BC Dumpling Festival. | Photo courtesy of B.C. Dumpling Festival.
Summer is finally here! Whether you have an epic road trip planned, local staycation goals or just want to relax in the sun, I hope you are gearing up for a fantastic break. If you’re staying around town, why not check out some of the festivals and activities below? Whatever your plans look like, I hope you take this time to try something new, recharge and make some great memories. See you back here in late August!
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49th Annual Vancouver Folk Music Festival
July 17–19
Indulge in the rich tapestry of cultural diversity at the 49th Annual Vancouver Folk Music Festival. Nestled in the picturesque Jericho Beach Park, this event showcases the talents of local and international folk artists, providing a harmonious blend of traditional melodies and contemporary sounds. Listen to diverse styles of music, from musicians based in Sweden, Ireland, Japan, Scotland and others. Be sure to check out the artisan market and folk bazaar, enjoy the many food vendors set up around the beachfront and have fun at the Little Folks Village for children 12 years and younger. Check out the music festival’s website for a complete list of performers.
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Sixth Annual Eastside Arts Festival
July 17–26
The Sixth Annual Eastside Arts Festival celebrates the diversity of performing and visual arts in Vancouver’s Eastside. This innovative festival offers art workshops, live music performances, a beer garden, an art shop and many more opportunities for art lovers of all ages and abilities to experience! Happening from Friday, July 17 to Sunday, July 26, attendees will discover the diversity of the Eastside Arts District through affordable ticketed art workshops and performances at pop-up locations such as breweries, studios and performance venues. MacLean Park is the place to be on the afternoon of Saturday, July 25; attendees will enjoy a free concert, public art activities, an art shop, food trucks, and a beer garden.
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24th Vancouver Chinatown Festival
July 25–26
www.vancouver-chinatown.com/festival
Get ready to celebrate community, culture and summer fun at the 24th Vancouver Chinatown Festival, a free two-day family-friendly event. Last year, the event was an overwhelming success, hosting tens of thousands of visitors to the vibrant Chinatown community, celebrating the diversity of the community and showcasing Chinatown as an inclusive, sustainable and resilient neighbourhood. Vancouver Chinatown Festival has grown into a highly anticipated summer signature event for Vancouverites as well as tourists from around the world. Explore the historic neighbourhood while shopping for unique offerings from local merchants, enjoying live performances and taking part in fun activities for all ages!
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Film Noir 2026
July 30–August 27
www.thecinematheque.ca/series/film-noir-2026
Summer brings its usual dose of darkness to The Cinematheque courtesy of film noir, that irresistibly unsavoury school of mid-century American moviemaking defined by its emblematic aesthetics and obsession with bad behaviour. This season, they are drawing from the postwar catalogue to assemble a murderers’ row of eight gripping crime thrillers, each haunted in its own way by the tremors of WWII. Half of the films arrive in brand-new restorations, with perhaps Robert Siodmak’s unassailable 1946 classic The Killers the showpiece of the restored lineup. They also pay tribute to Marilyn Monroe, born a century ago this year, with screenings of her Technicolor noir Niagara, famous for elevating MM to Hollywood’s A-list. Check out their website for more information and showtimes.
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EMV’s 2026 Summer Festival: The Power of Music
July 31–August 7
EMV’s Summer Festival, The Power of Music, celebrates music’s unique ability to move, transform and connect us. Spanning repertoire from the late Middle Ages through the birth of opera and into masterworks by Bach, Vivaldi, Schubert and Beethoven, this festival traces the rich foundations of Western music. Woven throughout the festival is the idea that music shapes how we feel, its power to console, inspire and transform us. Monteverdi’s Orfeo captures this power more vividly than perhaps any other work. Hailed as the first great opera, it unfolds as a timeless fable where music becomes a force capable of charming nature, stirring the hearts of gods, and crossing the boundary between life and death. Check out Early Music Vancouver’s website for more information.
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Harmony Arts Festival
July 31–August 9
www.westvancouver.ca/harmonyarts
Presented by Odlum Brown Limited, the Harmony Arts Festival will return from July 31 to Aug. 9. The festival takes place in West Vancouver along the waterfront on Argyle Avenue, from 14th to 16th Street. Join them for live music and celebrate visual and culinary art in the community. For schedule information and a complete list of musical events, dining events and visual art exhibits, please visit the festival’s website.
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Fifth Annual Canada Bubble Tea Festival
August 1
Discover the moments that make the Canada Bubble Tea Festival more than just a place to grab a drink. From signature experiences and interactive activities to special showcases and crowd-favourite attractions, the festival highlights are designed to bring bubble tea culture to life in a fun, social and memorable way. Explore what makes this year’s festival special and why some experiences can only happen here. Check out the festival’s website for more information.
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50th Annual Powell Street Festival
August 1–2, 11:30 a.m.–7 p.m.
Celebrate Japanese Canadian culture this B.C. Day-long weekend with live music, Japanese festival food, martial arts demonstrations and more! The Powell Street Festival is one of the largest and the longest-running community arts festivals in Canada, located in Vancouver’s historic Japanese Canadian area, Paueru Gai – today known as the Downtown Eastside. The Powell Street Festival Society also offers year-round programs and collaborates with local organizations, artists and communities. Check out the festival’s website for more information.
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Summer Pop-Up Concerts with Music on Main 2026
August 11–13, 6:30 p.m.
www.musiconmain.ca/event/summer-pop-up-concerts-2026
Join Music on Main at Vancouver’s Mount Pleasant Park from Aug. 11-13 for the always-anticipated Summer Pop-Up Concerts! Gather your friends, family or come solo and dive into an evening of joyous music in the park. Inspired by the community spirit and Vancouver’s unique mix of musical styles, this summer’s events promise captivating evenings of music. Whether you’re a returning fan or a first-time attendee, prepare to be delighted by the community atmosphere, sunshine and vibrant sounds. The event is free; no tickets are required. Check out their website for more information.
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Fifth Annual B.C. Dumpling Festival 2026
August 15, 11 a.m.–8 p.m.
The Asian Arts and Culture Society will present the Fifth Annual B.C. Dumpling Festival in Coquitlam‘s Town Centre Park. This festival is a celebration of the diverse community we live in and brings together families, friends, neighbours, community organizations and businesses from different cultures to share food, entertainment and laughter. What better way to do this than at a festival over a plateful of dumplings from all over the world? It is a multicultural, family-friendly event that will showcase dumplings from different cultures!
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MiniComi Art Market
August 15, 11:30 a.m.–6 p.m.
MiniComi Vancouver, held this year at the Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre, is an annual, free-to-attend art market that showcases local artists and creators. MiniComi debuted in 2011 at the University of British Columbia. Since then, the event has continued to grow. Every year, they invite over a hundred local artists of all experience levels to promote and sell their artwork and handmade creations. This has included comics and prints, accessories, apparel, toys and on-site commissions. Artists bring artwork inspired by popular media (such as movies or Japanese animation), as well as completely original work. Check out their website for more information.
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