This week: celebrate the Mediterranean diet, search for handmade treasures in Squamish + more
1. Make It Vancouver – Friday, April 20 to Sunday, April 22
Facebook/Make It ProductionsShop for accessories, jewellery, clothing, art, home decor, food, kids items and crafts made with love by the 180 Canadian maker/vendors that will be at the PNE for Make It Vancouver’s artisan show.
The PNE Forum, 2901 East Hastings Street, Vancouver; Various times; Tickets $3 early bird online or $6 at the door, with children 12 and under free
2. Vancouver Greek Food Festival – Friday, April 20 to Monday, April 23
Facebook/Hellenic VancityCelebrate four decades of fantastic food and heritage displays at the 40th annual Vancouver Greek Festival, hosted by the Hellenic Community of Vancouver. Try traditional dishes, check out dancing and learn more about Hellenic heritage.
Hellenic Community of Vancouver, 4500 Arbutus Street, Vancouver; Tickets for "A Night in Greece" on Saturday $10, with other events free
3. Earth Day Parade & Festival – Saturday, April 21
Twitter/Y4CJNCommercial Drive is the location for the annual parade and festival to raise awareness of the many ways we can all do a bit to help our planet. This year's event will begin at Commercial and Broadway at 1 p.m. and continue with a festival at Grandview Park until 3 p.m.
Parade starts at Commercial and Broadway; Details online; Free admission
4. Record Store Day – Saturday, April 21
Facebook/Zulu Records StoreVancouver’s indie record stores celebrate all things vinyl and independent on Record Store Day, a global celebration of these traditional retailers. Look out for special live performances and discounted deals on Saturday.
Various locations; Details online
5. The Greasy Spoon Supper Series Diner – Monday, April 23
Facebook/ABLFVanSay aloha to a luau feast when Royal Dinette’s executive chef Eva Chin, wine director Claire Saksun and Savio Volpe’s sous chef Melanie Witt team up to present island-inspired volume 38 of The Greasy Spoon Supper Series Diner, benefiting A Better Life Foundation. The four-course, family-style menu features Hawaiian dishes based on Chin’s childhood memories, as interpreted by Witt. Guests can choose either an early or late seating (5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. or 8 p.m. to 10 p.m).
Save On Meats, 43 West Hastings Street, Vancouver; 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Tickets $95
6. Nasty Women Comedy: Fruit Fight – Monday, April 23
Facebook/Nasty Women Comedy VanJoin Nasty Women—the leading ladies of The Biltmore Cabaret stage—to explore all that “fruit fight” could or could not be (or should or should not be) through surprising sketch comedy, hilarious improvised scenes and revealing true stories.
The Biltmore Cabaret, 2755 Prince Edward Street, Vancouver; Doors at 7:30 p.m. with show at 8:30 p.m.; Tickets $10 online or $14 at the door
7. Vancouver World Music Festival – Thursday, April 26 to Sunday, April 29
Facebook/Vancouver World Music FestivalHeld at various venues across Vancouver, the world music festival brings musicians from around the globe to the city for four days of international beats and sounds. Check out eclectic bands, including Brazilian dance group Bloco Energia and Zimbamoto, who combine African beats and West Coast sounds.
Various locations and times; Details online
8. Refresh Market – Friday, April 27 & Saturday, April 28
Refresh MarketShop for indie art and design products at the spring Refresh Market, where you’ll find a curated selection of handmade and handpicked clothing, jewellery, ceramics and even artisan foods. Highlights this spring include Vancouver photographer Ian Azariah of Tin Type Trike (who creates 1860s-style tintype portraits in his darkroom on wheels), as well as 48 new vendors, including Kitsilano vintage lifestyle shop Stepback, Main Street hub Neighbourhood Quality Goods, Army of Rokosz jewellery designer Andrea Rokosz and swimwear designers Fenntessa and UNION Swimwear.
West Coast Railway Heritage Park, Squamish; Friday 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Tickets $3 online or $5 at the door
9. Vancouver Ukulele Festival – Friday, April 27 to Sunday, April 29
Youtube/HI SessionsFans of the four-stringed instrument can enjoy gala performances, workshops and events as part of the Vancouver Ukulele Festival. The two days of ukulele workshops—with instructor/artists including Kalei Gamiao—are sold out already but there are still tickets for the gala performance on Friday.
Croatian Cultural Centre, 3250 Commercial Drive, Vancouver; 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Tickets $20
10. Circa: Opus – Saturday, April 28
Youtube/Chan CentreCirca: Opus, a heart-stopping production from Australia’s celebrated circus company, is performed to the stirring music of Dmitri Shostakovich, as 14 acrobats defy gravity in virtuosic feats of strength and agility. Through lyrical group choreography, the performers shift from delicate poses to dizzying stunts. Intermingling with musicians of the prestigious Debussy String Quartet, these artists offer a mesmerizing exploration of the relationship between sound and movement.
Chan Centre for the Performing Arts at UBC, 6265 Crescent Road, Vancouver; 8 p.m.; Tickets $46