Vancouver Adventures: Our Picks for June 24 to 30

Go Greek, get your jazz hands ready, listen to David Foster share his secrets to success + more

 

1. TD Vancouver International Jazz Festival – Thursday, June 22 to Sunday, July 2

 Jazz hands at the ready for Vancouver’s annual musical celebration! From free shows to big-name concerts, the festival brings jazz to David Lam Park, downtown and the North Shore for 10 days of fun, including a big Canada Day concert at Granville Island.
Various times and locations

 

2. Vancouver Dragon Boat Festival – Friday, June 23 to Sunday, June 25

Cheer on the dragon boat racers, check out the children’s activities and enjoy fabulous food, circus entertainment and music at this annual celebration of team rowing, held in False Creek. Races start at 8 a.m. and all other activities start at 10 a.m.
Concord Pacific Place, Creekside Park and the waters of False Creek; free; Friday, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

 

3. Greek Day on Broadway – Sunday, June 25

Part of the month-long Greek Heritage Festival, Greek Day on Broadway sees five blocks closed off to traffic for a day of Hellenic food and drink, entertainment and live music to showcase Greek culture in the local community.
Broadway between MacDonald to Blenheim St.; free; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

 

4. Pint and Paint – Monday, June 26

Enjoy a pint at Faculty Brewing Co. and paint a tote bag to take home after this alternative art class. Throw on some old clothes and join instructor Brooke Emily for a two-hour fun painting session, which of course includes a stein of beer (or cider or kombucha).
Faculty Brewing Co, 1830 Ontario Street; $30; 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

 

5. Punches n’ Brunches – Monday, June 26

Cafe Medina’s Tim Tejuco and Thiago Alves are looking to raise funds to support the 6th annual Aprons for Gloves: Restaurant Rumble. (They need to raise $2000 to fight at this year’s Restaurant Rumble on July 27th.) Tickets include food from the award-winning kitchen team at Cafe Medina, and a chance to win prizes on the night.
Cafe Medina, 780 Richards Street; $20; 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

 

6. Let’s Hear It For Yaletown – Monday, June 26 to Friday June 30

Enjoy five days of free outdoor jazz to celebrate Canada’s birthday. Held in Bill Curtis Square at lunchtimes and after work, the festival includes performances from Canadian jazz bands as part of the #YaletownHeartsCanada celebrations.
Bill Curtis Square; Monday to Friday, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. (lunch and after work)

 

7. YVR Food Fest – Tuesday, June 27 to Monday, July 3

From the TED Talk-style ‘Food for Thought’ lectures to the Street Food Showdown (featuring over 80 food trucks), the sixth annual YVR Food Fest is bigger than ever. It now includes a Canada Day BBQ, the largest outdoor brunch in the city and collaborative dinners with local and international chefs.
Olympic Village (215 West 1st Ave), various times and prices

 

8. Queer Arts Festival – until Thursday, June 29

UnSettled is the theme of this year’s Queer Arts Festival, with a focus on Two-Spirit Indigenous experiences, explored through workshops, artist’s talks, performances and visual art exhibitions. Highlights include the outdoor Cros Derksen’s Orchestral Powwow (June 24 at 7 p.m.), when the classically-trained Allegra Chamber Orchestra follows the lead of The Chippewa Travellers’ Powwow drum as they create new forms of music.
Roundhouse Yaletown; various events so check online

 

9. BCBusiness Top 100 – Thursday, June 29

Join the networking event of the year with BCBusiness. Listen as legendary music producer David Foster shares his secrets to success and discusses his role as founder of the David Foster Foundation, which for over 25 years has provided millions of dollars to Canadian families with children undergoing life-saving organ transplants.
Fairmont Hotel Vancouver; Networking Luncheon & Speaker ticket includes the stand-up networking luncheon between 11 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. and speaker presentation from 1 to 3 p.m. ($169); speaker-only tickets are for the speaker presentation from 1 to 3 p.m. ($79)

 

10. FUSE – Friday, June 30

Set 150 years in the future in 2167, FUSE is the city’s biggest art party with live art, DJs and performances taking over the Gallery on the eve of Canada’s 150th celebrations.
Vancouver Art Gallery; $24; free for VAG members; 8 p.m. to 12 a.m.