George and Nariko, from Australia, perform two sets at this year’s Powell Street Festival.

Each year, the Powell Street Festival celebrates Japanese culture and Vancouver’s Japanese community. Back for its 41st year, the festival has some fan favourites along with some new acts and events. There’s plenty of opportunity for participation, including walking tours, an amateur sumo wrestling competition, and suika wara (where blindfolded contestants try to hit a watermelon). There are also film, music, theatre and literary events; and just about everything, outside of the food, is free.

Here are a few suggestions of what to check out at the Aug. 5 & 6 Powell Street Festival, which takes place in and near the 400 block of Powell, including Oppenheimer Park.

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Five fun things to do at this year’s Powell Street Festival