As a vibrantly multicultural city, Vancouver offers a wealth of different cultural experiences. During summer, various communities take advantage of the sunny weather to put on big celebrations with tons of different events open to everyone.
Here are upcoming fests to put on your summer bucket list:
Carnaval del Sol
Latin American Week is already in full swing (began on June 27, 2018) and culminates in the 10th annual Carnaval del Sol (July 7-8, 2018) at Concord Pacific (88 Pacific Boulevard). Events leading up to the Carnaval include a Canada Day Parade at Granville Island (July 1, 2018, 1:30pm-2:00pm, Ocean Concrete, 1415 Johnston Street); a Latin American Film Night with VIFF (July 3, 2018, 5:30pm-9:40pm, Vancity Theatre, 1181 Seymour Street); Women’s Voices in the Americas, a filmmakers panel (July 4, 2018 6:00pm-9:30pm, UBC Robson Square, 800 Robson Street); and Flamenco, Tango, and Wine (July 5, 2018 7:00pm-10:00pm, Performance Works, 1218 Cartwright Street).
Carnavel del Sol promises to be a hugely fun party this year. Highlights are the Main Stage, hosting different artists and singers; the Art Plaza; the Food Plaza where vendors like La Taqueria (Mexico), El Cocal (El Salvador), and Come Arepa Ltd (Venezuala) will be selling delicious eats and drinks; a 600 seat Beer Plaza featuring LATINA BC, a beer made in collaboration with Black Kettle Brewing Co.; the Family Plaza featuring music, fashion, and dance; and the YVR Travel Plaza with Delicioso Cooking Demos from chefs like The Soulful Chef Dreux Antoine (USA). The Carnaval is free from 11am to 1pm both days, and free for kids 12 and under and seniors (65+). Otherwise, general admission is $2 or $10 for a Super Pass (various perks) or $75 for a Special Super Pass (all Latin American Week events, except the sold out Cruise).
Further information and tickets can be found on-line.
Indian Summer Festival
For the 7th year, Indian Summer Festival (July 5-15, 2018) is offering a really innovative and multi-genre array of programming. This Fest’s theme is “Mythmaking,” with a line-up focused on storytelling, fiction-making, and identity-creation as they manifest in the work of a variety of different artists, writers, and musicians. It’s all geared toward “the curious mind.” The wide selection of events includes:
- The Opening Party (July 5, 2018, 7:00pm-11:00pm, Roundhouse Community Centre, 181 Roundhouse Mews) with Vikram Vij and other top chefs from venues like Blue Water Café and the Fairmont Waterfront.
- PAUSE in the Park (July 7, 8, 14, 15, 2018, PAUSE Pavilion, 1600 Whyte Avenue), a free programming series that includes a Community Mandala Workshop with Sheniz Janmohamed, a Jhalaak music project performance with Rajasthan Josh, Rup Sidhu, and Adham Shaikh, as well as Myth and Rupture: An Interactive Sculptural Installation.
- The Poetry of Amazement (July 12, 6:30pm-7:30pm, UBC Frederic Wood Theatre, 6354 Crescent Rd), in which award-winning novelist Vikram Chandra takes the audience through a journey of Citra Kavya (pictorial poetry).
Further info and tickets can be found on-line.
Other cultural festivals this summer include:
Greek Summerfest (July 5-15, 2018, 4641 Boundary Road)
Bastille Day in Vancouver (July 14, 2018, 10am-10pm, The Roundhouse Community Centre, 181 Roundhouse Mews)
Vancouver Thai Festival (July 21-22, 2018, North Plaza, Vancouver Art Gallery)
Caribbean Days Festival (July 28-29, 2018, Waterfront Park, North Vancouver)
Powell Street Festival (August 4-5, 2018, Oppenheimer Park, 400 block of Powell Street, and the surrounding streets and nearby venues).
Pinoy Festival (August 26, 2018, Memorial South Park, 41st Avenue and Windsor Street)
TAIWANfest (September 1-3, 2018, Granville Street from West Pender to Smithe Streets, Vancovuer Art Gallery Plaza, Robson Plaza, Vancouver Playhouse, CBC Studio 700, the Annex at Orpheum)
Market Mexico (September 15, 2018, Robson Square)
