June 20
The West End’s Car Free Day runs along Denman Street from Davie to Robson from noon to 6 p.m. with acoustic music, a kids zone, art and artisans.
The 6th Annual Draw Down day will see more than 30 drawing workshops of all varieties in Vancouver community centres, galleries, shops and on the street. Visitors can try mural drawing, comic jamming, still life techniques, blindfolded drawing and more.
The workshops are designed and led by local professional artists and all sessions are open, inclusive and free. Organizations hosting workshops include the Vancouver Art Gallery, Contemporary Art Gallery, Vancouver Opera and Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House. For more information, see vancouverdrawdown.com.
June 20 and 21
Car Free Day Vancouver neighbourhood block parties by residents and neighbours run in Kitsilano both Saturday and Sunday.
The Gathering Festival in Emery Barnes Park on June 20 will see Jim Byrnes performing at 2 p.m. and the Tom Lavin and the Legendary Powder Blues celebrating their 37th anniversary with two sets beginning at 6:30 p.m. The Carnegie Jazz Band, Jack Garton’s Demon Squadron, Tishomingo String Band and Katari Taiko will also perform.
The Gathering Festival celebrates Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year, in Emery Barnes Park, June 21 with performances by musicians that include Orkestar Slivovica, Gamelon Bike, Tambai Marimba and Zeelia. Music performances and Ivana Kupala wreath making will begin in the park at Seymour and Davie streets at 6 p.m., with a procession to False Creek at 8 p.m. Participants will celebrate the setting sun with the wreaths and special performances by Zeelia.
All events are free and open to the public.
This is the final Gathering Festival event after four weeks of workshops and special events, including art activities for at-risk street youth, textile art for seniors, heritage tour training, adapted music for physically disabled people and aboriginal art.
The Gathering Place Community Centre offers free and low-cost programs and services to marginalized and vulnerable people on low and fixed incomes, people with disabilities, the homeless, seniors, LGBTQ, at-risk youth and other disadvantaged people.
For more information, see gatheringfestival.wordpress.com.
June 21
Car Free Day on Commercial Drive runs from Venables to Grandview with roller disco, parading drummers, healing gardens and DJs spinning beats from noon to 7 p.m.
Car Free Day on Main Street will see mini festivals, multiple bands and kids zones, artisan markets, roller derby, skateboarding and parkour from Broadway to East 30th Avenue, noon to 7 p.m.
The Vancouver FIFA Fan Zone will celebrate National Aboriginal Day with a First Nations welcome and performances by the Eagle Song Dancers and Is’kwe, starting at 12:30 p.m. The Fan Zone will host original 1995 World Cup Team members including Charmaine Hooper, Andrea Neil and Helen Stoumbos. B.C. Place will host its first Round of 16’s match at 4:30 p.m. which will also air on the Fan Zone big screens at Cambie and Georgia streets. For more information, see vancouver.ca/fanzone.
crossi@vancourier.com
@Cheryl_Rossi
