With how quickly the summer is going by, we thought we’d go ahead and share some of the most exciting upcoming summertime events to look forward to. From delicious food and drink festivals to the Honda Celebration of Light, to the two-day CREATE! Arts Festival, here are 7 incredible events you can’t miss in Vancouver this summer.
Honda Celebration of Light
Let’s start with the firework show and competition that draws thousands of local and international visitors every year. This year’s Honda Celebration of Light will kick off with representation from Australia (Howard & Sons Pyrotechnics) on Saturday, July 22nd, followed by Mexico (Grupo Avacon) on Wednesday, July 26th and The Philippines (Blue Peacock Fireworks) on Saturday, July 29th.
When: July 22nd, July 26th, and July 29th
Where: English Bay
CREATE! Arts Festival
Love interactive art festivals? Eastside Art Society (EAS) is hosting its 3rd annual CREATE! Arts Festival, which features the return of their wildly popular Art! Bike! Beer! Crawl Fundraiser. If you’re looking for the holy grail of arts festivals in Vancouver, then look no further.
The two-day summer art-making event will take place at Strathcona Park on July 22nd and at various Eastside Arts District studios on July 23rd. As for art workshops to expect, visitors can check out watercolour painting, needle felting, indigo dying, pottery, glass fusing, photography, ukulele, Salish singing and storytelling – and that’s just for starters.
When: July 22nd and July 23rd
Where: 857 Malkin Avenue and Eastside Studios
Cost: $5 for GA, $20 to $35+ for workshops
Summer Like An Italian
View this post on Instagram
Few summertime experiences can compare to an Italian summer, which is why Kitchen Table Restaurants is bringing back its popular passport program, allowing diners at 10 local restaurants to experience la dolce vita right here in Vancouver.
The Summer Like An Italian Passport invites locals to indulge in regionally curated menus at Ask for Luigi, Bacaro, Carlino, Di Beppe, Farina a Legna, Giovane Caffè (West Cordova or West Georgia Street locations), Mercato di Luigi, Motoretta, Super Veloce and Pizzeria Farina – and passports can be obtained at any of the participating restaurants.
When: July 3rd to September 21st
Where: Kitchen Table restaurants around Vancouver
Cost: Free to reserve a passport
Ribfest
View this post on Instagram
BBQ lovers, take note. One of the largest BBQ events of the summer is slated for Rocky Point Park in Port Moody this July from 11 am to 9 pm, and it’s definitely worth the trip. Delicious BBQ from 7 ‘ribbers,’ live music, and a park-wide beer garden? Sign us up!
When: Friday, July 21st to Sunday, July 23rd
Where: 2800 Murray Street
Red Bull Joyride at Crankworx
The “Super Bowl of the mountain biking world” is rolling up to Whistler this month at the base of Whistler Mountain, complete with musical performances, art installations, public bike events and of course, exciting bike competitions. Bringing together over 35,000 fans on the ground, the Red Bull Joyride is the biggest stage in the sport, and it’ll all unfold at this year’s Crankworx World Tour.
Each VIP ticket is priced at $199, and includes two drink tickets, appetizers, and access to an exclusive viewing area and full-service bar.
When: July 29th
Where: Whistler Mountain Bike Park, Whistler
Cost: $199 for VIP
Powell Street Festival
And to round out the street fests, we’ve got Powell Street Festival! It’s similar to Sakura Days, in that it’s Japanese-focused, but expect some incredible food vendors alongside the events and activities going down.
When: August 5th and 6th
Where: Powell Street
Monstercat Compound
Ready for another iconic block party, Vancouver? The independent record label Monstercat is back with its sixth annual instalment of Monstercat Compound, a free, 19+ block party celebrating the best artists on the label and beyond.
When: August 26th
Where: Railway Street
So there you have it, Vancouver. There are still a ton of fun summer events to look forward to!
