medicine. The Ancestor Cafe is located inside the Fort Langley National Historic Site. Admission fees for the site apply, there is no fee for Indigenous Peoples.
Mister Ice Cream, photo submitted
Mister Artisan Ice Cream to open Robson Street Location
When: Now Open
Where: 1193 Robson St., Vancouver
Details: The popular dessert bar popular among sweet-toothed foodies, Mister, has opened a third location. Mister is known for their signature creamy liquid nitrogen ice cream, which is available in creative and flavours that change with the seasons. They are made-to-order for each customer with pure, natural ingredients that are rapidly chilled in a cloud of liquid nitrogen mist. Check out their menu of unique scoops or sammies, with vegan options available. Mister Artisan Ice Cream Robson Street will be open daily from 2:00 to 10:00pm.
