Things to Do This Weekend in Vancouver

What’s happening on this Summer Solstice weekend? Everything you can fit into the longest days of the year. The Jazz Festival and Queer Arts Festival are on the scene, the Dragon Boat Festival is all over False Creek, we’re celebrating National Indigenous Peoples Day, the NHL Draft is hosted here, and the Wu Tang Clan is performing.

Friday | Saturday | Sunday | Ongoing

Friday June 21

Queer Arts Festival
Where: The Roundhouse
What: If art irradiates and anticipates life, what artistic intervention that interrogates will the next years bring. QAF rEvolution gathers together artists who dissemble, push and transgress; art as the evolution of the revolution.
Runs Until: Friday June 28, 2019

Perspectives on the Solstice
Where: Vanier Park
What: The Museum of Vancouver and H.R. MacMillan Space Centre celebrate the start of summer by bringing a new 19+ dynamic event to Vanier Park. In honour of the longest day of the year, these two organizations will open the doors of their unique building for an engaging partnership event filled with activities, lectures, traditional storytelling, Star Theatre shows, exhibitions, drinks, games, music, food and so much more.

34^th Annual TD Vancouver International Jazz Festival
Where: Various locations
What: BC’s largest music festival is back for it’s 34^th year! The festival hosts over 1,800 musicians and thousands of attendees for hundreds of concerts (150 that are free) and workshops throughout the city.
Runs Until: Monday July 1, 2019

Dragon Boat Festival
Where: False Creek
What: Free music and entertainment, BC’s biggest outdoor patio, interactive activations, and the continent’s most competitive and prestigious racing come together over three days for Vancouver’s summer kickoff party. Over 6,000 racers from countries from around the world come together on False Creek to race and celebrate Vancouver’s unique multicultural heritage.
Runs Until: Sunday June 23, 2019

2019 NHL Draft presented by Adidas
Where: Rogers Arena
What: The 2019 NHL Entry Draft is being hosted in Vancouver, B.C. at Rogers Arena on Friday, June 21-Saturday, June 22, 2019. This marks the third time the Canucks and the City of Vancouver will host the league-wide event.
Runs Until: Saturday June 22, 2019

The Queen in Me
Where: 181 Roundhouse Mews
What: Kasahara, a biracial, masculine non-binary female artist, takes inspiration from her career as a professional opera singer alongside her lived experiences as a queer, feminist, person of colour to re-imagine the Queen of the Night, one of opera’s most infamous “fallen women,” and places her in the centre of a metaphor for silenced and discarded women everywhere.
Runs until: Saturday June 22, 2019

Dela Arts presents Matriarchs Uprising

Dela Arts presents Matriarchs Uprising
Where: Scotiabank Dance Centre and 8EAST
What: A weekend of performances and events focusing on women in the arts, and dance works by contemporary Indigenous female artists. Curated by Olivia C. Davies and supported through The Dance Centre’s Artist-in-Residence program.
Runs Until: Saturday June 22, 2019

Shaggy

Shaggy
Where: River Rock Casino
What: With a commanding presence, a distinctive voice that is recognizable throughout the world and titles such as artist, businessman, philanthropist and Grammy Award winner, Shaggy is and has been a forced to be reckoned with. A son of the brambly streets of Kingston, Jamaica, his discipline-which he credits to his military background-has been the foundation of his success.

River Rock Casino’s Summer Lights Patio Party
Where: River Rock Casino Resort
What: Bring your crew Friday and Saturday nights to The Rock. Free admission, featuring live DJs and food & drink specials.
Runs until: Saturday August 31, 2019

Five Alarm Funk

Five Alarm Funk
Where: Commodore Ballroom
What: Back in their home territory, this Vancouver-based funk behemoth is eight men strong and over a decade deep into a career that has seen the release of six acclaimed albums and barnstorming tours that have burned up stages across the nation. Joined by Too Many Zooz.

Yuk It Up Sis
Where: Yuk Yuks
What: Drag queens, kings and things rule supreme in the world of camp so a takeover was inevitable.

Mini Mansions

Mini Mansions
Where: The Biltmore Cabaret
What: A trio of partners-in-crime, best friends and brothers in all but blood, Michael Shuman, Zach Dawes and Tyler Parkford’s unique personalities are reflected in their third forthcoming album Guy Walks Into A Bar. While all three bandmates are occupied with other gigs (notably Dawes plays in The Last Shadow Puppets, Parkford in Arctic Monkeys and Shuman plays bass in Queens Of The Stone Age), Mini Mansions is their priority.

