Whether you’re looking for family-friendly fun, an Instagram-worthy festival or a parade fit for a queen, you can find it in Vancouver this summer.
Aug. 4: 2 to 10 p.m.
The best vantage points to enjoy the last night of this annual fireworks festivital are Second Beach, English Bay and Kitsilano/Vanier parks. You’ll want to leave the car at home and get there early to score the perfect spot. This year’s theme is “love” and the team from South Korea will be doing its best to express that by lighting up the sky, starting at about 10 p.m. Festivities actually get going at about 2 p.m. at the Park Stage at Second Beach and at English Bay with music, food trucks and the Redbull Airshow.
August 5: Noon – 3 p.m.
Grab your Toonies and head down to the West End for one of the largest events to hit the city annually. The parade starts on Robson Street at Burrard and turns down Denman to Beach Avenue where it continues on to Pacific. Watch for road closures and the rerouting of transit to take place between 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visit the City of Vancouver’s vancouver.ca/vanconnect app for more information about road closures.
Aug. 5
Whether savasana is your spirit pose or you like your asana strong and sweaty, Wanderlust promises to have you covered. This yoga festival has classes for all levels and styles to appeal to everyone from first-timers to seasoned yogis. Where else could you pick and choose between invigorating vinyasa flow, relaxing yin classes or branching out to try yoga on a stand up paddleboard or aloft in the hammocks of an aerial yoga class? (I have no idea.) Wanderlust brings together a remarkable group of yoga and meditation instructors, musical performers, speakers, artists and chefs for a transformational retreat that takes place in and around Whistler.
Aug. 4 and 5
The Powell Street Festival is the largest Japanese Canadian festival in the country and the longest running community arts celebration in Vancouver. Enjoy traditional and contemporary Japanese Canadian performances and demonstrations, including Taiko drumming, sumo wrestling, martial arts, bonsai and ikebana, folk and modern dance, alternative pop/rock/ urban music, visual arts, film/video, as well as historical walking tours, tea ceremonies, and a fantastic array of Japanese food, crafts, and displays.
Change the lights at Telus World of Science
Aug. 3, 10, 17 and 24: 9:30 to 11:30 p.m.
Tangible Interaction is once again teaming up with Science World to bring OH! back to Olympic Village every Friday night in August (except the 31st). This free interactive art installation allows participants to control Vancouver’s night skyline by changing the lights on Science World. The scale model of the geodesic dome is covered with 240 sensors and LEDs and can sense the movement of people’s hands, altering the lights on the iconic building in real time. There are six different animations that have variations in colours and patterns, including sparkles, bands, waves and more. The installation opens Aug. 3 at 9:30 p.m.
Vancouver Mural Festival — and concert
East Vancouver, Mount Pleasant (Main Street) and Strathcona
Aug. 6 to 11
Touted as the city’s largest free public art celebration, the Vancouver Mural Festival takes place every August in Mount Pleasant. And this year, the park board approved an outdoor concert at Jonathan Rogers Park, which has a capacity for 5,500 people. Tickets are $36.15 for adults; admission for kids under 12 is free. The concert take place Aug. 11 from 6 to 9:30 p.m. The festival highlights the work of local and regional artists from backgrounds including gallery-centric fine art, tattoo, street art, graffiti, traditional and contemporary Indigenous design and more.
sthomas@vancourier.com
@sthomas10
