BC Adventures – Our To Do Picks for August 3 – 10

Catch Cirque du Soleil’s Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour

What to do in BC this week

Enjoy the Harmony Arts Festival at West Vancouver’s Waterfront – Aug 3-12
What makes the Harmony Arts Festival, held from August 3 to 12 in West Vancouver, an award-winning cultural carnival? Maybe it’s the free sunset concerts at John Lawson Park. Or maybe it’s the agenda of all-ages events ranging from cinema under the stars and a waterfront wine garden to an open-air art market and a concert series for seniors, kids and teens. Whatever the reason, check out this 22nd annual exposition at West Vancouver’s waterfront, between 14th and 16th streets, until 9 p.m. nightly.

Check Out the Powell Street Festival – August 4
Sushi and sumo, Hello Kitty and Honda — those are just a few of Japan’s contributions to world culture. For more, check out the 36th annual Powell Street Festival, held on August 4 and 5 at Oppenheimer Park (400 Powell St, Vancouver). From 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., this Japanese-Canadian jubilee features a jam-packed agenda of free dance, music, martial arts and, of course, plenty of authentic Old World eats.

Grab a Bite at the Veg Fest Vancouver – August 4
Calling all vegetarians! The second annual Veg Fest Vancouver takes over Granville Street, between Georgia and Robson, on August 4. This free fest offers a rare opportunity for meat-free foodies to sample fare from over a dozen vegetarian-friendly vendors all in one place. Check out everything from energy bars to artisan chocolate from a wide range of restaurants, bakeries and retailers, including Fairy Cakes, Eternal Abundance, Tao Organics, Quinoa4Life, Chomp Vegan Eatery and more, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Attend the 12th Street Music Festival at New Westminster – August 5
New Westminster has no shortage of streets, but only one of them will be celebrated on August 5 in an annual summer shindig known as the 12th Street Music Festival. Expect everything from live performances and a communal barbecue to martial arts demos and an old-fashioned dunk tank at this free sidewalk soiree hosted by the West End Business Association. Catch it from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., between Sixth and Eighth avenues.

Watch a Film at the H.R. MacMillan Planetarium – August 10
H.R. MacMillan Planetarium (1100 Chestnut St, Vancouver) has got the right idea when it comes to The Right Stuff. After all, there’s no better place to watch an Oscar-winning film about space flight than at our city’s own space centre. Swing by on August 10 to enjoy this sci-fi fave featuring Ed Harris, Sam Shepard and Scott Glenn, starting at 8 p.m. Or, if spoofs are more your cinematic style, drop by on August 24 for a screening of Mel Brooks’ Spaceballs, with tickets available at the door.

Celebrate the Queer Arts Festival – until August 18
One thing’s for sure: You’ll have a gay old time at the Queer Arts Festival, held through August 18 at the Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre (181 Roundhouse Mews, Vancouver). Forget hiding in the closet, the LGBT community is busting out in a big way to celebrate queer culture with cutting-edge performances ranging from music to dance to theatre. One production creating major buzz? The Guyest Show on Earth, on stage August 7 at the Roundhouse, starting at 7 p.m.

Catch Cirque du Soleil’s Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour – August 10-11
Say what you will about Michael Jackson, but no one could touch the fleet-footed phenom when it came to busting a move. And though he’s gone, he’s definitely not forgotten — which is why Cirque du Soleil’s Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour is one of the hottest tickets in town, priced from $50 to $250. After all, it’s the closest we’ll ever get to seeing the late icon in action, at Rogers Arena (800 Griffiths Way, Vancouver) on August 10 and 11.

Attend the Edge of the World Music Festival – August 10-12
The remote isle of Haida Gwaii, formerly known as the Queen Charlottes, means that the only sounds you’re likely to hear are crashing waves, screeching seagulls and chirping crickets. That all changes from August 10 to 12 at the Edge of the World Music Festival, a weekend roundup of local artists playing everything from reggae to rock and folk to funk. Stake out a spot at the campsite and check out a kids’ zone, vendor marketplace and international eats, at Tlell Fall Fairgrounds.

Visit the Richmond Maritime Festival – August 10-12
Here’s one way to float your boat this weekend: drop anchor at the ninth annual Richmond Maritime Festival, taking place from August 10 to 12 at Britannia Heritage Shipyard National Historic Site (5180 Westwater Dr, Steveston). Held from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., this free family fest features everything from live music and an art market to a food fair, kids’ activities and a bounty of boats, including a 1930s “rum runner.”

Defy Gravity at Crankworx Whistler – August 10-19
Birthplace of legends. Evolution of air. Homage to speed. Crankworx Whistler, running from August 10 to 19, has been called all these things and more, including “the most groundbreaking gravity-fuelled mountain bike festival in the history of all things bad-ass.” Over 10 action-packed days, you can catch the sport’s most fearless superstars wage war for freeride glory, then cap it all off with free nightly concerts by the likes of Jets Overhead, Arkells and Said The Whale, at Whistler Olympic Plaza.

Get Wet and Wild at Harrison Hot Springs Resort & Spa – until August 31
We’ve only got a few more weeks to make a splash this summer. And an ideal place to do it? Harrison Hot Springs Resort & Spa (100 Esplanade Ave, Harrison Hot Springs), is offering a Get Wet family package that’ll delight parents and kids alike with a daily buffet breakfast and room-service pizza dinner, along with a bumper boat ride, waterslide passes and unlimited playtime in the hot springs pools. Book this two-night offer, available from $546 until August 31, by calling 1-866-638-5075.

Try a Cycle Trek in Victoria – Thursdays through Sundays
No matter how much fun the Saanich Peninsula Cycling Winery Tour sounds, inexperienced adventurers need not apply. That’s because this seven- to eight-hour guided trip is rated “moderate to difficult.” But if you’re ready to put pedal to the metal for a full day of action, you’ll see why Victoria is considered the undisputed Cycling Capital of Canada. Where else can you wend along quiet country trails, past bird sanctuaries, farmlands and train trestles, while pit-stopping along the way at acclaimed local wineries? The 55-km tour, priced at $139 per person, operates Thursdays through Sundays at 9 a.m. from CycleTreks (1000 Wharf St, Victoria).

Originally published in TVW. For daily programming updates and on-screen Entertainment news, subscribe to the free TVW e-newsletters, or purchase a subscription to the weekly magazine.