Showdown at the Square (August 4th from 4pm to 8pm)
Head to North Vancouver’s revamped Shipbuilders Square, located next to Lonsdale Quay, and participate in a two-hour live painting contest. Bring your own brush, roll up your sleeves and tackle your own free 8×8 inch canvas. There will be live music, free beverages and $1000 in prizes to be won.
Now Open: Tacofino Commissary Restaurant (2327 E. Hastings Street)
Find your foodie fix at the much anticipated opening of Tacofino’s first standalone restaurant. Following the demand of Vancouverites for their marvellously fresh Mexican offerings via their roving food trucks, patrons can now sample an extended menu of dishes and wash it down with a cold Margarita or two.
Harmony Arts Festival (August 3rd to 12th)
Starting this weekend, make your way over to West Vancouver and take in 10 days worth of music, art festivities, food and fine wine as you peruse the art market at this stunning beachfront setting. Catch up-and-coming acts such as Ali Milner, Colin Bullock, Melanie Dekker and many more. Festival headquarters are located at 1564 Argyle Avenue.
Powell Street Festival (August 4th and 5th), Oppenheimer Park
This weekend marks the return of the 36th Annual Powell Street Festival, which celebrates Japanese-Canadian culture, art and heritage in Vancouver. Head to Oppenheimer Park and discover the depth of Japanese culture within our city through art and photo exhibits, food, film screenings, musical, dance and theatrical performances and more.
(Conclusion) Honda Celebration of Light 2012 (August 4th at 10pm)
This Saturday, catch the final display of lights at English Bay’s Sunset Beach and see what Italy has in store. As one of Canada’s largest firework’s competitions, this is a sure sign of summer and always draws a huge crowd. Enjoy a birds-eye view at the YVR Observation Deck for the best fireworks vantage point in the city.
Vancouver PRIDE Festival 2012 (August 3rd to 6th)
PRIDE is back for another year of celebrations. Hosted by the Vancouver Pride Society, this festival brings together performers, participants and supporters from all over the city to enjoy dance parties, films, arts and raucously fun entertainment. The festival highlight is always the parade (Sunday) that features 150 colourful floats and draws more than 650,000 people in attendance each year.