Inside Vancouver

10 Free Things to Do in Vancouver in August

by Dana Lynch in Entertainment on August 2, 2011

: Vancouver Chinatown Festival

Summer fun in Vancouver continues through August with loads of great, free events and activities for the whole family!

10 Free Things to Do in Vancouver in August

1. Watch the Fireworks! The Celebration of Light Fireworks Competition continues with two more nights of amazing fireworks displays on Wednesday, August 3, and Saturday, August 6, 2011.

2. Party before the fireworks at SHOREfest, the free concert series that runs from 7pm – 10pm on August 3 and August 6 at three of the best fireworks-watching spots: Vanier Park, Kitsilano Beach, and English Bay Beach.

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10 Free Things to Do in Vancouver in August

BC Cultural Crawl – August 1 – 31, 2011

by Dana Lynch in Entertainment on July 22, 2011

It’s a big year for Vancouver. Not only is 2011 the City of Vancouver’s 125th birthday and Parks Canada’s 100th anniversary, it’s also the 10th birthday for the BC Cultural Crawl. Launched as a B.C. Day celebration in 2001, today’s BC Culture Crawl is a huge arts festival that spans the province and the entire month of August.

The BC Cultural Crawl is a collection of arts and cultural events at 70 cities and towns throughout British Columbia, including outdoor theatre, art walks, annual festivals, and special events that demonstrate the unique “footprints” of the various B.C. communities.

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BC Cultural Crawl – August 1 – 31, 2011

PRIDE: Want some small town to go along with your extravaganza?

by Laurie McConnell in Outside on July 21, 2011

Kayaking out of Sargeant Bay, Halfmoon Bay Sunshine Coast

Here it comes for 2011: another huge helping of one of North America’s most popular queer festivals, Vancouver Pride. Over 600,000 spectators will line up to view the signature parade on Sunday July 31, but both before and after, queer and GLBT-friendly fans will be looking for activities to fill out the 10 day stretch bracketing the festival.

If you’re looking for a counterpoint to the fabulous big city oomph and non-stop events, why not make a day trip or short getaway to the Sunshine Coast on either side of Pride Week?

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PRIDE: Want some small town to go along with your extravaganza?

Caribbean Days Festival 2011

by Dana Lynch in Events on July 16, 2011

Get ready to party Caribbean-style! North Vancouver’s free Caribbean Days Festival—one of B.C.’s largest cultural festivals and one of the biggest Caribbean festivals in western Canada—is two days of tropical rhythm, cuisine, carnival and culture, featuring a parade, live entertainment, and more.

Organized annually by the Trinidad & Tobago Cultural Society of BC, the Caribbean Days Festival is packed with colourful costumes, traditional dance, and kids’ activities. The Festival’s free fun includes live entertainment and concerts, an international food fair, and a clothes and crafts market. There’s also a Multicultural Street Parade, and a fabulous free, nighttime Waterfront Party featuring Soca, Reggae and Calypso rhythms.

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Caribbean Days Festival 2011

Vancouver Folk Music Festival – July 15 – 17, 2011

by Dana Lynch in Entertainment on July 10, 2011

Named one of the ten best outdoor concerts in North America by USA Today, the Vancouver Folk Music Festival is one of the highlights of the summer music season. This three-day festival at Jericho Beach Park features an eclectic range of folk and roots music performed on eight outdoor stages, all overlooking the picture-perfect vistas of downtown Vancouver and the North Shore mountains.

At this festival, “folk” has an expansive meaning, covering an enormous range of sounds, from gospel to blues, rock, world music, spoken-word poetry, and African- and Latin fusion. The diverse 2011 artist line-up includes Dan Bern, Jim Bryson and the Weakerthans Band, Rosanne Cash, Alpha Yaya Diallo, Freshlyground, The Fugitives , La-33, New Country Rehab, Tim Robbins & The Rogues Gallery Band, and Mary Gauthier, to name just a few.

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Vancouver Folk Music Festival – July 15 – 17, 2011

10 Free Things to Do in July in Vancouver

by Dana Lynch in Entertainment on July 2, 2011

Vancouver's annual Celebration of Light Fireworks Competition starts in July.

If there’s one month in Vancouver when you don’t have to spend any money to have fun, it has to be July. Along with taking advantage of the summer weather to enjoy Vancouver’s gorgeous beaches and parks, July 2011 is packed with free festivals, events and activities for all-ages, from the world-famous Celebration of Light Fireworks Competition to free outdoor movies and more!

10 Free Things to Do in July in Vancouver

1. Celebrate Vancouver’s 125th Birthday with live music and more at Summer Live in Stanley Park, (July 8 – 10, 2011).

2. Take the whole family to a free outdoor movie at a Vancouver park. Complete list here.

3. Salsa dance for free every Sunday in Robson Square.

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10 Free Things to Do in July in Vancouver

Greek Day on Broadway – June 26, 2011

by Dana Lynch in Events on June 24, 2011

Greek Day 2009: Cooking chickan souvlaki at the Acopol tent. Photo: Dana Lynch

Love gyros and chicken souvlaki, loukoumades, hand-made custard bougatsa and baclava? Then I know exactly where you will want to be this Sunday: the annual Greek Day on Broadway! (Seriously: the bougatsa is always divine!)

Greek Day on Broadway is one of my favourite Vancouver summer events. It’s a fun, free celebration of all things Greek, featuring loads of food (naturally), traditional Greek dancers, live music, kids’ activities, and lots and lots of charm.

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Greek Day on Broadway – June 26, 2011