The dog days of summer are here in B.C. with record-breaking hot temperatures and extreme wildfires, especially in the Interior region. Whatever you do this summer, have fun, stay cool and I’ll see you in late August!
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2021 Korean Film Festival
July 1–10
The third annual Korean Film Festival will be taking place from
July 1–10 on VIFF Connect, honouring the South Korean and Academy Award winning actress Youn Yuh-jung. To celebrate her historic Oscar win for Best Supporting Actress, the Korean Consulate will present four films that made her the icon she is today: Minari, Actresses, Canola and The Bacchus Lady. These four films are a testament to Youn Yuh-jung’s broad and diverse acting range: a spiky grandma in Minari, a caring and loving grandma in Canola, and an elderly prostitute and murderer in The Bacchus Lady. To view these films online, visit the Vancouver International Film Festival’s website.
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45th Powell Street Festival
Throughout July
The 45th Powell Street Festival is a bit different this year. Instead of a large public gathering, the festival website will be the hub for live and virtual Japanese Canadian art and culture. The festival will be offering an array of on-demand creative works, on-location performances, DIY workshops
and community-building activities. The On Demand content includes a showcase of local and international artist collaborations that the Society commissioned specifically for digital consumption. There are also opportunities to visit the Powell Street neighbourhood, including several socially distanced activities. For a complete list of events, please check out the festival’s website.
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Dancing on the Edge 2021
July 8–17
The 2021 Dancing on the Edge Festival features a diverse, exciting lineup of more than 30 online and live stage performances by leading artists from all across the country. The program includes specially curated digital programming with recorded online performances, premieres of dance films and dance discussions. There will be outdoor live performances in the Firehall Courtyard (for very limited audiences with full COVID-19 safety precautions in place) and theatre performances with limited capacity if public health regulations permit (at the Firehall Arts Centre Theatre). For tickets, check out the Dance Centre’s website.
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Bard in the Valley
July 8–19, 23 & 24
What better way to celebrate our love for Shakespeare’s works than by doing his entire canon in one evening! The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Abridged showcases three actors on a mission: to bring the sum of Shakespeare’s work to life on stage in one fell swoop. Join the fun as the Bard in the Valley group meanders madly through all the comedies, histories and tragedies using a trunk-full of tricks, props and crazy costumes – it’s a mad Shakespeare mash-up that is sure to fill your theatre void we’ve all been missing for over a year! Check out their website for location and ticket information.
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Vancouver Pride Season 2021
July 10–Aug. 3
The Vancouver Pride Society will be hosting a variety of summer events this month. Events of note include the Pride Summer Series of online concerts, the Pride Art Walk at various locations in Downtown and the West End, an online Queer History panel, a series of pride lounges and a de-centralized online pride parade. Check out the society’s website for a complete list of events and more details.
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Lunacy Phase
July 19–23, 12 noon–3 p.m.
The Lunacy Phase is a five day physical and imaginative dance-based, creative and thorough self exploration for youths 18 and under. Pertaining to each individual’s own authentic movement and honouring where they are, and what they have, no matter what their dance background is. This project is a creative/freestyle based progressive for youth who want to discover their own sensation in freestyle movement as well create in the future. From a dreamy state to puzzling tasks, instructor Simran Sachar will have them shedding old layers and breaking all the rules they thought existed. Check out the Massey Theatre for more details.
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Mission Folk Music Festival: Folk at Home
July 23–25
www.missionfolkmusicfestival.ca
A world of great music from here and far afield awaits you on the evenings of July 23, 24, 25 as the 34th annual Mission Folk Music Festival goes online for 2021. Look for a dynamic showcase of musical styles and genres – from blues to bluegrass, indie folk to Afro-flamenco to world rhythms. See familiar and beloved names along with talented newcomers. It’s all there for you from the comfort of your home – and free! Please visit the festival’s website for performers and show information.
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Richmond Night Market
Opening July 23
Because we are in Step 3 of British Columbia’s Restart Plan, the outdoor Richmond Night Market can re-open in mid-July! Enjoy summer fun and delicious food and drink at one of B.C’s most popular night markets. Keep an eye on their website for more details as it becomes available.
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Abbotsford International Airshow: SkyDrive
Aug 6–8
After a one year absence, the Abbotsford International Airshow will be presenting SkyDrive from Aug. 6 to 8. The airshow will feature the Canadian Forces Snowbirds, the US Air Force F-22 Raptor, the RCAF CF-18 Hornet and many more planes! SkyDrive is a drive-in air show experience – like a drive-in movie only way bigger, way louder and way more awesome! For tickets and more information, please check out the Air Show’s website.
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Balanced Forms: Xwalacktun, James Harry and Austin Harry
July 28–Oct. 2
Balanced Forms, an exhibition hosted by the West Vancouver Art Museum, features Coast Salish artists Xwalacktun and his sons, James and Austin Harry. In addition to his projects as a commissioned artist, Xwalacktun has worked as a cultural instructor in many school districts throughout the Lower Mainland, creating carvings with students which are displayed at the schools. The artist sees this work as a learning opportunity that supports his efforts at reconciliation. A selection of these projects will be featured together in the exhibition, alongside preparatory material that demonstrates the design process.
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Abbotsford Agrifair
July 30–Aug. 1
Much like last year, the Abbotsford Agrifair is continuing its drive-thru style event format this summer, featuring all the fun of the fair from the comfort of your air-conditioned vehicle. Some of the confirmed fair fun visitors will get to see will include: Buffalo and Bison with their cattle and calf friends roaming freely, 12 vintage vehicles from classic TV shows and movies, a LEGO display, antique farm tractors and machinery and more. For more information, please check out the Agrifair website.
