Vancouver Adventures: Our Picks for August 11 to 17

This week: get your fill of festivals, indulge in beer and BBQ, learn how to cook Venezuelan food + more

1. Clover Valley Beer Festival – Saturday, August 11

The Clover Valley Beer Festival welcomes 40 breweries and cider mills to show off their most stellar brews—from lagers and ales to saisons, sours and ciders. A live music lineup of pop and rock artists with a DJ between sets will set the tone for a summer festival, while local trucks and vendors will serve up eats all day long. Partial proceeds from this event benefit Twins Cancer Fundraising, so you’ll be drinking for a good cause.
Bill Reid Millennium Amphitheatre, 17728 64 Avenue, Surrey; 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.; Tickets $45

2. Vancouver Mural Festival – Saturday, August 11

The Vancouver Mural Festival has been transforming our urban landscape with beautiful and provocative murals emerging in every neighbourhood around Vancouver. This Saturday, check out live art, performances, beer gardens and markets on the streets and alleyways of Mount Pleasant. There will be more than 30 new works of public art on display by an eclectic mix of local artists. After the mural festival, check out The Park Show, an outdoor concert at nearby Jonathan Rogers Park featuring A Tribe Called Red.
Main Street between East 7th Avenue and East 12th Avenue, Vancouver; 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.; Mural Festival free to attend, The Park Show tickets $36.15

3. Shipped Waterfront Festival – Saturday, August 11

Ready for a uniquely North Vancouver summer festival experience? Shipped Waterfront Festival features incredible music, a family zone, beer gardens and a licensed dock party. Three performance stages will each set a different tone as you check out local artisan vendors and food trucks in the Lonsdale area. Jump on a zip-line, try your hand at axe-throwing, and learn more about North Vancouver’s outdoor adventure culture.
The Shipyards, 125 Victory Ship Way, North Vancouver; 12 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Free admission

4. Chinatown Festival – Saturday, August 11 & Sunday, August 12

Celebrate Chinatown with live music, bustling markets and cultural demos like calligraphy and origami at this multicultural summer festival. Register for the Historical Chinatown Heritage and Food Tasting Tour to go deeper into the history and culture of Chinatown while sampling delicious food. The Chinatown Festival has partnered with Anime Revolution this year, so expect plenty of fun cosplay activities at this event, too!
100 Block of Keefer Street, Vancouver; 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.; Free admission, $5 for the food tour

5. Vegan Arepas with Juan Pablo González – Wednesday, August 15

Learn about Latin cuisine and have fun making vegan arepas at this hands-on workshop. Chef Juan Pablo González will share his passion for food and show you how to make this Venezuelan specialty of cornbread sandwiches that can be stuffed with a variety of fillings.
2200 Ontario Street, Vancouver; 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Tickets $55

6. Coal Harbour Music Festival – Wednesday, August 15 to Wednesday, August 29

On Wednesday, August 15th, the first of three free Twilight Jazz Series concerts at the PAL (Performing Arts Lodges) Theatre will showcase JUNO Award-winning guitarist Gordon Grdina and Iranian hand drummer Hamin Honari. Come enjoy their “cross-cultural, boundary-annihilating music that will appeal equally to lovers of world, folk, jazz, avant-garde and indie music.”
PAL Studio Theatre, 8th floor at 581 Cardero Street, Vancouver; 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.; Twilight Jazz series is free to attend, see website for tickets to other festival events

7. Ribfest Langley – Friday, August 17 to Sunday, August 19

Get your fill of summer barbecue at Ribfest. Award-winning barbecue masters will bring their finest southern-style ribs, chicken, pork and beef. There will be plenty of fresh local corn, too! This family-friendly event goes on for three days, so bring your blankets and lawn chairs and enjoy tasty eats and live entertainment all weekend long.
McLeod Athletic Park, 58 Avenue and 214 Street, Langley; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Free admission

8. Friday Night Lights Kayak Tour – Friday, August 17

Take a tranquil moonlit kayak tour on the calm evening waters in Deep Cove. For two and a half hours, you’ll kayak with a guide who will share local knowledge about wildlife, geography and the history of the area. Fingers crossed that you get to see bioluminescence while out on the water!
2156 Banbury Road, Deep Cove, North Vancouver; 8:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.; Tickets $75 + GST

9. WTF – What the Fun! – Friday, August 17 & Saturday, August 18

End your week on a high note at What the Fun! where you can laugh at the crazy and most bizarre news stories from the week. This newest late-night show from local veteran comedians at Vancouver TheatreSports is an edgy improv comedy show that thrives on audience suggestions. If you love wacky news and razor-sharp wit, then this is the show for you. What the Fun! runs every Friday and Saturday night.
The Improv Centre on Granville Island, 1502 Duranleau Street, Vancouver; 11:15 p.m. to 12:15 a.m.; Tickets from $10.75, Not suitable for children under the age of 17

10. Cosmic Nights: OSIRIS-REx at H.R. MacMillan Space Centre – Saturday, August 18

Cosmic Nights is an adults-only party at the Space Centre featuring a planetarium show, music, drinks, science demos and games provided by Starlit Citadel. This edition of Cosmic Nights celebrates asteroid probe OSIRIS-REx. Planetary geophysicist Dr. Catherine Johnson will talk about her work on the mission and you’ll learn more about asteroids and comets. Invite your nerdiest friends to join you at this spectacular space-themed party!
H. R. MacMillan Space Centre, 1100 Chestnut Street, Vancouver; 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Tickets $25, 19+ event