Chinatown’s landmark Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden is a gorgeous venue for outdoor summer concerts: when you’re there—the starry lights twinkling, the music pouring over you—it feels like you’re a world away from the city. It’s magical.

Every summer, in July and August, the Chinese Garden hosts Enchanted Evenings on Friday nights, a series of outdoor world music concerts performed at the Garden’s exquisite outdoor and indoor spaces.

For Enchanted Evenings 2012, performances range from the Latin, Salsa and Afro-Cuban rhythms of Rumba Calzada to the Chinese-fusion of Silk Road Music + Celso Machado to the trademark blues of Vancouver’s own Jim Byrnes.

Enchanted Evenings Schedule 2012 – artist info here

• July 6 -  Rumba Calzada
• July 13 – Van Django
• July 20 – Silk Road Music
• July 27 – Zhambai Trio
• Aug 3 – Deborah Ledon
• Aug 10 – Vancouver Piano Ensemble
• Aug 17 – Jocelyn Pettit
• Aug 31 – Jim Byrnes

Tickets to each Enchanted Evenings concert are $25; $20 for Garden members.

BONUS: Last summer’s popular “Enchanted Evenings Dinner Package at Wild Rice” is back for 2012: Enchanted Evenings concert-goers can enjoy a pre-concert $21-per-person three-course-dinner at Chinatown’s acclaimed Wild Rice restaurant; the special menu includes Chef Todd Bright’s “modern” Wonton Soup, Chinese Fish ‘n Chips, and Grilled King Oyster Mushroom.

Chinese Fish ‘n Chips at Wild Rice. Photo: A. Wong / Wild Rice

Because this dinner deal is only open to concert-goers, you must book your dinner reservation through the Dr. Sun Yat Sen Garden (604-662-3207, ext. 209) while purchasing your concert tickets.

Enchanted Evenings at the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Chinese Garden run Friday nights from July 6 – August 31, 2012.