Spring started on March 20; time to shake off the winter blues and embrace the fresh new energy that comes with the changing of the seasons. As the weather warms up and the days grow longer, there’s no better time to get out and explore all the exciting events happening around the city. From music festivals and outdoor markets to art shows and cultural celebrations, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. So invite your friends, put on your walking shoes and discover events that await you in our vibrant city.
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Ladykiller the Maneater
March 16–April 29
In the exhibition Ladykiller the Maneater, on display at the Grunt Gallery, Tlingit artist Alison Bremner brings forward the experiences of an imagined deity who has existed in a dream-state for a very long time – so long that no one is certain even of what she was the deity of anymore. The eel in Tlingit culture was considered too “lowly” a creature to eat and therefore largely ignored. But eventually, Ladykiller could not ignore the world of men, and was awoken from her subterranean slumber and emerged to traverse and experience this new world around her.
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Daina Ashbee: J’ai pleuré avec les chiens (Time, Creation, Destruction)
March 22–25, 8 p.m.
The first group piece by the prolific Daina Ashbee, J’ai pleuré avec les chiens (Time, Creation, Destruction 2021) plunges into states of being with both sober and incisive precision. Far from any possible attempts at categorization or binary representation, the naked and gaping bodies pierced by chants attempt to come closer together, pile up in vanishing lines – before breaking apart. Connection then emerges, in poetics of deflagration and trance, while the sounds produced by the bodies generate movements, growls, yelps, cries and calls. True flesh channels, the performers transmit myriads of stories, embodying a web of possibilities where everything can coexist. Because everything is transitory, fleeting and forges a sensory experience where the sensitive configuration shapes a ritual of cohabitation and decompartmentalization. This work inspired by the density and complexity of human structure, explores its entrails, its thought processes, its energy and its life force.
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Paradise or the Impermanence of Ice Cream
March 23–April 2
Take a wild ride to paradise with this new play by Indian Ink! This glorious production is inspired by Ernest Becker’s Pulitzer prize-winning Denial of Death, and the vibrant, life–filled chaos of India’s most cosmopolitan city, Mumbai. Actor Jacob Rajan delivers a dazzling solo performance as he channels seven characters, weaving the afterlife and a dash of Bollywood disco into the real-life mystery of India’s vanishing vultures. A man trying desperately to avoid death is flung between limbo and his past, where a rebellious young woman holds the key that may guide him to paradise. Infused with serious laughter, exquisite puppetry, and inspired sound design, this show is guaranteed to blow your mind and melt your heart.
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34th Annual Festival du Bois
March 24–26
The 34th annual Festival du Bois runs March 24 to 26 at Mackin Park in the Maillardville area of Coquitlam – the centre of Francophone culture in B.C. Come join the party! It’s a weekend celebration of Francophone and French-Canadian culture. Enjoy amazing music and dance, great traditional food, shows for kids, fun activities and more. For a complete list of events, please check out the festival’s website.
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Mozart Linz Symphony
March 24–26
Immerse yourself in the captivating world of orchestral music with this unique performance featuring the majestic sounds of four masterful composers: Farrenc, Méhul, Mozart and Weber. Whether you’re a seasoned music lover or simply curious to explore this timeless genre, experience the passion and precision of Canadian bassonist Mathieu Lussier and the musicians of the VSO, all in one unforgettable performance. Check out the VSO website for tickets and more information.
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Screening of Rouge (4K Restoration) & Exhibition of Leslie Cheung – Hong Kong Icon
March 25, 3–5 p.m.
events.ubc.ca/event/screening-exhibition-lesliecheung
The UBC Hong Kong Studies Initiative, with the support of UBC Robson Square Connects, is proud to present the screening of the 4K digital restoration of Rouge, a masterpiece by Hong Kong film auteur Stanley Kwan starring Cantopop megastars Leslie Cheung Kwok-wing and Anita Mui Yim-fong. The screening will be accompanied by a special exhibition “Leslie Cheung – Hong Kong Icon” at the foyer outside of the theatre, to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the passing of the legendary Hong Kong actor, singer and performer, Leslie Cheung Kwok-wing, who resided in Vancouver from 1990 to 1992. This event is free-of-charge and is open to all. Limited seats available. Registration required.
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R2R Festival 2023
March 28–April 6
Reel 2 Real celebrates the 25th anniversary of the R2R Festival from March 28 to April 6, 2023! The festival is back in person to bring you the best of the best films for children and their families from around the globe at the Roundhouse Community Centre and VIFF Centre Theatre. The festival’s short films programs will also be available online across B.C (no feature film available online). For their 25th Anniversary, they are paying homage to the roots of the festival and the Edith Lando Peace Prize, which has celebrated films that use the medium of cinema to advance the goals of peace and justice since 2008. These themes can be found in many of the films and programs this year and clearly align with the zeitgeist of young people’s attitudes and focus.
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Black & Rural
March 31–April 15
Black & Rural is the story of a lone Black country woman struggling to defy the monolith of what matters to Black lives. Derived from dozens of real-life interviews with Black folk tucked away in the countryside across Canada, creator and performer Shayna Jones weaves together a story of vulnerability, quiet triumph and striking humanity. Playing at the Pacific Theatre until April 15, check out the theatre’s website for tickets and more information.
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Krystle Dos Santos
April 1, 7:30 p.m.
www.evergreenculturalcentre.ca
Krystle Dos Santos is an extraordinary blues, jazz and soul singer based out of Vancouver, B.C. With a voice that is commanding, powerful and rich with talent, her music, inspired by classic and neo-soul combined with contemporary hip-hop and R&B elements is executed brilliantly; it’s simultaneously elegant, bold and sensual similar to modern legends Erykah Badu and Ms. Lauryn Hill. Her performances are mesmerizing; She sings with sheer heart wrenching dominion about falling in love, heartbreak and struggle. Her approach to music is unmistakably genuine. Check out the Evergreen Cultural Centre’s website for tickets and more information.
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Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival
April 1–23
The Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival runs from April 1 to 23, and one of the first free festival events is The Big Picnic at David Lam Park. It is one of the many parks throughout the city with cherry blossom trees, and here’s hoping it will be in bloom that day. For more information, visit the VCBF website.
