Inside Vancouver

KitsFest Brings Sports Tournaments and Public Yoga to Kitsilano Beach, August 10-12

by Taraneh in Sports on August 8, 2012

Photo credit: KitsFest

Does the 2012 Summer Olympics coverage leave you craving live sports action? Get your (free) fill of basketball, beach tennis and volleyball at KitsFest, which returns to Kitsilano Beach, August 10-12.

The annual summer sports and wellness festival is the brainchild of Howard Kelsey, a two-time Olympian who represented Canada on the men’s basketball team at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, and partner Julien Phipps.

KitsFest is known for attention grabbing stunts. In 2010, they introduced Vancouver to beach tennis. In 2011, they put an ice hockey rink on the beach.

In addition to sports tournaments for kids and adults, KitsFest 2012 has partnered with lululemon’s SeaWheeze Half Marathon to host Public Sunset Yoga on Kits Beach August 11. A record-breaking 1,000+ participants are expected. KitsFest attendees will also enjoy a Kids’ Zone, DJs and a Baseline Bistro with eats from local restaurants.

Get the full event details after the jump. Continue reading:
KitsFest Brings Sports Tournaments and Public Yoga to Kitsilano Beach, August 10-12

20 Unmissable Vancouver Events in August 2012

by Taraneh in Events on July 31, 2012

Vancouver Pride Parade. Photo credit: Flickr user *_*

Sultry August is your last chance to have that fling with summer fun, before it’s too late.

With the August long weekend, dazzling Celebration of Light fireworks and the fabulous annual Vancouver Pride Parade, there are plenty of good reasons to get out and celebrate.

Outdoor entertainment continues through August before disappearing until next summer. Catch a free cult-fave film at Second Beach or David Lam Park in Yaletown. Take in some twilight, beachfront Shakespeare at Bard on the Beach. Bring the family to the much loved Theatre Under the Stars (TUTS) musicals in Malkin Bowl at Stanley Park.

For festival fiends, there’s no shortage of cost-free opportunity. Start with the Sunset Beach Pride Festival with beer garden. Don’t miss Veg Fest Vancouver, the Japanese Canadian Powell Street Festival, the Vancouver Chinatown Festival or Latin Summer Fest at Trout Lake.

And that barely scrapes the surface of all August has to offer. Get the full list of unmissable August events after the jump. Continue reading:
20 Unmissable Vancouver Events in August 2012

Everything You Need to Know About Khatsahlano! Music and Art Festival, July 21

by Taraneh in Entertainment on July 18, 2012

Musician Ali Milner will perform at Khatsahlano!, July 21. Photo credit: Vanessa Heins for Ali Milner

What are you doing this weekend? Is it free? For the second year in a row, the hotly-anticipated Khatsahlano! Music and Art Festival will transform Kitsilano into a multi-block party of live music, food trucks and shopping, Saturday, July 21.

The emphasis is on free live music. Many of us eat local and shop local. Are you familiar with Vancouver’s local musical talent? 40 local bands will perform free shows on 7 stages between 12pm and 8pm. There should be a new artist to discover/watch/hear about every 15 minutes.

Fans are buzzing about appearances by The Zolas, The Ballantynes, Ali Milner (pictured above) and Kathryn Calder. Find out more about the Khatsahlano! Music and Art Festival program after the jump. Continue reading:
Everything You Need to Know About Khatsahlano! Music and Art Festival, July 21

Everything You Need to Know About Vancouver Folk Music Festival 2012, July 13-15

by Taraneh in Events on July 9, 2012

Somali-Canadian rapper K’naan will appear at Folk Fest 2012. Photo credit: Vancouver Folk Festival

Vancouver Folk Music Festival returns to Jericho Beach Park for its 35th anniversary this Friday, July 13, through Sunday, July 15.

If you’ve never been, Folk Fest is the kind of grassroots, community-driven live music event where you’ll find old timers who’ve attended for 30 years rubbing shoulders with a fresh crop of university students who won’t miss a Dan Mangan show. It’s the mix of guests and performers that makes Folk Fest what it is.

The hotly anticipated Vancouver Folk Festival line up includes such talents as Dan Mangan, Ani DiFranco, Lucinda Williams, Hey Rosetta! and K’naan. The food cart line up is almost as impressive with 30 local vendors serving everything from organic ice cream to roast corn and jerk chicken.

Find out everything you need to know to attend after the jump. Continue reading:
Everything You Need to Know About Vancouver Folk Music Festival 2012, July 13-15

20 Unmissable Vancouver Events in July 2012

by Taraneh in Events on June 29, 2012

Fresh Air Cinema. Photo credit: Flickr user Yaletown BIA

July starts out right with Canada Day pyrotechnics lighting up the summer night sky. And is there anything more summery than free outdoor movies – launching in Stanley Park, July 3?

Meanwhile summer festival season is in full swing by mid month. Catch folksy tunes at the annual Vancouver Folk Music Festival, July 15. The lovely Illuminares Lantern Festival lights up Trout Lake, July 21. Also July 21, Khatsahlano! Music Festival transforms Kitsilano into a block party with 30 local bands performing on multiple stages.

Among the quirkier happenings, I’m particularly intrigued by Scout’s Barkeep of the Year showdown at the Keefer Bar, July 2. Then there’s spectator-friendly robot racing (I’m not kidding) and clothes-free celebration at the nudie paradise Wreck Beach.

Of course July ends with a bang too. Celebration of Light, the most highly-anticipated summer event, brings fireworks back to the Vancouver skyline, July 28.

Find the full line-up of July events below. Continue reading:
20 Unmissable Vancouver Events in July 2012