Vancouver's Festivals Listing
Vancouverites love festivals, be it spring, summer, fall or winter. Throughout
the year, over 30 different festivals and annual events are put on by various local groups. From boat races in the summer to the Festival of Lights in the winter, there's no better way to enjoy yourself than to take in a festival.
We encourage Festival Organizers to add themselves to FoundLocally's Free Listings, so they can post more detailed information about their events, add events to our online Events Calendar, as well as post news, jobs, volunteer opportunties, and even money-saving coupons. If information needs to be added, updated, or deleted from this page, please use the Feedback Form at upper-right.
Date
| Festival
| Comments |
late January |
Chinese New Year |
Traditional 15-day celebration of food, family, gods and ancestors. Parade, live music, storytelling,
and fortune analysis. At the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden (604) 662.3207
|
later April |
Hyack Easter Antique Car Parade |
This popular parade, in New Westminster, features over 120 antique cars.
(604) 522-6894 |
late April |
Kerrisdale Carnival Days |
This annual spring festival is one of the Lower Mainland's largest
free admission family events, including the "Biggest Little
Community Parade in Vancouver" on Saturday morning. The fun
includes clowns, magicians, pony rides, music, children's entertainment and sidewalk
sales. (604) 266.9875 |
end April |
Canyon Appreciation Day |
Hell’s Gate Airtram offers everyone free rides across the scenic Fraser Canyon plus a free season pass. Info: 867.9277
|
early May |
11th Annual Burnaby Rhododendron Festival |
Shadbolt Centre for the Arts, Burnaby
(604) 291.6864 |
mid May |
New Music West Festival |
International music festival and conference including club crawls, seminars,
workshops, and industry forums. Robson Square Conference Centre and various venues
(604) 684.9338 |
Mid May |
9th Annual Taste of the Nation |
Anti-hunger food and wine tasting benefit includes
gourmet samplings from some of Vancouver’s top restaurants
and beverage suppliers. Vancouver Convention & Exhibition Centre. (604) 691.7764 |
late May |
Vancouver Jewish Film Festival |
Pacific Cinematheque and Norman Rothstein Theatre. (604) 266.0245 |
late May |
CityFest 99 |
Free, family oriented festival celebrating Vancouver's
multi-culutral diversity, held at Vancouver Community College, King Edward
Campus (604) 274-9515 |
late May |
Cloverdale Rodeo and Exhibition |
Top cowboys and cowgirls on the professional rodeo circuit compete in traditional rodeo events
including bare back, saddle, bronco, and bull riding. Held at the Cloverdale Fairgrounds
over the Victoria Day Weekend. (604) 576.9461 |
late May |
Hyack Festival, New Westminster |
This popular festival includes fireworks, family day, May Day celebrations,
an anvil salute, an antique fair, and a parade. (604) 522.6894 |
late May-early June | Vancouver's International Children's Festival |
This family festival held at Vanier Park features theatre, music, dance and puppetry
from around the world. (604) 708 5655 |
mid June | Alcan Dragon Boat Festival |
A weekend of racing and cultural activities at False Creek/Plaza of Nations. Highlights
include stage entertainment for the whole family. (604) 688.2382 |
late June | Scandinavian Midsummer Festival |
This annual festival celebrates the
arrival of the Vikings to Canada over 1000 years
ago and the longest day fo the year. Festival will
feature cultural displays, singing and dancing, beer
garden, Scandinavian food, free miniature horse
rides, 40' Viking ship and many more kids
activities and crafts. Scandinavian Community Centre,
Burnaby 6450 Thomas St. off highway #1 and
Kensington Ave. Info: Sonja at 604.294.2777
|
July 1 | Canada Day Celebrations |
Attend the largest Canada Day celebration west of Ottawa. The
event will be packed with a full day of non-stop live
entertainment and activities for the whole family. Contact Heritage Canada. |
late June | TD Canada Trust Jazz Festival
| For 10 days and nights extraordinary music electrifies
the entire city. From Gastown to David Lam Park, from hip bistros to great concert halls you can hear a
wide variety of jazz, blues, groove, world music, improv and popular artists. Featuring 1,800 musicians
from Canada and around the world. Many free performances including large outdoor concerts, eight major
indoor concert series, and a host of nightclub shows.
