June 27
- Shoppers can buy locally made wares and contribute to good causes at the Summer Street Soiree June 27. The Soiree will see a market with 20 vendors, who will give partial proceeds of their sales to the B.C. Professional Firefighters’ Burn Fund and Young Burn Survivors Camp. The market runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Beaumont Studios, 316 West Fifth Ave.
- Anyone who’s ever dreamt of participating in the Amazing Race can compete in a facsimile that will raise money for the GoodLife Kids Foundation, Saturday. The foundation supports charities that provide ongoing physical activity opportunities for children ages four to 14, and funds raised will support local ongoing programs for children on the autism spectrum. The GoodLife Fitness City Chase will be part obstacle race, part scavenger hunt. Competitors will decipher clues to find “ChasePoints” hidden throughout the city. They must run, walk or use public transit as they race to the ChasePoints where they will complete challenges that test both mind and body. The goal is to complete 10 ChasePoints before racing to the finish line. The three top teams will proceed to national championships where they will compete against winning teams from other Canadian cities for prizes and glory. The GoodLife Fitness City Chase starts at 10 a.m. at Georgia Plaza, 750 Hornby St. (outside the Vancouver Art Gallery) and runs until 4 p.m. You can register at goodlifefitnesscitychase.ca or at the event.
June 27 to July 1
- The Vancouver International Jazz Festival continues with free outdoor shows including stages at David Lam Park and Granville Island. David Lam Park hosts acts that start at noon to 8:45 p.m. Granville Island’s Public Market stage hosts acts at noon with free shows at 1 p.m. at Performance Works. For more information, see coastaljazz.ca.
June 28
- Vancouver’s fourth annual Food Cart Fest restarts Sunday and runs until Sept. 6 between the Cambie Street Bridge and the former Olympic Village, at 215 West First St. New this year will be a licensed live-music patio featuring local acoustic talents and B.C. craft beer and wine. There will be a giant ping pong area and an expanded kids recreation zone, open-air markets and DJs in addition to more than 20 food trucks each week. Food Cart Fest runs from noon to 5 p.m. Admission is $2 or free for Vancity members or a non-perishable food donation to the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society. For more information, see foodcartfest.com.
- Top athletes from across Canada and around the world are lacing up for the Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon and 5K on Sunday. Runners can sign up to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for one of 82 Vancouver charities, including the Alzheimer Society of B.C., B.C. Children’s Hospital Foundation and Battered Women’s Support Services. The half-marathon starts at 7:30 a.m. at UBC Thunderbird Arena and ends at Stanley Park. The 5K fun run/walk starts at 9:30 a.m. at the Stanley Park Fish House and ends in Stanley Park. Participants can register for the half-marathon until 5 p.m. on Saturday. The 5K is full. For more information, see canadarunningseries.com.
Email free or low-cost family friendly events that are happening in Vancouver to events@vancourier.com.
