At the beginning of the summer I was going to try and keep count of all the festival-like events going on in and around Vancouver. I quickly lost count, let alone nowhere near enough time to drop in on all of them. Here are a few I did get to:
Greek Festival – this one did not make my list of festivals to go back to next year. There were about 5 – 6 blocks closed off for the festival along one street. Most of the vendors were selling food, and even so the line ups were ridiculously long. We were there mid afternoon, and most of the boards indicated few selections left as most items were sold out. At least we were able to get some delicious spanakopita. There was a display of traditional Greek dancing but after about 20 minutes of the same routine, I had to move along.
We ditched the Greek scene, and headed back downtown to the Latin festival. This one was located on Granville Street so definitely had the location advantage. The other thing the Latinos have is the rhythm advantage. The music could be heard blocks away. When we arrived, all we could see were people dancing. I don’t know if it was a band on stage, or just a DJ: the crowd was far too big for me to tell. It didn’t matter – everyone was grooving to the music and loving it. There were a few food vendors and even fewer artisans, but even the people displaying their wares were caught up in the rhythm. The Latin festival is definitely on the list to come back to again next year.
Vancouver celebrated its 125th birthday this year. Happy Birthday Vancouver. Where’s a better place for the party than Stanley Park, the quintessential Vancouver location. The party raged on for 3 days with crowds swelling each day. On day 2, the Saturday, people were being warned of gridlock traffic conditions around the park with strong recommendations to take transit. The party features a full bill and live performances on 3 stages was a big part of the party. We headed out late in the day on Saturday to go watch Said the Whale, my favorite Vancouver band, who were playing that evening.
Walking into the park I could not believe the crowds of people along the seawall. Every stage had a huge audience, every food vendor had a huge line up, every portable toilet had a line up – EVEN the men’s!! Everyone was in good spirits; many had already had a lot of good spirits so there was a watchful police presence. The food was decent and not even that overpriced. The band was great – as usual – and the crowd well enthusiastic. We poured out of the park close to midnight, wandering through the woods in the dark to avoid the crowds streaming along the seawall.
Vancouver Skyline from Stanley Park
A week or two ago I went to the Caribbean Festival in North Vancouver. The big draw here is the parade – who doesn’t love a parade. The costumes are nothing short of stunning with their extravagance and vibrant colors.
Matching converse of course
I can’t imagine how heavy some of those head-dresses must be for the dancers wearing them along the 90 minute parade route. I was amazed that hours later at the festival grounds, some of the dancers were still in costume.
Jack Sparrow was there too.
This festival had the best party atmosphere. The beer garden line up was by far the longest line. There was a good selection of food vendors and also a wide variety of artisans, with some really good deals to be had. It was a perfect sunny day, with a fabulous waterfront location – what’s not to love about this festival?
Fun costumes.
Part of the crowd enjoying the festivities and the sunshine.
With a few good weeks left this summer, there are still a few more festivals to enjoy. The Vancouver Shakespeare Festival, or Bard on the Beach runs until late September. As you Like It and The Merchant of Venice are among this years offerings, which are performed inside open-ended tents. There’s something magical about watching Shakespeare on stage with a backdrop of the sun setting on the Coast Mountains.
If Asian arts and culture interests you, you’ll love the Chinatown Festival which runs August 13-14. Chinatown is rich in history and the walking tours and open-air markets are sure to draw big crowds.
Do you have a favorite festival that you attend each year?