A Guide to Vancouver 2011 Summer Fun and Events

Summertime is finally here, the rain is over (we hope) and it’s time to enjoy some fun in the sun

Summer in Vancouver is as good as it gets. After a few days at the beach it’s easy to forget about just how many days it rained during the spring, or how few hours of sunlight came our way during the short days of winter. Instead, it seems like we have endless hours until sunset and there is plenty of time to really explore our city.

 

While long lazy days spent at the park, pool or beach are probably enough to keep me happy for a while, there are tons of awesome and interesting things to experience this summer.

 

Highlights from Vancouver’s summer line-up:

Image: TV Week

Newly Open:
Capilano Suspension Bridge’s Cliffwalk
A series of suspended walkways jutting out from a granite cliff face high above the Capilano River. At its highest point, Cliffwalk is suspended 90 metres above the canyon floor.
 

Image: Flickr/Irene Kehler

June 2 – September 24:
Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival

Bard on the Beach will once again be held under the red and white tents at Vanier Park (adjacent to downtown Vancouver). So if you’ve always planned to take in a show and never made it, your chance is here again. Tickets for evening shows are $40 for adults, $30 for youth while previews and matinees range from $21 to $33. But book early: performances tend to sell out.

 

Image: Flickr/Michael Francis McCarthy

June 7, 2011 onwards:
Art in the Court 2011

Envisioning the Past, Present and Future of Vancouver at Robson Square Provincial Court will be composed of artworks submitted by students from 18 Vancouver secondary schools.
 

Image: Flickr/kurisurokko

June 24 – July 3:

The TD Vancouver International Jazz Festival
The festival runs 10 days and includes 400 concerts in 40 venues across the city.
 

Image: Flickr/Vancouver 125

July 8 – 10:
Summer Live at Stanley Park

Summer Live will celebrate Vancouver’s wonderful cultural diversity with a free multi-stage arts celebration. And if you want to do more than watch the shows, about 800 volunteers are needed for positions that include bike valet, way-finders, greeters and leading and coordinating volunteer teams.

 

Image: Dancing on the Edge

July 7 – 16, 2011:

Dancing on the Edge
Dancing on the Edge is dancing in the streets on Gore Street between Cordova Street and Hastings, Queen Elizabeth Park, and other locations. Take in the site-specific dance commissions created for Queen Elizabeth Park and historic sites within the Downtown Eastside.
 

Image: Flickr/vl04

July 31:
Vancouver Pride Parade and Festival

Never been? This is one of Vancouver’s coolest, most boisterous celebrations. Drawing 650,000-plus spectators, the parade begins on Robson Street, travels through the West End, and finishes at the Sunset Beach festival site.

 

Image: Flickr/Thomas Quine

July 30, August 3 and August 6:
Celebration of Light Fireworks Festival

The parking might be impossible and travel through the city may come to a standstill, but man, is it worth it. Vancouver’s Celebration of Light will take place over three nights this summer: July 30, August 3 and August 6. All performances begin at 10:00 pm.

 

Which events are you looking forward to this summer? Add them to the comments.