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Vancouver Adventures: Our Picks for June 25-July 1

This week: Celebrate Canada Day with friends and family, bike under the moonlight on the seawall, indulge in multicultural cuisine + more

By Amy Watkins /

Credit: flickr/Joy of Feeding

Joy of Feeding – Saturday, June 25

UBC Farms hosts the fifth annual Joy of Feeding festival this Saturday. Created by Meeru Dhalwala of Vij’s and Rangoli restaurant, the event celebrates whole foods, culture and cooking. Fifteen home cooks from as far afield as Egypt and Switzerland come together to share stories and dishes from their culture. The family-friendly outdoor festival also features multicultural beats, guided farm tours and children’s activities. Proceeds go towards funding UBC Farms.

Saturday, June 25, 5pm-8pm, UBC Farm, 3461 Ross Drive
Tickets: $55 (children 12 and under are free)



Credit: flickr/Colin Knowles

Pink Floyd the Sea Wall – Saturday, June 25

As part of the Velopalooza bike festival, ride from Science World to Third Beach to the soundtrack of Pink Floyd’s classic 1979 album, The Wall (one hour and 20 minutes). Meet fellow Floyd fans at the park next to Science World for a 9 p.m. departure to the dark side of the moonlit Stanley Park.

Meet at 8:30 p.m. at Science World, 1455 Quebec Street
Facebook/Pink Floyd the Sea Wall



Credit: Facebook/Ms. Lauryn Hill

Ms. Lauryn Hill – Sunday, June 26

Formerly the frontwoman for The Fugees, Ms. Lauryn Hill makes a rare appearance at Jazz Fest this week, bringing her soulful mix of reggae, jazz and classic rock to the stage. Winner of a record-breaking amount of Grammys for her 1998 solo album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, her appearance in Vancouver is sure to be a memorable night.

Queen Elizabeth Theatre, 630 Hamilton Street, $79



Credit: Greek Day

Greek Day – Sunday, July 26

Opa! Go Greek in Kitsilano this weekend for a whole day of Hellenic hedonism in the form of food, drink and live music across five blocks of Broadway. Check out cooking demos, watch some folk dancing or stuff your face at the food stalls.

11a.m. to 9 p.m.
Broadway between Blenheim and Macdonald Street



The Big Picture: An Improvised Movie – Thursday, June 30 to Saturday, August 27

Want to help create a smash hit movie in one night? Join Vancouver TheatreSports League for the chance to help chose a genre, characters, a location and plot components for the movie, then settle back and watch the movie be improvised in the second half. Every night is a different mash-up of movie magic.

Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 7:30 p.m. @ The Improv Centre on Granville Island
Tickets: $15 for adults, $10 for students and seniors



Credit: iStock

Mamie Taylor’s BBQ RibFest – Friday, July 1

It’s Canada Day! Celebrate with Mamie Taylor’s as they host the 8th annual RibFest and bring together delicious eats from the city’s top BBQ joints. Joining Tobias Grignon of Mamie Taylor’s behind the grill are Sarah Stewart of Juniper, Jeff MacIntosh of Dixie’s BBQ, Devin Blaney of Peckinpah and Michael Kaisaris from Re-Up BBQ.

251 East Georgia Street; doors at 2 p.m., grill starts at 4 p.m., judging at 6 p.m.
100 tickets available at 4 p.m. onsite the day of, first-come, first served



Credit: Facebook/Steveston Salmon Festival

Steveston Salmon Festival – Friday, July 1

Steveston has been celebrating the salmon industry on Canada Day since 1945 and this family-friendly event kicks off at 6:30 a.m. with a pancake breakfast followed by the parade at 10 a.m. In the afternoon, the main stage lights up with entertainment and the big attraction is a fire roasting of 1200 pounds of salmon to finish off the day with a community feast.

Free entertainment, Salmon plates $15
Steveston, Richmond



Credit: Canada Day at Canada Place

Canada Day at Canada Place – Friday, July 1

Canada Place is the place to be for Canada Day with a whole day of fun, including music from Aaron Pritchett and Sheena Easton, extreme pogo stick demos, street hockey, live DJs, food and a licensed beer area. At 7 p.m., the  Canada Day Parade begins at Georgia and Broughton, followed by the Canada Day Fireworks Show at 10:30 p.m. in Burrard Inlet.

10 a.m. to 6 p.m., 999 Canada Place



Credit: Facebook/Granville Island

Canada Day at Granville Island – Friday, July 1

Glorious and free! Canada Day at Granville Island is a colourful celebration of all things Canuck. From canoe demos to maple-leaf murals, there are plenty of artsy events to enjoy, alongside live jazz, international food offerings and activities for the kids.

From 9 a.m., jazz from 12 to 11:30 p.m.
Free, Granville Island



Credit: Surrey Canada Day

Surrey Canada Day – Friday, July 1

Headlined by Tom Cochrane, Surrey’s Canada Day celebrations include a day of fun followed by fireworks. Science World brings exhibits on the road and there are amusement rides and a storyville tent to keep kids amused. Bring the family to explore Kids World and Toddler Town and finish the day off with a feast from one of the food trucks.

10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., Bill Reid Millennium Amphitheatre, free