Vancouver Adventures: Our Picks for August

From inspiring street festivals to Instagrammable photo ops, August brings festivities both in-person and online

1. Harmony Arts Festival – Until Sunday, August 8

Modified for 2021, West Vancouver’s Harmony Arts Festival includes outdoor visual, culinary and performing arts events such as an art market, comedy shows and waterfront dining experiences. 
Various locations; Details online

2. Music in the Courtyard – Until Sunday, September 5

The Firehall Arts Centre and the Vancouver Independent Music Centre present the 2021 Music in the Courtyard series, which takes place outdoors in the courtyard at the Firehall Arts Centre Wednesdays through Saturdays at 7:00 p.m., and Sundays at 3:00 p.m., with one exception: the concert on Sunday, August 1st takes place at 7:00 p.m. 
280 East Cordova Street; Tickets: $20 to $40; Details online

3. Chilliwack Sunflower Festival – Until Monday, September 6

Stroll more than three kilometres of pathways through 42 varieties of sunflowers, plus more than 50 varieties of dahlias, eight varieties of gladiolas, and a large bed of wildflowers. Capture memories with Instagrammable photo ops like a windmill and three vintage bicycles. Outdoor lawn games are available to play, and this year also sees the return of “U-pick sunflowers” as well as a field-side store with fresh-cut and potted sunflowers, sunflower seeds and bulbs (including tulips, daffodils and hyacinths). A local food truck will be on-site daily, with two on weekends.
41310 Yale Road (entrance off Royalwood Drive), Chilliwack, B.C.; Details online

4. TGIF ‘Thank Granville, It’s Food’ – Until Monday, September 6

Summer brings a new pop-up food truck pod along West 10th Avenue by Fir Street in the South Granville neighbourhood. Rolling up Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., TGIF is a rotating, curated collection of Vancouver’s finest food trucks including Beavertails, Brownie Bakers, Cazba, Dos Amigos Tex-Mex, English Bay Mini Donuts, Holimasala, KYU Grill, Meet2Eat, Mom’s Grilled Cheese, Mr. Arancino, Reel Mac and Cheese, SAJeterian, Salty’s Lobster Shack, Shameless Buns, Super Thai, Tornado Potato, Yo Bones BBQ and more. 
Follow @tgifoodtrucks for the weekly schedule and locations; Details online

5. Art Downtown – Until Thursday, September 30

This outdoor summer program sees artists exhibiting and painting live, with live music to inspire creativity. Find artists 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Jack Poole Plaza and the Convention Centre Seawall on Wednesdays and Fridays, and at šx????n?q Xwtl’e7e?nk? Square/Vancouver Art Gallery North Plaza on Tuesdays.
Various locations; Details online

6. Vancouver Mural Festival – Wednesday, August 4 to Sunday, August 22

Back for 2021, the Vancouver Mural Festival features more than 40 live shows from music and drag to burlesque and weekend brunch clubs at Main and 5th’s transformed green space. Take daily mural tours around some of 11 different neighbourhoods, and see over 60 beautiful murals come to life with cultural, personal and historical stories, created by a wide range of talented local artists. 
Various locations; Details online

7. SkyDrive – Friday, August 6 to Sunday August 8

The Abbotsford International Airshow presents SkyDrive, a drive-in air show experience that gives attendees a 20 foot by 20 foot dedicated space to park and set up their own viewing area beside the vehicle, with lawn chairs, blankets, umbrellas etc. Bring your own snacks and non-alcoholic refreshments to enjoy during the show! Onsite washrooms will be available.
Details online

8. Vancouver Queer Film Festival – Thursday, August 12 to Sunday, August 22

VQFF will be presented online in a video-on-demand format, with a few small in-person events showcasing the best independent queer cinema, along with workshops, artist Q&As, panels and a few fun surprises. The 33rd annual Vancouver Queer Film Festival features work from local and international filmmakers, and the theme this year is ‘longing’, with many films touching upon the most urgent social and political issues affecting queer, trans and two-spirit people around the world, as well as universal themes of love, loss and legacy. 
Details online

9. Carnaval del Sol – Thursday, August 12 to Sunday, August 29

Carnaval del Sol is one of North America’s biggest Latin American festivals, promoting and celebrating Latin American art, food and culture. Carnaval del Sol and the ‘Latin American Hybrid Experience’ features a series of live events, workshops and conferences around Metro Vancouver and online.
Various locations; Details online

10. Music on Main: The Kessler Academy – Saturday, August 14

Music on Main welcomes a limited audience back to their first live event since the start of the pandemic with the Kessler Academy. After a week-long mentorship, a group of talented youth will present their final work in a showcase event at the Vancouver Playhouse on August 14th. 
Vancouver Playhouse, 600 Hamilton Street, Vancouver; Tickets $15; 7 p.m.; Details online