Railtown Tailgate Barbecue
After a two-year hiatus, Railtown Cafe’s popular Saturday al-fresco-style Tailgate Barbecues are back at their original location in the heart of Vancouver’s historic Railtown District. Railtown chefs and co-owners Dan Olson and Tyler Day will fire up their custom-built, 12-foot smoker/barbecue barrel to heap plates high with mouth-watering, slow-smoked brisket and pork shoulder and beer-brined chicken and brats, as well as a choice of made-from-scratch sides.
Aug. 18 (and 25), 4 to 9 p.m.
Railtown Café, 397 Railway St.
railtowncafe.ca/events
Vancouver International Coffee and Tea Awards Festival
We love our coffee and our tea in Vancouver, and now there’s a new awards and festival event happening here to recognize the best of the best. The inaugural Vancouver International Coffee and Tea Awards Festival takes place in David Lam Park, and the event is totally free. The competition will have a panel of expert judges taking part in blind taste tests to name the champs, but there’s also a “People’s Choice” category, which means part of the festival involves you being a taster.
Aug. 19, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
David Lam Park, 1300 Pacific Blvd.
vicatafestival.com
Vintage Trolleybus tours
To mark 70 years of trolleybuses, the Transit Museum Society of B.C. is offering “fan” tours (meaning recreational) via a series of daytime and nighttime four-hour rides through the city on bus #2416 — a restored Canadian Car/Brill T48A built in 1954. This particular bus was one of the last built by the company, and it ran on the streets and via the trolley wires of Vancouver until 1984. Tickets are $25 per adult and $15 per child. The price is definitely more than a ride on today’s TransLink, but that’s because it goes to support the work of the Transit Museum Society of B.C.
Aug. 19, 11 a.m. and 7 p.m.
Tours start and end at the Marpole Loop
tours.transitmuseumsociety.org/index.php
Tremors Festival of Emerging Talent
Rumble Theatre’s biennial Tremors Festival of Emerging Talent takes over the Italian Cultural Centre, giving audiences the chance a group of emerging artists’ talents in action. These directors, designers, producers, technicians and actors will do it all for a series of three fresh plays by Canadian playwrights: Selfie by Christine Quintana, Tiny Replicas by Dave Deveau and Theory by Norman Yeung. Bonus: Tickets for all shows are pay-what-you-decide.
Aug. 16 to 25
Italian Cultural Centre, 3075 Slocan St.
rumble.org
Vancouver International Bird Festival
Now this is something to chirp about: Vancouver’s love of birds has grown into a whole new festival. This celebration of birds and nature, culminating in a Bird Festival and Expo, aims to engage the public in a love of nature through birds. Flutter around town from tours to screenings, to family events and things for die-hard birders to enjoy. Check the action-packed schedule of events to ensure you don’t miss out and get your feathers ruffled.
Aug. 19 to 25 at various locations
vanbirdfest.com
For more events, go to vancouverisawesome.com.