604 872 5200 Fax: 604 872 5250 <-- email: barbara@coastaljazz.ca www.coastaljazz.ca --> |
mid July | Vancouver Folk Music Festival |
Music from local and international folk singers, songwriters,
musicians, and storytellers. Daytime and evening performances
and special children's programs. (604) 602-9798
late July | Mission Folk Music Festival |
Festival is held in Mission, B.C. at Fraser River Heritage Park. (604) 826.5937 |
late July | Caribbean Days Festival |
Experience the sights, sounds and smells of the Caribbean,
including limbo, steel band music, food, dance, arts and crafts. Held at Waterfront Park, North Vancouver
Presented by the Trinidad and Tobago Cultural Society of B.C.
(604) 515.2400 |
late July | Vancouver Chamber Music Festival |
This year’s festival features 17 extraordinary musicians from
around the world performing an eclectic mix of repertoire ranging
from Mozart and Beethoven to Martinu and Messiaen. At the Crofton House School.
(604) 602.0363
early Aug | Powell Street Festival |
A celebration of Asian Canadian arts, history and culture. The
festival features dance, music, theatre, exhibits, martial arts,
crafts and delectable foods. At the Vancouver Japanese Language School and Japanese Hall
(475 Alexander St, Vancouver, BC. (604) 739.9388 |
early Aug | Celebration of Light. |
Three competing countries will try to amaze us all with a
spectacular display of fireworks in this international competition.
(604) 738.4304 |
early Aug | Vancouver Early Music Festival |
An annual event sponsored by Early Music Vancouver and the
School of Music, University of British Columbia. (604) 732.1610 |
July | The Harrison Festival of the Arts |
Harrison Hot Springs. (604) 796.3425 |
early Aug | Vancouver Chamber Music Festival |
This year’s festival features 17 extraordinary musicians from
around the world performing an eclectic mix of repertoire ranging
from Mozart and Beethoven to Martinu and Messiaen. Performances held at Crofton House School and Vanier
Park (604) 602.0363 |
Aug | Streetfare '99 |
Street performers will have you stitches |
late August | Fair of the Century - Pacific National Exhibition |
A variety of concerts, folk, and country music, agricultural
exhibitions and an amusement park highlight this family fair.
Pacific National Exhibition Grounds at Hastings Park.
(604) 253.2311 |
late August | Wooden Boat Festival |
Seafaring folk from up and down the Pacific coast gather at the
Island Os west docks (Granville Island ) to show off their boats in a nautical open
house. (604) 666.5784 |
June - September | Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival | S
Bard on the Beach presents 3 professional Shakespeare productions
in open-ended tents on the waterfront in Vanier Park. Tickets: 604-739-0559. |
Sept | Sand Sculpture Exhibition |
Master Sand Sculptors from around the world return every
September to produce magical creations in the sand. View the
sculptures created during the competition in September. Main Beach, Harrison Hot Springs
(604) 796.3425 |
Sept | Aboriginal Cultural Festival |
Arts and culture from Canada's native people |
mid September | The Fringe - Vancouver's Theatre Festival |
Over 100 groups from around the world present 500 shows
on eight indoor and outdoor stages. (604) 257.0350 |
mid September | Funky ART CAR Festival |
benefiting the Greater Vancouver Foodbank Society
Noon - 6pm all ages family fun
Temporary Tattoos, Face Painting, Raffle, ART CARS galore, and lots of fun!
INFO: 604-608-6914 |
mid September | 17th Annual Farm Fair, Maplewood Farm |
Craft exhibitors, pony rides, colouring contest, straw play areas,
food, music, dancing, story telling and more. (604) 929.5610 |
late September | Vancouver International Film Festival |
This festival presents 300 films from 50 countries making it one
of the largest film festivals in North America. Centered around Crowne Plaza Hotel Georgia and various theatres around Vancouver. (604) 685-0260 |
Early October | Mid-Autumn Moon Festival |
This is the most romantic outdoor Chinese cultural celebration
and includes a colourful lantern festival, myth telling, music, and
complimentary tea and mooncakes. Held at the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden. (604) 662.3207
|
late October | Vancouver International Comedy Festival |
THis Montreal style festival, provides nearly two weeks of fun and laughter.
It will involve primarily stand-up comedy and take place in various club venues. 604-683-0883 |
December | Christmas Carol Ship Parade |
Boat owners from around Greater Vancouver decorate their
vessels and parade around Vancouver Harbour. (604) 878 8999 |
December 31 | First Night Vancouver ’99 |
Family-oriented, alcohol-free new year extravaganza around Science World, which
includes visual and performing arts, indoor and outdoor musical
entertainment, street animation, discovery activities for children
and adults and more. (604) 688-4875 |
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