One of Vancouver's largest festivals returns with over 500 artists next month
Heads up, art lovers! One of Vancouver’s largest cultural celebrations returns next month, and everything is free to check out.
The 29th annual Eastside Culture Crawl is happening from Nov. 20 to 23 in dozens of buildings across Vancouver’s eastside.
More than 500 artists are expected to welcome 45,000 visitors to their studios, making it a great opportunity to find the perfect holiday gift or home decor.
Eastside Culture Crawl
“We are thrilled to welcome returning and new visitors to the 29th year of the Eastside Culture Crawl to experience the incredible breadth of artistic practice that happens right here, in the Eastside Arts District,” says Esther Rausenberg, artistic director of Eastside Arts Society (EAS).
“Vancouver is home to a growing number of artists who continue to create in the face of tremendous economic hardships and reduced access to studio space. Their unwavering passion, ingenuity, and resourcefulness result in a richness of unique and diverse production and working artist spaces, creating exciting new opportunities for art lovers to explore, to discover, and to be inspired.”
Eastside Culture Crawl
Eastside Culture Crawl sees artists open their doors to visitors in the neighbourhood enclosed within Columbia Street, 1st Avenue, Victoria Drive, and the Waterfront. It is considered the most densely populated community of artists in the country.
Attendees will meet a variety of artists, from emerging talent to internationally acclaimed creators. Mediums on display include painting, sculpture, photography, jewellery, and glass.
There are over 80 registered buildings taking part in this year’s festival, including 20 added in 2025.
Eastside Culture Crawl
EAS is also hosting its annual Take Flight fundraiser until Tuesday, Nov. 4, as part of this year’s Culture Crawl. It includes an Art Roulette where guests have the opportunity to go home with an original piece of art, a silent auction, and more.
You can also check out a Preview Exhibition at Pendulum Gallery, The Cultch Gallery, and Alternative Creations Gallery, showcasing 78 artists’ juried works between Nov. 6 and 30.
There will also be a film and video exhibition, in partnership with the Lumière Festival, and a series of Talking Art panels on several dates leading up to the main event.
A full schedule of events and a map of studio locations can be found online.
Eastside Culture Crawl
When: Nov. 20 to 23, 2025
Time: 5 to 10 p.m. (Thursday and Friday) and 11 am to 6 p.m. (Saturday and Sunday)
Where: Various locations throughout East Vancouver
Admission: Free