Celebrating the Art

Celebrating the Art
Where: Le Soleil Fine Art Gallery
What: Visit LeSoleil Fine Art Gallery in support and celebration of Vancouver’s Annual Jazz Festival. Contemporary Exhibits, Free Admission, Family friendly. Presenting 2 floors boasting spectacular collections by Canadian & local Vancouver Artists. 1500+ original paintings & Sculptures.
Runs Until: Monday July 1, 2019

David Gray
Where: The Centre
What: David Gray has established himself as one of the UK’s leading artists both at home and overseas with a 25-year career marked by critical praise, numerous accolades and multi-platinum sales over the course of 10 album releases. The GRAMMY-nominated artist is known for his dynamic live shows and the energy behind his concerts exemplifies his deep and heartfelt music. David Gray’s last studio album, Mutineers, found the singer-songwriter steering into unfamiliar territory while cultivating a respectful relationship with his own history.

Festival d’été francophone de Vancouver (Vancouver Francophone Summer Festival)
Where: Various locations
What: Discover more than a week of concerts under the banner of international francophone music. In a lively atmosphere, thousands of people come together to hear artists from across Canada and around the world. Our audience is not limited to the Francophone and Francophile community, but includes the population of Vancouver at large as well as tourists who are interested in taking in a cultural experience that is unique on the West Coast.
Runs Until: Sunday June 23, 2019

Point Grey Fiesta

Point Grey Fiesta
Where: Point Grey Neighbourhood
Amusement rides and midway start up on the Friday afternoon and run all weekend, and there is a parade on the Saturday morning.
Runs Until: Sunday June 23, 2019

Qu Yuan (Encountering Sorrow) and Chinese Classics
Where: VPL, Central Library
What: Qu Yuan is the first great poet in Chinese history. This collective poetry reading combines classic and modern Chinese poems, ancient sound and rhyme, guqin (ancient zither) and Hanfu (traditional dress) performances. Come and enjoy a traditional Chinese cultural show. This program is free and will be in Mandarin.

Saturday June 22

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Welcoming the Sun

Welcoming the Sun
Where: Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site, Richmond
What: A celebration of Indigenous Arts and Culture, presented in partnership with Connections Community Services Centre and the Gulf of Georgia Cannery Society. Held at the historic Cannery in Steveston, this celebration is timed with National Indigenous Peoples Day and the summer solstice (June 21). Performances, story-telling, workshops, demos, food, and activities for all ages will be presented both indoors and outdoors from 12 noon to 4pm.

National Indigenous Peoples’ Day at the Fort

National Indigenous Peoples’ Day at the Fort
Where: Fort Langley National Historic Site of Canada
What: Discover the roles played by Indigenous peoples at Fort Langley both then and now through demonstrations, storytelling, and games.

Daniel Wesley

Daniel Wesley
Where: Commodore Ballroom
What: Daniel Wesley’s music has always been a call to live life to the fullest and embrace the past, present and future enthusiastically. And on Beach Music, Wesley’s ninth full-length collection of songs, that call rings out more clearly than ever before. Most of Beach Music, however, is firmly focused on getting high on life, and underpinned by Wesley’s belief that welcoming change without reservation is integral to lasting happiness.

Rob Pue
Where: Yuk Yuks
What: A gregarious and dynamic comedian with a knack for telling it like it is, Rob has become one of the brightest voices to hit the Canadian comedy scene.

The Road Hammers

The Road Hammers
Where: Hard Rock Casino
What: Classic rock meets country.

Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs Colorado Rapids

Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs Colorado Rapids
Where: BC Place
What: Take part in the roaring atmosphere at this Major League Soccer game.

Sunday June 23

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Wu-Tang Clan

Wu-Tang Clan
Where: Queen Elizabeth Theatre
What: Twenty-five years ago, the Wu-Tang Clan changed hip-hop music forever. Bursting onto the music scene with the release of Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), the group quickly became recognized for its innovative beats and clever lyrics, as well as the diverse personalities and talents that make up its ten member hip-hop group.

Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon & 5k

Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon & 5k
Where: East Mall (West of Thunderbird Arena)
What: Run downhill from UBC to Stanley Park. Live bands, entertainment and excitement every kilometer to keep you moving! Run for the sake of others in the Charity Challenge, choose your charity and get out and run.

Greek Day on Broadway

Greek Day on Broadway
Where: Broadway between MacDonald and Blenheim
What: Greek Day on Broadway is the finale event of the annual Greek Heritage Month festival in Vancouver. Presented by the Hellenic Canadian Congress of BC, the festival aims to share the rich Greek culture which spans 2500 years of history, including over 100 years of social and cultural contributions to the City of Vancouver.

