Vancouver Mural Festival's best of the neighbourhood: Gastown

The Vancouver Mural Festival (VMF) is well into its 2020 celebration and this year, it can be experienced in more neighbourhoods than ever.

From now until September 7, artists will paint and unveil more than 60 murals in nine different neighbourhoods — adding to the vast amount of art that already decorates Vancouver streets.

Pictured at the launch of Gastown’s Murals of Gratitude Exhibition is Stephen Fluevog of Fluevog Shoes, Alison Jones and Christine Ryan of Food Banks BC and Dr. Bonnie Henry. The Provincial Health Officer. (Erich Saide)

By expanding to more neighbourhoods and creating more murals than ever, VMF organizers are aiming to support local artists, communities, and businesses while inviting attendees to safely enjoy nearby neighbourhoods.

Here’s a look at where to go and what to see in the Gastown:

Things to do

Hit up Happy Day in Gastown every Thursday

Gastown store display/Herschel Supply

Every Thursday, participating restaurants and retail stores will host all-day Happy Hours, offering plenty of deals on food and drinks. Not to mention, if you download the VMF mobile app and show it at the Herschel Supply Store at 347 Water Street, you’ll receive 10% off your purchase.

Visit Patiotown, Vancouver’s largest patio district

@localgastown/Instagram

Located in Gastown, the outdoor patio area is made up of over 20 patios and 500 outdoor seats. This new initiative brings more outdoor patio seating to Vancouver than ever before as well as bike valet services every Friday and Saturday from 5 to 11 pm.

Take in live music with the Gastown Unplugged pop-up music series

Gastown Unplugged is a free pop-up music series taking place until October. There’s music for all tastes and interests, and musicians can be found performing at four different public spaces: Richards Street, Cambie Street, Abbott Street, and the Maple Tree Square Pop-Up Plaza.

Art to see

Gastown BIA x VMF’s “Waste Wear” Dumpster Series

This year, VMF and Gastown BIA partnered to raise awareness of pollution and climate change issues. Waste Wear, located at the Harbour LIght Alley off Powell Street, activates one of Gastown’s many laneways and hopes to inspire zero waste culture.

The initiative includes seven dumpsters painted by artist Tyler Toews. The collection seeks to spark conversations around the current and future impacts of garbage on the planet and the need for not just greater awareness, but action.

Diligent Gardener by Tyler Toews. (VMF)

Capitalist Daydreams by Tyler Toews. (VMF)

Whale of a Problem by Tyler Toews. (VMF)

Future Island by Tyler Toews

Murals of Gratitude Outdoor Gallery

Revealed earlier this summer, Murals of Gratitude is an exhibition featuring paintings of heroes who have led Canada through the coronavirus pandemic.

Familiar faces can be found at Carrall and Water Streets such as Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam.

Bonnie Henry in Gastown at the launch of the Murals of Gratitude exhibition. (Erich Saide)

Pictured at the launch of Gastown’s Murals of Gratitude Exhibition is Stephen Fluevog of Fluevog Shoes, Alison Jones and Christine Ryan of Food Banks BC and Dr. Bonnie Henry. The Provincial Health Officer. (Erich Saide)

Daily Hive is a proud media partner of the 2020 Vancouver Mural Festival