Thailand makes a splash with Songkran festival
This time of year brings about spring cleaning traditions across the Northern Hemisphere.
Cultural Calendar
Springtime calls for some singing and dancing in the rain.
Vancouver jumps into Persian New Year
This year marks the 23rd Annual Persian Fire Festival in Vancouver. With popularity growing rapidly in recent years, organizers are expecting more participants than ever to turn up and take part in the traditions.
Jewish dance, theatre and music 13 years later
Canada is home to the fourth largest Jewish community in the world, and here in Vancouver there is a strong emphasis on Jewish culture in modern and traditional arts.
Lantern Festival lights up darkest night of the year
On the darkest night of the year, Vancouver’s annual Winter Solstice Lantern Festival brings beauty and creativity to five neighbourhoods in anticipation of the sun’s return and longer daylight hours. In the northern hemisphere, the winter solstice is the time when the Tropic of Cancer is farthest away from the sun, marking the shortest day of the year, usually around Dec. 21.
Canadian Films a Must-See at VIFF
Two B.C.-born, Vancouver-based film-makers are turning heads at this year’s Vancouver International Film Festival. Actor and producer Chad Willett, 41, is showing his latest film Becoming Redwood, which just took Best Canadian Feature at the Edmonton International Film Festival.
Brazil Fest to showcase Brazil’s culture of inclusion
Brazil just wasn’t the place to stay for 30-year-old, Paulo Costa, who has a passion for mountain biking and snowboarding.
He, alongside many other volunteers, will be at this year’s Brazil Fest held on August 18 on Granville St.
Traditions return to Powell Street
“[The PSFS]… is very much connected to the history of Japanese-Canadians… Powell Street is the heart of the Japanese-Canadian community in Vancouver, so the festival was started there and it speaks to that history.”
Indian hospitality greets the curious during second annual summer festival
Food and clichés are but two aspects of Indian culture that are well known, and both can be found at this year’s Indian Summer festival, which runs until July 15. With over 5000 years of history, India can teach a young country like Canada a lot of things, and Vancouver is fortunate to have cultural…
Buskers bring the beat in a new festival
The first annual Vancouver International Busker Festival will be held July 7–15 on Granville, Davie and Denman streets as well as at Canada Place.
Comparing Caribbean culture from coast to coast
A Caribbean flair will be in the air at the end of July. The Caribbean festival will run on July 28 and 29, and it serves as a good opportunity to take a closer look at what British Columbia’s Caribbean community is like.
Carnaval del Sol 2012 – Meet at the Plaza
If you’re not sure what a Zumba is, you can find out at this year’s Carnaval del Sol 2012 (‘Carnival of the Sun’) – the 4th annual Latin American Celebration of Art and Culture.
City of Bhangra Festival engages all cultures
Bhangra, a Punjabi genre of music and dance will be showcased at the 8th Annual HSBC City of Bhangra Festival. The festival will also include an array of world music, hip-hop, rock, flamenco, and percussion instruments.