The BC Day Long weekend is here, so get outside and have some fun! Here is our checklist of 20 things to do this weekend, Saturday, August 5, and Sunday, August 6, 2017.
For more things happening around town, check out our events section.
Saturday, August 5, 2017
14th Annual Vancouver Dyke March and Festival
- What: Vancouver’s 14th Annual Dyke March & Festival begins in McSpadden Park at 11 am with pre-March festivities and a community art project. The March will leave McSpadden Park at noon and make its way down Commercial Drive to end at Grandview Park for the Festival. The Festival will take place from 1 to 5 pm, and involve performances from various artists, feature queer-friendly vendors, and create a space to gather with friends, family, and the community.
- When: August 5 from 11 am to 5 pm
- Where: Commercial Drive
- Cost: Free
Honda Celebration of Light 2017
Team Japan lights up the night skies over English Bay in Vancouver for the 2017 Honda Celebration of Light. (Martin Passchier / submitted)
- What: Team Canada lights up the skies over English Bay in downtown Vancouver during the 2017 Honda Celebration of Light fireworks competition.
- Where: English Bay, Vancouver
- When: August 5
- Time: 10 to 10:28 pm (28-minute duration each night). Rain or shine. Music simulcast on radio station LG 104.3 FM.
- Cost: Free
White Rock Sea Festival
- What: The White Rock Sea Festival is a summer tradition, over the August long weekend, that has been celebrating seaside fun for more than 60 years. A favourite of locals and visitors, there are live performances, a waterfront market, fireworks, torchlight parade, kids sandcastle competition and the crowning ceremony of Miss White Rock.
- When: August 5 and 6
- Where: The Waterfront – 14970 Marine Drive, White Rock
- Cost: Free
41st Annual Powell Street Festival
- What: Canada’s largest celebration of Japanese Canadian arts and culture held in Vancouver’s historic Japanese Canadian neighbourhood. Enjoy live music, Japanese food, sumo wrestling, vendors and more.
- Where: Oppenheimer Park – 400 Block, Powell Street; Firehall Arts Centre – 280 East Cordova Street; Vancouver Japanese Language School – 475 Alexander St; and Vancouver Buddhist Temple – 220 Jackson Avenue
- When: August 5 and 6 from 11:30 am to 7 pm
- Cost: Free
Movie Under The Stars
- What: Grab a blanket and a friend and head down to Holland Park for Lego Batman. The family friendly event also features activities, games and entertainment from local performers. Activities begin at 5 pm, and the movie starts at dusk.
- When: August 5 at Dusk
- Where: Holland Park – 13428 Old Yale Road, Surrey
- Cost: Free
Tsawwassen Sun Festival
- What: This three-day celebration of fun in the sun is jam packed with special events, games, and many other attractions. Enjoy a classic car show & shine, Delta’s Got Talent, Kids Funzone and more.
- Where: Winskill Park – West side of 56th at 9th, Tsawwassen
- When: Saturday, August 5 to Monday, August 7
- Cost: Free
BC Lions versus Saskatchewan Roughriders
Image: BC Lions / Facebook
- What: Head to BC Place to cheer on the Lions as they face off with the Roughriders.
- Where: BC Place – 777 Pacific Blvd., Vancouver
- When: August 5 at 4 pm
- Tickets: On Ticketmaster, $5-$140
Rodriguez
- What: You might remember Rodriguez from the film Searching for Sugar Man, which discovered the US singer-songwriter had no idea he was a huge hit in South Africa, and had faded into obscurity. Well, now he’s back and it’s just as sweet as ever.
- When: August 5
- Time: 8 pm
- Where: Orpheum – 601 Smithe Street, Vancouver
- Tickets: On Ticketmaster, $115
16th Annual Korean Cultural Heritage Festival: Dynamics Of Modern Korea
- What: The Korean Cultural Heritage Festival is an annual festival celebrating multiculturalism in the Lower Mainland, which showcases Korean heritage through cultural performances, food, and entertainment.
- When: August 5 from 10 am to 8 pm
- Where: Swanguard Stadium – 3883 Imperial Street, Burnaby
- Cost: Free
Vancouver Street Dance Festival 2017
- What: Vancouver Street Dance Festival is an annual event that celebrates and shares the city’s diverse street dance culture, providing an opportunity for the community to engage with the public. Featuring showcases, battles, DJs and more.
- When: August 4 to 6
- Where: Robson Square
- Price: Free
Sunday, August 6, 2017
Vancouver Pride Parade 2017
- What: The streets of downtown will be packed on August 6 as the annual Vancouver Pride Parade will make its way through the city for a three hour long route. With approximately 150 entries expected to take part in the highly anticipated celebration, spectators will see a wide array of costumes and colours making their way along downtown streets.