Blue October

Blue October
Where: Venue Nightclub
What: A Texas-based band known for shimmering rock songs and haunting lyrics on albums such as 2009’s Billboard Top 15 debut, Approaching Normal.

Ongoing

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Dela Arts presents Matriarchs Uprising

Festival d’été francophone de Vancouver
Where: Various locations
What: Discover more than a week of concerts under the banner of international francophone music. In a lively atmosphere, thousands of people come together to hear artists from across Canada and around the world.
Runs until: Sunday June, 23, 2019

Point Grey Fiesta

Celebrating the Art

Matilda The Musical
Where: Stanley Alliance Industrial Stage
What: Sometimes you have to be a little bit naughty to find your happy ending! Armed with an outsize wit and a vivid imagination, precocious Matilda takes a stand to change her destiny. Even cruel parents and a hardened headmistress can’t get in her way. From the wonderfully subversive imagination of Roald Dahl, this fun family musical will bring out the child in everyone.
Runs until: Sunday July 14, 2019

Mom’s the Word: Nest ½ Empty

Mom’s the Word: Nest ½ Empty
Where: Granville Island Stage
What: From the world-renowned creative team behind the Mom’s the Word series comes another chapter in their stories of family and fracas. The kids are grown, marriages have “evolved,” and bodies are backfiring. Life doesn’t get any prettier, but it never strays far from ludicrous or poignant as the moms continue to mine their personal history for every embarrassing detail. From a sold-out run and a hit tour, the moms are back again to share this nestful of insights and ribald humour.
Runs until: Saturday July 20^th, 2019

Butterflies at the Aquarium

Butterflies at the Vancouver Aquarium
Where: The Vancouver Aquarium
What: Step out of British Columbia’s temperate rainforest and into the Amazon’s tropical rainforest when you enter the Graham Amazon Gallery. Discover a wide variety of butterflies, including blue morphos, giant owls and heliconians, as you stroll along the boardwalk. Keen eyes will spy them feeding on nectar, fruit and flowers, camouflaging on tree trunks, courting a mate and hitchhiking on lucky visitors.
Runs until: September 2019

Moving Still: Performative Photography from India

Moving Still: Performative Photography from India
Where: Vancouver Art Gallery & Annex Theatre
What: A major exhibition of works by thirteen artists based in India whose photographic practices focus on constructing and reconstructing realities. The exhibition and will showcase more than one hundred works, dating from the 1800s to the present, and examines themes of gender, religion and sexual identity using photography, an important medium in India since the mid-nineteenth century.
Runs until: Sunday September 2, 2019

Wild Things: The Power of Nature in Our Lives Where: Museum of Vancouver What: This exhibition delves into the life stories of local animals and plants—how they relate to each other and how they connect people to nature in the city. Scenic design, videos, taxidermy, crowd-sourcing technologies, and the display of natural specimens breathe life into these tales of co-habitation. The immersive nature of the exhibition, including hands-on activities, encourages visitors to examine their relationship with nature, think about momentarily disconnecting from their devices, and find equilibrium with the natural world around them.
Runs until: September 2019

Making Waves: The Story and Legacy of Greenpeace Where: Vancouver Maritime Museum What: With humble beginnings in Vancouver, Greenpeace has grown into a large organization with offices in 40 countries. The NGO has protested numerous causes: whaling, deforestation, mining, genetic testing, and nuclear testing. Explore this exhibit that goes from their first voyage from Vancouver to Amchitka to protest Nuclear testing on an old fishing vessel to how cities, government, and industry today are developing new policies, technologies, and sustainable practices to ensure the preservation of our environment.
Runs until: Monday September 9, 2019

Bard on the Beach

Bard on the Beach
Where: Bard on the Beach Festival Site, Vanier Park
What: Bard on the Beach, Western Canada’s largest not-for-profit, professional Shakespeare Festival, welcomes you to join them for their 30^th season. Presented in a magnificent setting on the waterfront of Vanier Park, this year’s lineup includes: The Taming of the Shrew, Shakespeare In Love, All’s Well That Ends Well, and Coriolanus.
Runs until: Saturday September 21st

Rolande Souliere: Frequent Stopping IV and V

Rolande Souliere: Frequent Stopping IV and V
Where: Contemporary Art Gallery
What: The multi-media practice of Australia-based Anishinaabe artist Rolande Souliere entangles the visual language of hard-edged geometric abstraction with that of contemporary traffic signage to consider how colonial infrastructures mark both spaces and the people inhabiting them. Her solo exhibition Frequent Stopping IV and V presents new large-scale, site-specific work at the Contemporary Art Gallery’s two public sites: its street level façade and the nearby Yaletown-Roundhouse Station. This exhibition draws from Souliere’s ongoing body of work that creates interventions using caution tape and street barrier patterns in immersive, muscular installations.
Runs until: Friday September 20, 2019

