Andrew Chown and Hailey Gillis as Romeo and Juliet at this year’s Bard on the Beach.| Photo by David Cooper and Emily Cooper.
With the beginning of July, school is out and summer is in full swing! From Canada Day celebrations to summer-long dancing, poetry readings and theatre festivities, there is plenty to see and do. Mark these events on your calendar. Here’s a taste of what’s happening around town.
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Bard on the Beach
June 3–Sept. 24
Vanier Park, Vancouver
Verily, my good friends, Bard on the Beach is, in my mind’s eye, a Vancouver treasure. This theatrical mainstay has been entertaining audiences with the works of William Shakespeare for 27 seasons and counting. The Merry Wives of Windsor, Romeo and Juliet, Othello and Pericles are this year’s shows. To go or not to go…just go!
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Surreal
Tuesdays and Fridays from June 28–Sept. 30
Various locations throughout Gastown, Vancouver
Check out an interactive, roaming theatre experience in the streets and alleys of Gastown, hosted by the Surreal theatre troupe. The actors perform an outdoor play, using audience participation to propel the story forward. Plays are around 70 minutes long and are performed rain or shine!
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Explore an array of sailing ships in Steveston.| Photo courtesy of the City of Richmond.
Ships to Shore Steveston
June 30–July 2, 12–6 p.m.
Imperial Landing and Britannia Shipyards, Richmond
For the sixth time, this family friendly event along Richmond’s Steveston coastline allows visitors to explore and tour a variety of sailing ships from schooners, ketches and brigs to RCMP patrollers and Canadian Navy frigates. There will also be musical performances, food carts, rowing/paddling demonstrations and pirates on the shore! For more details, check out their website.
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Canada Day at Canada Place
July 1, 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Parade at 7 p.m., Fireworks at 10:30 p.m.
Canada Place, Vancouver
Many other Lower Mainland municipalities have Canada Day celebrations; however, Vancouver boasts the largest celebration by far. Celebrate Canadians and Canadian history through multi-
cultural celebrations, music, retro Expo memorabilia, street hockey and much more. Afterwards, catch the Canada Day Parade along Georgia and Burrard Streets, and stay late to watch fireworks commemorating Canada’s 149th birthday.
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Latincouver Live Events
July 1–10
Various locations
As part of the Latin American Week celebrations happening during the first week of July, Latincouver will be hosting several Latin-inspired events. Highlights include their chiva bus during the Canada Day Parade and their Fiesta Blanca party on July 1, artwork from Latin American Aboriginals on display from July 4-8, a film night on July 5 and a Trova music festival on July 7. Finally, they’ll cap off Latin American Week with Carnaval del Sol, the biggest Latin festival in the Pacific Northwest on July 9 – 10. For locations and more information, please visit their website.
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Sunday Afternoon Salsa
Sundays from July 3–Aug. 28
Robson Square, Vancouver
Move your hips every Sunday afternoon at Robson Square. Some of Vancouver’s best instructors will be on hand to help beginners and experienced dancers learn how to salsa. Afterwards, join others for casual, social dancing or watch dance performers perform a variety of dance styles. At 7:30 p.m. there will be an after-dance party, allowing dancers to wind down and enjoy a slower kizomba music and dance.
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Poetry in the Park
Wednesdays from July 6–Aug. 31
Queen’s Park, New Westminster
The Royal City Literary Arts Society presents Poetry in the Park, a summer reading series featuring some of British Columbia’s established writers, including Jordan Abel, Ray Hsu and Jónína Kirton, who will be reading from their latest poetic creations.
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Meredith Kalaman will perform choreographer John Ottmann’s Lost Object/ive at Dancing on the Edge.| Photo by Curtis Stodgell.
Dancing on the Edge
July 7–16
Various locations
This festival celebrating contemporary dance forms returns to Vancouver for the 28th time. Watch vertical dancers between the trees in Stanley Park, interpretive dancers creating and embodying love, hope and fear, and choreographed dancers parodying pop culture and conformism. The festival hopes to show audiences that pushing the boundaries of dance can be stimulating and challenging, while also entertaining.
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Seeding the Future: An Evening with Vandana Shiva
July 14, 8 p.m.
St. Andrew’s Wesley United Church, Vancouver
Vandana Shiva, an environmental activist and prolific author, has spent a career engaged in analyzing corporate use of biotechnologies and their effects on our planet’s agricultural production and ecological biodiversity. She campaigns for safe, organic and independent use of biotechnology grounded by democratic harmony and responsible science. She will be in Vancouver for one evening only to discuss food security and sustainability and to help inspire the next generation of environmental leaders.
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BerryBeat Festival
July 9, 9 a.m.–6 p.m.; July 10, 9 a.m.–4 p.m.
Montrose and Essendene Avenues, downtown Abbotsford
Come on down to the 35th annual BerryBeat Festival, featuring live entertainment, dancing, artisan galleries and, of course, plenty of tasty strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and cherries for all to try and buy. Why not try a sweet strawberry pancake for breakfast while you’re there? The Phonix Band, Groove Daddy and the Genuine Jug Band are among the featured performers.
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Third Thai Festival
July 9–10, 10:30 a.m.–8 p.m.
Vancouver Art Gallery
Come to the Vancouver Art Gallery North Plaza to explore the rich cultural traditions of the Thai people. There will be live performances, fashion shows, cooking demonstrations, arts and crafts, hands-on workshops and more. In addition, some of Vancouver’s award-winning Thai restauranteurs will be on hand to serve visitors some of their delicious savoury dishes!