- Where: Begins at Robson Street and Thurlow Street, proceeds onto Denman Street, and ends at Sunset Beach
- When: August 6 at noon
- Cost: Free
Vancouver Pride Sunset Beach Festival 2017
- What: One of Vancouver’s favourite beaches will become the home of Pride’s big finale, as over 100,000 are expected to turn out for the annual Sunset Beach Festival, the go-to party at the end of the Pride Parade. The parade itself finishes at Sunset Beach, drawing all the performers, floats, costumes, and spectators towards the area. The festival will include beer gardens, and attendees can purchase a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) keychain that loads up with cash to make purchasing a drink quicker, as well as Express Passes that will get you into the beer garden ahead of the line.
- Where: Sunset Beach – 1204 Beach Avenue, Vancouver
- When: August 6 from 11 am to 6 pm
- Admission: Free! But an Express Pass for the beer garden is $20 – get online
CHICAS in the Afternoon
CHICAS in the Afternoon/Flygirl Productions
- What: A one-of-a-kind Pride garden party taking place at the Sheraton Wall Centre on August 6. Dance on one of two dance floors and hear five DJs spinning tracks throughout the event. This includes Rose Garcia (Real L Word), well-known NYC and LA DJ Whitney Day, Nathalie Morel, Agent 99, Armistice, and Miss M.
- Where: Sheraton Wall Centre – 1088 Burrard Street
- When: August 6 from 4 to 9 pm
- Price: $47.50 – Tickets available online
Pride Hershe Bar Closing Party
- What: The big, beautiful, spicy, pumping, and powerful Hershe Bar will be throwing the grand finale party of Pride. This party’s an indoor festival with two spacious clubs, six of North America’s finest DJs, jets of confetti, lasers, and sizzling hot dancers. If you get a ticket then you’ll also gain access to both neighbouring venues, so you can stick with one style or wander between. Everyone who’s 19+ is welcome to attend.
- Where: Harbour Event Centre and Privé Nightclub
- When: August 6 from 9 pm to 2 am
- Tickets: Online, $30
Robson Square Salsa 2017
- What: Whether you’re a beginner or Salsa pro, these afternoons will definitely spice up your summer. Taught by some of Vancouver’s best salsa instructors, the summer 2017 season runs until August 13. Following the lessons, there is a dance show that features some of Vancouver’s most talented dancers.
- When: Every Sunday to August 13. Lessons run from 3 to 3:30 pm. Dance show starts at 5 pm. After party begins at 7 pm.
- Where: Robson Square – 800 Robson Street, Vancouver
- Cost: Free
Untoxicated – 5th Anniversary
- What: There might be no drinking happening at this sober and proud event, but you’ll be reeling at RuPaul’s stars Katya, Morgan McMichaels and DJ Nina Flowers, plus Raye Sunshine, Mayhem Miller, Trinna Modele, Brat Pack, Jane Smokr, Alma Bitches, Jaylene Tyme, MC Crystal Clearly and country singer Jaimie Wilson.
- When: August 6 from 6 to 10 pm
- Where: Davie and Bute Street, Vancouver
- Tickets: Online, $20
Babes On Babes / Vancouver Queer Pride Party
- What: Hit up Fortune Sound for the Pride edition of this event. The organizers are giving you 10 international and local Queer, Lesbian & Trans DJs to choose from, playing house, hiphop, trap, 90s and Y2K jams, dancehall, bass music and breaks. And for the first time ever a secret level in Fortune is opening up, with rad artwork, a bar, and lots of chill space.
- When: August 6 from 9 pm to 3 am
- Where: Fortune Sound Club – 137 E Pender Street, Vancouver
- Tickets: Online, Earlybird $15, Advance $17, or $20 at the door
The 5th Youth World Cup Live Painting Competition
World Cup Live Painting Competition / Facebook
- What: A global charity event hosted by Canada Youth Arts Development Foundation with the support of UNICEF. The Youth World Cup Live Painting Competition aims to raise awareness for underprivileged children, provide a platform to help and give them a better future and to promote the cultural and artistic exchange among youth and children globally. The theme of this year event is “Friendship, Dream and Environment Protection”, and children and Youth Artists, ages 4 to 25, across the world will be participating in the competition.
- When: August 6 from 2 to 6 pm
- Where: Richmond Olympic Oval – 6111 River Road, Richmond
- Admission: $20 donation to Unicef
Women’s Ride Day
- What: Join pro rider and member of the Canadian National Para-cycling Team, Joanie Caron on this road ride to Deep Cove or enjoy a more casual ride along the scenic, Central Valley Greenway with one of the Ride Ambassadors.
- When: August 6 from 9 am to 3 pm
- Where: The Original Bike Shop & Cap’s Bicycle Museum – 434 East Columbia Street, New Westminster
- Tickets: Online, $5
Social Sundays at VanDusen – Paul Filek Band
- What: Pack a blanket and bring your friends to VanDusen Botanical Garden for Social Sundays this August. The Paul Filek Band, signature cocktails, and lawn games will get you grooving on Sunday afternoons. All ages event, but ID is required for liquor purchase.
- When: August 6 from 3 to 5:30 pm
- Where: VanDusen Botanical Garden – 5251 Oak Street, Vancouver
- Cost: Free with regular garden admission
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