Vancouver Festivals and Events

Vancouver with many festivals especially during summer and fall has more festivals and events than any other city in the world. From the International Jazz Festival and the International Film Festival to Celebration of Light Fireworks Festival you can attend an event or a festival just about any time of the year.

Vancouver International Jazz Festival occur in June and is growing in both size and reputation when over 1,500 musicians entertain at biggest and most exciting music festival of city. The festival closes with free two-day outdoor concert extravaganza at David Lam Park and the Roundhouse.

Four nights of fireworks in late July and early August, the HSBC Celebration of Light is the largest fireworks competition in the world; with over million people attend this event every year. Approximately, the show starts at 10pm sharp and you can hear the choreographed music while watching the show. It is recommended take a public transportation for this event.

This is an alternative festival of light involving hundreds of hand-made paper lanterns by the local people of Vancouver. They are parades through Trout Lake Park after sunset to the sounds of drums, gamelan and flutes played by local musicians. It is a real grassroots part of the Commercial Drive culture in East Van.

Vancouver has a strong Chinese population and Lunar New Year period is often one of the most exciting and colourful in the city. Usually there is a parade in Chinatown and many of the public schools have a day off on Chinese New Year. Visitors can experience the festivities with traditional snacks and foods, auspicious flower arrangements, Chinese calligraphy, exciting raffles and much more.

Dragon Boat racing began in Vancouver in 1986 during that year’s expo celebrations. Racing continued through 1987 an 1988 and the Alcan International Dragon Boat Festival, adding multicultural entertainment, exhibitions and a food fair to the racing, was launched in June of 1989. Dragon Boat Festival takes place in June at the Plaza of Nations, Concord Pacific Place and on the waters of False Creek on the opposite side of English Bay. Visitors will find dragon boat crews from all over the world including China, Hong Kong, Mainland China, Taiwan and the United States coming to compete. In addition to the enjoyment of the sport itself, the mission of the festival is to build bridges of understanding between Vancouver's diverse cultural communities.

For over 40 years, the parade of Carol ships is a tradition in which approximately 80 boats of all sizes dress up for the occasion decked out with Christmas lights. Cruises usually serve special holiday meals. On weekdays it geared more towards family dinners and it also makes a special thing to do for small office parties. On weekends you could dining and dancing the night away under the stars or sit back and enjoy the spectacular view.

The ships can to vary their routes so you might spot them at different places like over in False Creek or passing under the Lions Gate Bridge past North and West Vancouver or going towards Second Narrows Bridge towards the shoreline communities of Port Moody and Deep Cove. As you see the carol ships pass stop and listen closely and you will probably hear the sound of music. The boats have carollers that lead the singing of Christmas songs.

Most of the carol ships start their cruises at the beginning of December and go until the day before Christmas Eve. It’s a great way to celebrate the season and get into the festive spirit.

With a good selection of films, Vancouver Film Festival occur between September and October months. Often is hard to get tickets.

This event takes place around Halloween in the Commercial Drive area. It is free to go, and features live music, fire dancers, lot of costumed revellers. Under advertised, but one of the biggest yearly festivals in Vancouver.

Non doubt is a truly amazing folk festival featuring spectacular views of the harbour and mountains. The Vancouver Folk Festival typically features multiple stages, and a wonderful mix of traditional and contemporary artists.

Celebration of Light Fireworks Festival happens every year in Vancouver during the summer. Teams which represent countries fireworks start the competition making their best job to coordinate the loud music systems with the sound across the water. Usually the competitor get classical music that is also simulcast over a few local radio stations and the fireworks are synchronized to that music, so the competitor who does the best performance in time with music wins. People could see the spectacle on boats out in the harbour in the middle channel, in sea kayaks that they rent at Granville Island or sit on a beach around Vancouver just to see the fireworks festival.

Request more information:

Send to a friend

Your comments or questions: Price quote | Book now