Fall festival season in Vancouver is decidedly less obnoxious than its summertime brethren.
The West End isn’t used as a communal toilet during the fireworks and Kits Beach is devoid of hundreds of yogis entering next-level karmic bliss while wearing $800 outfits.
It truly is a beautiful time to be alive.
Vancouver International Flamenco Festival
Venues across the city are going to get equal orders of muy caliente and unorthodox time signatures as the Vancouver International Flamenco Festival rolls into its 28th year starting Sept. 21. Dance lessons, open studios, masterclasses, performances and guitar wizardry will be offered at venues including Vancouver Playhouse, Scotiabank Dance Centre, Roundhouse Community Arts and Recreation Centre, Annex, the Kino and the Vancouver Public Library.
Sept. 21 to 29 at various venues
vancouverflamencofestival.org
Vancouver International Film Festival
Dr. Jane Goodall, RZA from the Wu Tang Clan and DJ extraordinaire Kid Koala all on the same marquee almost makes the need for a marketing plan null and void. So it goes for the 37th running of the Vancouver International Film Festival, which includes the Wu Tang founder producing a live score for the kung fu film The 36th Chamber of Shaolin and a whole wack of movie premiers, Oscar-contenders and cinematic gems, including Jacques Audiard’s adaptation of Patrick deWitt’s The Sisters Brothers, Rupert Everett’s Oscar Wilde biopic The Happy Prince and Lars von Trier’s sure-to-be-talked-about The House That Jack Built.
Sept. 27 to Oct. 12 at various venues
Vancouver International Improv Festival
VIFF and VIIF happening at the same time? Oh the humanity. Not to be confused with the Vancouver International Film Festival, the Vancouver International Improv Festival brings together comics from across North America and Europe to celebrate spontaneity and laughter. The festival bills the headliner as The 1995 Chicago Bulls, though neither Michael Jordan nor Scottie Pippen had confirmed their attendance prior to Courier deadlines. Locals who will be there, however, include The Sunday Service, Shakespeare After Dark and Vancouver TheatreSports.
Oct. 10 to 13. at various venues
vancouverimprovfest.com
Vancouver Writers Festival
Book lovers, book worms and book nerds come together for their annual love-in at the Vancouver Writers Fest. Authors include Patrick deWitt, Rachel Kushner, Tommy Orange, Edin Robinson, Lisa Moore and Gary Shteyngart, to name a few.
Oct. 15 to 24 at various venues around Granville Island
writersfest.bc.ca
Downtown Eastside Heart of the City Festival
Now in its 15th year, this a festival that celebrates resiliency and soul. To that end, the 12-day festival is centred around the theme of “Seeds of Justice, Seeds of Hope” in an effort to recognize those advocates who have pushed for human rights and social justice in the Downtown Eastside and throughout Metro Vancouver. Songs, stories, workshops will come courtesy of Vancouverites Geoff Berner, Candus Churchill, Tom Pickett and Khari Wendell McClelland, among others.
Oct. 24 to Nov. 4 at various venues
heartofthecityfestival.com