Shipyards Night Market

Shipyards Night Market
Where: The Shipyards, North Vancouver
What: Fresh food, locally made products, musicians, art and entertainment. The festivities in the Square kick off at 5pm on Friday nights where you will find 100+ vendors selling fresh food and locally made products. The Friday Night Market also includes a beer garden serving local craft beer and cider as well as Betty’s Vodka Iced Tea. You must me 19+ to enter the beer garden. On the Shipbuilders’ Stage there is live music until 10pm, showcasing talent from all over BC.
Runs until: Friday September 27, 2019

Alberto Giacometti: A Line Through Time
Where: Vancouver Art Gallery
What: With more than 130 artworks on view, this exhibition will present the work of Alberto Giacometti, one of the twentieth century’s most renowned and influential artists. Including masterful works in sculpture, painting, drawing and design, it will examine the breadth of Giacometti’s practice while highlighting his place among his contemporaries in Paris and London
Runs until: Sunday September 29, 2019

Womxn and Waterways Where: Bill Reid Gallery What: Explore the unique connection between womxn and water in the matriarchal societies of the Northwest Coast, with special attention to the roles of child-bearers, healers, and doulas. Artists Richelle Bear Hat (Blackfoot/Cree), Krystle Coughlin (Selkirk), Lindsay Katsitsakataste Delaronde (Mohawk), Alison Marks (Tlingit), Dionne Paul (Nuxalk/Sechelt), Kali Spitzer (Kaska Dena), Marika Echachis Swan (Nuu-chah-nulth), Carrielynn Victor (Sto:lo), Veronica Rose Waechter (Gitxsan) and Water Keeper, Audrey Siegl (Musqueam) will explore water as a crucial element of creation, its historical uses for survival, and contemporary over-consumption as a threat to sensitive coastal ecosystems.
Runs until: Wednesday October 2, 2019

Shake Up: Preserving What We Value

Shake Up: Preserving What We Value
Where: Museum of Anthropology
What: The exhibition will bring to light the convergence of earthquake science and technology with the rich Indigenous knowledge and oral history of the living cultures represented in MOA’s Northwest Coast collection. Beyond scientific discoveries, knowledge of earthquakes and natural disasters has been passed down through generations throughout many cultures, including those of the Northwest Coast First Nations. Also as part of the exhibition, visitors will have the opportunity to see the majestic poles of the Great Hall undergo conservation, many for the first time in 40 years.
Runs until: Fall 2019

Richmond Night Market

Richmond Night Market
Where: Richmond, BC
What: Stop by for authentically Asian snacks, street food and retailers selling unique accessories and knick-knacks at street-side prices. Some merchants are willing to bargain, so channel your inner negotiator and you’ll leave with a haul. There’s a diverse array of nightly live entertainment ranging from music and dance performances to carnival games and rides.
Runs until: Friday October 4, 2019

Shadows, Strings and Other Things: The Enchanting Theatre of Puppets
Where: Museum of Anthropology
What: This enchanting exhibition illustrates the role puppets have played around the world in the transmission of cultural knowledge, stories, and values from generation to generation. Shadows, Strings and Other Things features a broad array of puppets, old and new, from 15 countries in Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Visitors will have the opportunity to view more than 250 handcrafted puppets from MOA’s collection — the largest in Western Canada — plus, new acquisitions from China, Brazil, Italy, Java, the UK, and France revealed to the public for the first time. Enter into an immersive and theatrical world for visitors of all ages.
Runs until: Monday October 14, 2019

How Far Do You Travel

How Far Do You Travel
Where: Select B-Line TransLink busses
What: Five Canadian artists — Diyan Achjadi, Patrick Cruz, Rolande Souliere, Erdem Tasdelen and Anna Torma — are being commissioned to graphically wrap the exterior of a series of articulated buses traveling on major routes in Metro Vancouver.
Runs until: Tuesday December 31, 2019

Teatro Intimo Del Flamenco

Teatro Intimo Del Flamenco
Where: The Improv Centre, Granville Island
What: Karen Flamenco brings the glamour and extravagance of a large flamenco dance production onto a small theatrical stage. The one-hour production welcomes audiences of all ages with live traditional flamenco music, dance, storylines, puppetry and magic. With theatre style seating and bistro-style table seats, every audience member will get a close-up and personal experience that is very typical of a traditional Spanish Tablao.
Runs until: Saturday May 1, 2020

What are you up to this weekend? Tell me and the rest of Vancouver in the comments.