Vancouver’s long-awaited nine-day celebration is here – The Drum is Calling Festival.

The festival is taking place as part of year-long celebrations for Canada’s 150th birthday. You’ll get to enjoy Indigenous arts and culture, music, fashion, sport, and much more from now until Sunday, July 30 at Larwill Park, next to the Queen Elizabeth Theatre.

But to make it even better, it’s completely free to attend all of the festival events.

Yes – free.

This means you can get a first hand look at Indigenous arts, fashion shows and much more. And you won’t see the same displays twice as there will be a different theme for each day of the festival programming.

We’ve compiled a list six things that you can enjoy throughout The Drum is Calling Festival.

Live music

You’ll get to hear a wide range of music performances from renowned and award-winning Canadian artists like, Chantal Kreviazuk, Shane Koyczan and the Short Story Long, The Jerry Cans, DJ Kookum, and DJ Shub, among many others. A lot of the performances are scheduled for venues including Queen Elizabeth Theatre and Vancouver Public Library plazas. Check out The Drum is Calling Festival online to see a detailed schedule of events.

Speaker series

You can attend the following three events to hear inspirational Indigenous writers, see a multimedia display and more.

• Join author of From Oral to Written: A Celebration of Native Canadian Literature, 1980 – 2010, Tomson Highway, for readings and discussions to celebrate the launch of his latest book.

When: July 28, 6:30 to 9 pm
Where: Vancouver Playhouse – 600 Hamilton Street
Price: Free – Register online via Eventbrite

• See an inspirational multimedia tribute to ‘Mother Earth’ filled with poetry and stunning visuals presented in partnership with the David Suzuki Foundation.

When: July 27, 7 to 9 pm
Where: Vancouver Playhouse – 600 Hamilton Street
Price: Free – Register online via Eventbrite

Basketball tournament

Join a basketball tournament and win great prizes. Register your team of three to four players and aim for the goal.

When: July 29, 9 am to 6 pm and July 30, 9 am to 4 pm
Where: 688 Cambie Street
Price: Free

Wheelchair basketball session

See wheelchair basketball demos and take part in a game yourself with former Canadian paralympians, Marni Abbott-Peter and Richard Peter.

When: July 28, 12 to 5 pm
Where: 688 Cambie Street
Price: Free – Register online via Eventbrite

Indigenous Fashion Week

Vancouver’s inaugural Indigenous Fashion Week is the brainchild of former international model Joleen Mitten. It begins with an opening event at Larwill Park on July 26 before hosting events evening in the Queen Elizabeth Theatre lobby. And you’ll get to see free fashion shows featuring emerging artists of Indigenous fashion design and modelling.

When: July 27 – 29, 5 to 10 pm
Where: Queen Elizabeth Theatre lobby –  650 Hamilton Street
Price: Free – Register online via Eventbrite

The Drum is Calling film series

Catch one of the below free movies at the Playhouse Theatre during the festival and enjoy the cinematic scenes as they unfold before your eyes.

• All Our Father’s Relations  

When: July 29, 3 pm
Where: Vancouver Playhouse – 600 Hamilton Street
Price: Free – Register online via Eventbrite

• Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked The World 

When: July 29, 5:30 pm
Where: Vancouver Playhouse – 600 Hamilton Street
Price: Free – Register online via Eventbrite

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The Drum is Calling Festival offers an opportunity to foster mutual understanding, respect and trust between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. For more information and event details, check out the festival online.

The Drum is Calling Festival

When:

• July 23 – 27 and 30, 1 to 10 pm
• July 28 – 29, 1 to 11 pm

Where: Main festival site at Larwill Park, Vancouver Playhouse Theatre, Vancouver Public Library Atrium, Queen Elizabeth Theatre Lobby and QET Plaza.

Price: Free –  Register online prior to events taking place at the Vancouver Playhouse Theatre and Queen Elizabeth Theatre Lobby

Daily Hive is a proud media sponsor of The Drum is Calling Festival