Enjoy salmon filets at the Steveston Salmon Festival. | Photo courtesy of Steveston Salmon Festival
July is officially here! Make the most of the sunny days: head out on a local adventure, hit the hiking trails, go on an amazing road trip or savour some great food and drinks. But don’t forget to enjoy the cultural festivals, shows and events as well. I’ve listed a few of them below, but there is no shortage of them this summer season. Have a great summer and an amazing Canada Day!
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Vancouver International Jazz Festival
Now until July 1
The 40th Anniversary edition of the Vancouver International Jazz Festival will offer over 180 events with 50 free shows, including the return of Downtown Jazz, a free concert series outside the Vancouver Art Gallery and a new Bentall Centre Happy Hour Series at Bentall Plaza. Downtown patios, clubs and North Shore venues will feature various live performances throughout the 12 days of the festival. Please visit the Coastal Jazz website for a complete list of venues, showtimes and event information.
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Legally Blonde The Musical
June 27–Aug. 16
www.tuts.ca/show/legally-blonde
Theatre Under the Stars will be hosting Legally Blonde The Musical from June 27 to Aug. 16. The musical, which is based on the 2001 cult classic film, is a fun-loving, feel-good celebration of girl power, teamwork and the magic of staying true to yourself. When sorority girl Elle Woods finds herself unceremoniously dumped by her college sweetheart on the eve of her graduation, she’s determined to win him back – even if that means following him to Harvard Law School! At the pretentious Ivy League campus, Elle is immediately dismissed as a ditzy blonde by her classmates and faculty due to her bubbly personality and hot pink ensembles. But through her unabashed optimism and irrepressible ingenuity, Elle proves it takes more than just book smarts to win the case. What, like it’s hard? Check out the TUTS website for tickets and more information.
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Star Witnesses
June 27–Sept. 28
www.thepolygon.ca/exhibition/star-witnesses
The Polygon Gallery will host the exhibit Star Witnesses, which assembles works by a constellation of artists whose insightful observations of the cosmos bring new understandings of exploratory and migratory movements on planet Earth. The artists involved deftly combine found and newly produced images showing planets, moons, constellations in distant galaxies, and the light of our closest star – the Sun – to address earthly concerns. The title alludes to the artists’ precise visions – honed at the technical limits of photography – and to how encounters with their artworks may transform audiences into ‘star witnesses’ in turn. Certain works in the exhibition evolve in close dialogue with scientific imaging, while others go beyond or deviate from the focus of telescopic cameras, the logic of astronomy, and the path of satellites. Together, they attest to the fact that there is no universal way of gazing at the universe.
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48th Annual Port Moody Golden Spike Days Festival
June 28–July 1
The Golden Spike Days Festival is one of the oldest and longest running family events in B.C. commemorating the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway line and its arrival at the original western terminus in Port Moody where the last spike was driven. It will be held at Port Moody’s Rocky Point Park featuring food, activities and more during the Canada Day weekend; there’s something for everyone! Check out the Golden Spike Festival website for more information.
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The Roaming Peach Blossom Spring
June 28–Aug. 24
www.richmondartgallery.org/roaming-peach-blossom-spring
In a realm where ancient mythology collides with modern dilemmas, Shanghai-based artist Qiu Anxiong and Vancouver-based artist Howie Tsui invite patrons to the Richmond Art Gallery to step into their fantastical worlds, reimagining the mystique of the Song dynasty (960–1279). Through contemporary adaptations of classical literature and martial arts fiction (wuxia), their work brings to life mythical creatures, otherworldly spirits and shape-shifting swordsmen who navigate landscapes fraught with the tensions of resource extraction, war, urbanization and surveillance. This exhibition offers an immersive journey through a diverse selection of animation films, video works, paintings and prints, where fragmented narratives of the past, present and speculative futures converge into one dynamic, ever-evolving dimension.
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78th Annual Steveston Salmon Festival
July 1, 9:30 a.m.–7:30 p.m.
The Steveston Salmon Festival returns for its 78th anniversary on July 1! Celebrate “Canada’s biggest little birthday party” in Steveston! This year’s festival is all about community. Visitors will be treated to a show-stopping parade, live music, family-friendly activities and much more. Foodies will want to try the iconic Salmon Bake – a savory, barbecued salmon filet that has become a Steveston favourite – a bowl of tasty chow mein or fluffy stacks of pancakes for early rising parade-goers. Learn more about their classic food offerings. Join them for a diverse lineup of performances across four stages! Check out the full schedule and performance times on their website.
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Inaugural Taiwanese Heritage Month
July 4–26
The Taiwanese Canadian Cultural Society is thrilled to announce an exciting new chapter for 2025: Taiwanese Heritage Month in Canada! This vibrant month-long celebration will bring the best of Taiwanese arts, culture and heritage to communities across Greater Vancouver like never before. Building on the success of their annual festival, they are expanding beyond a single weekend to offer four weeks of unforgettable experiences – connecting diverse communities through music, visual arts, cinema, dance, workshops and delicious Taiwanese cuisine. Join them throughout July 2025 to celebrate Taiwanese culture’s beauty, creativity and spirit. For a weekly list of events, check out the festival’s website.
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West 4th Khatsahlano Street Party
July 5, 11 a.m.–9 p.m.
The West 4th Avenue Khatsahlano Street Party is Vancouver’s largest free music and arts festival! Get ready to embrace the great outdoors with Camp Khats, the exciting theme for their 2025 party. Inspired by the nostalgia of summer camp, the event brings the spirit of the wilderness right into the heart of the city. From s’mores and scavenger hunts to sing-alongs and camp games, Camp Khats promises a nature-inspired urban escape filled with community connection. There will be lots of live music, a beer garden, food trucks and many activities. For more info on all the musicians performing and stage schedule, please visit their website.
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Symphony at Sunset / Symphony in the Park
July 5 & 12
www.vancouversymphony.ca/event/symphony-at-sunset
The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra will be performing Symphony at Sunset, a free open-air concert at Sunset Beach Park in Vancouver, and Symphony in the Park at Burnaby’s Deer Lake Park. Now in its sixth year, Symphony at Sunset offers an opportunity to experience live orchestral music in one of Vancouver’s most scenic waterfront settings. The evening’s program will include classical favourites and selections from blockbuster film scores including Harry Potter and Star Wars, performed by the full VSO under the direction of Music Director Otto Tausk. And for over 30 years, Symphony in the Park has been a summer favourite, not only to the residents of Burnaby, but to patrons from all over the region. This free, outdoor concert features the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra performing exceptional symphonic music surrounded by the beauty of Deer Lake.
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23rd Annual Vancouver Chinatown Festival
July 12–13, noon–6 p.m.
www.vancouver-chinatown.com/festival
Get ready to celebrate community, culture and summer fun at the 23rd BMO 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 showcased 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 unique offerings from local merchants, enjoying live performances and taking part in fun activities for all ages!
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Sunday Afternoon Salsa at Robson Square
Sundays from July 13–Aug. 17 (except Aug. 3)
Sunday Afternoon Salsa at Robson Square runs for five Sunday afternoons this summer. The dances start with a free beginner dance lesson (either Salsa or Bachata) at 3 p.m. for anyone who has ever wanted to learn how to dance, even those who claim they have two left feet! The lesson lasts for half an hour (3–3:30 p.m.) and is taught by instructors from Baza Dance Studios. At 5 p.m. there are dance performances by local dancers and dance companies representing a wide variety of different dance styles. The Sunday Afternoon Salsa dances are open to everyone and you are welcome even if you’ve never danced a day in your life.
