Preparing for Caber Toss.| Photo courtesy of BC Highland Games and Scottish Festival.
The summer solstice begins on June 21 in Vancouver, signifying the beginning of summer. From checking out community theatre to viewing the latest art opening to trying new foods at the many festivals happening around town, there’s something for everyone both indoors and out. June 16 is Father’s Day, so why not bring your dad to see and enjoy some of these events together!
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The Melville Boys
June 6–29
Bernie Legge Theatre, New Westminster
The Vagabond Players community theatre is presenting a production of Canadian playwright Norm Foster’s The Melville Boys at the Bernie Legge Theatre in New Westminster this month. A relaxing weekend trip full of fishing, football and beer is on the agenda for the Melville brothers. So is confronting eldest brother Lee’s terminal illness. But their trip is thrown for a loop when the boys meet two attractive sisters who inadvertently change more than their weekend plans. In this modern Canadian classic, Foster offers a tender comedy full of vigour about brotherhood and the unexpected. Check out the player’s website for tickets.
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88th BC Highland Games & Scottish Festival
June 15, 7 a.m.–9 p.m.
Lafarge Lake Park, Coquitlam
Celebrate Scotland, the northernmost constituent country of the United Kingdom, now at a new location this year at Lafarge Lake Park in Coquitlam on June 15. There will be caber tossing, highland dancing and bagpipe competitions as well as plenty of Scottish delicacies to try, like haggis and Irn Bru. There will also be a beer garden for the adult crowd. Opening ceremonies, Celtic music, Scottish/Serbian dance collaborations, Scottish country dancing, vendors, kids’ activities and the massed pipe bands will blow your socks off. Please check out the Highland Games website for more information.
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Croatia Days Festival 2019
June 15, 10 a.m.–midnight (main day)
Croatian Cultural Centre, Vancouver
The Croatian Cultural Centre on Commercial Drive will be hosting the Croatia Days Festival in mid-June. This annual event takes a moment to celebrate one of the most vibrant communities in the Lower Mainland! As a part of this year’s festivities, guests will enjoy free admission as well as live entertainment, folk dancing, music, choir performances, a children’s play area, futsal, video entertainment, a variety of fresh food and a beer garden. The main event is on June 15, but there will be a soccer tournament on Friday night and a Father’s Day picnic on Sunday. Check out the centre’s website for the event schedule.
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Langara College Community Day
June 15, 11 a.m.–5 p.m.
Langara College, Vancouver
www.beyond49.langara.ca/
Langara College is celebrating its 49th anniversary on 49th Avenue and they would like to invite the community to partake in the festivities. There will be food trucks, a kids’ zone, prizes, live music from 54-40 and other musical guests and much more. For a complete schedule of events, please check out the Beyond 49 Langara website.
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Breakout Festival 2019
June 15–16
Pacific National Exhibition, Vancouver
www.pne.ca/event/breakout-festival-2019
After two successful inaugural events in 2018, the Breakout Festival returns for its second outdoor festival and will feature some of the hottest artists in hip-hop alongside some of Vancouver’s most promising rising acts. The 2019 festival will bring a one-of-a-kind experience to festival goers of all ages. Taking place this summer over two days at Vancouver’s historic PNE Amphitheatre, festival tickets will include access to the concert area and Playland with over 35 rides. Additional festival attractions include a VIP section, a food truck area, 19+ bars, an alcohol-free zone, a merch area and more.
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Sasquatch Days
June 15–16
Harrison Hot Springs, British Columbia
www.tourismharrison.com/
Planning on heading out on a mini vacation close to Vancouver? Want to take your dad out on a day trip for Father’s Day? Why not check out Sasquatch Days, which is held on June 15 and 16 in the village of Harrison Hot Springs, just north of Chilliwack? Since 1938, this intercultural celebration includes canoe races, a traditional salmon barbeque and medicine walks. This two-day event begins with a short procession to Harrison Lake Plaza where a welcoming ceremony will be held at 9:30 a.m. Each day will feature medicine walks and opportunities for intercultural sharing. For more information, check out the Harrison tourism website.
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Queer Arts Festival
June 17–28
Roundhouse Community Arts and Recreation Centre, Vancouver
The Queer Arts Festival (QAF) is an annual professional artist-run multidisciplinary arts festival, which produces, presents and exhibits with a curatorial vision favouring challenging, thought-provoking work that pushes boundaries and initiates dialogue. The festival ties together a curated visual art exhibition, performing arts series, workshops, artist talks, panels and media art screenings. This year’s theme is rEvolution, gathers together artists who push and transgress; art as the evolution of the revolution. For a complete list of events, please check out the festival’s website.
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Don Giovanni
June 20–22, 7:30 p.m., June 23, 2 p.m.
Old Auditorium at UBC, University Endowment Lands
www.music.ubc.ca/ubc-opera-
A powerful tale of lust and retribution combined with thrilling music will be playing mid-June at UBC Music’s Old Auditorium. This operatic classic from Salzburgian composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart tells the tale of the legendary Don Juan, opera’s most notorious bad boy. The suave, confident and rather chauvinistic Don Juan (known in Italian as Don Giovanni) roams Europe pursuing women wherever he goes. In this opera his habits catch up to him when old and new flames alike unite to see him punished. Check out UBC Music’s website for tickets and more information.
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National Indigenous Peoples Day
June 21, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Trout Lake, Vancouver
www.bcnationalindigenousday.
Bring the family to celebrate National Indigenous Day at Trout Lake with a community-based, full day of events set to showcase and celebrate the diversity of Indigenous people across Canada. First Nations, Métis and Inuit people gather to share their spirit, experiences, stories, songs, art and dance with each other and the general community – with a whole day of entertainment, activities and fun planned for the whole family. Please visit the website for a detailed list of events, performers and more information.
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Live at the Bolt: Persistence
June 21–22, 8 p.m.
Shadbolt Centre for the Arts, Burnaby
Join Maiko Yamamoto of Theatre Replacement and Cory Philley of the Shadbolt Centre as they curate an evening of multi-disciplinary women artists. All the work will stem from the infamous, and now inspiring, words of Senator Mitch McConnell describing the determination of his colleague Senator Elizabeth Warren who continued to speak on the floor of the Senate despite his directive to sit down and be quiet. The artists will all “voice” their own response to his directive and create an evening that is sure to be anything but quiet. For tickets and more information, please check out the Shadbolt Centre’s website.
