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Vancouver Adventures: Our Picks for August 6-12

This week: Taste the city's best street food, head up to Whistler for mountain biking action, spend an evening in Babylon + more 

By Amy Watkins /

Credit: YVR Food Fest 

YVR Food Festival – Friday, August 5 to Sunday, August 7

Formerly known as the Food Truck Fest, this popular event has expanded into three days of culinary fun. Saturday and Sunday sees the Street Food Showdown, featuring over 80 of the city’s restaurants, wineries, breweries and food carts offering up special tasting menus. Sunday features the new speaker series Food for Thought: Fresh Ideas About Food Culture (6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Science World, $24 plus tax).

Street Food Showdown, Olympic Village: Saturday and Sunday, doors open at 11 a.m.; unlimited tasting menu 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.; event 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The Big Feaster VIP tickets for $59, (Taster ticket for $30, general admission for $10)



Credit: Ballet B.C. 

Babylon – Saturday, August 6

Inspired by the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, ballet is moving off the stage and outdoors with The Social Concierge and Ballet B.C.’s evening of dance amongst an al fresco setting of a beautiful petal garden in the Queen Elizabeth Theatre Plaza. Contemporary ballet dancers will move throughout the space, which includes floral art and ethereal landscapes to explore. Guests will enjoy fine wines, craft cocktails and botanical beverages before a mainstage twilight performance orchestrated by Ballet B.C.’s artistic director Emily Molnar.

6 p.m. to 10 p.m., tickets from $55
Queen Elizabeth Theatre Plaza, 650 Hamilton Street



Credit: Facebook/NightNationRun

Night Nation Run – Saturday, August 6

Runners and ravers can work up a sweat at the running music festival, Night Nation Run. The fun 5k, which you can run, skip, walk or dance, includes DJs throughout the illuminated course and multiple party zones, selfie stations and glow gear giveaways. It wraps up with an after-party featuring electronic dance music stars.

7 p.m. onwards, tickets from $35, all ages



Credit: Facebook/SaltSpringGarlicFestival

Salt Spring Island Music and Garlic Festival – Saturday, August 6 to Sunday, August 7

Forget beats and beer, music and garlic is the perfect pairing at Salt Spring Island’s annual festival of the beneficial bulb. Headlined by alt-rockers The Odds and the 40th reunion of Valdy and The Hometown Band, the two-day festival has plenty of entertainment for music and garlic lovers alike.

Click here for event schedule, two-day pass for $75 (or $40 for regular)
The Paradise Within Farm, Salt Spring Island



Credit: Facebook/LionsBreathTriathlon

Lion’s Breath Triathlon – Sunday, August 7

Expect less sweat and more savasana at an alternative triathlon of running, yoga and meditation. The 5k run is open to people of all levels—walk it, do it barefoot or sprint the whole thing—the point is to enjoy the scenery, and the 60-minute yoga class and meditation session afterwards will have you at your personal best.

9.30 a.m. onwards, click here for ticket info
Rose Park, Squamish



Credit: Facebook/ForageVancouver

 

Come Forage with Chef Chris Whittaker – Sunday, August 7

Join Forage and Timber’s Chef Whittaker for a farm tour and al fresco long table dinner in the heart of the Fraser Valley. Raising funds for Fraser Common Farm, a social and educational resource, the evening includes a foraging tour, drinks reception and unforgettable farm-to-table dinner.

4 p.m. to 8 p.m., tickets for $100 (plus fees)
Fraser Common Farm, 1322-256 Street, Langley



Credit: Van Dusen Garden

Knee Deep in the Organic Veggie Garden – Wednesday, August 10

Get your green thumb working with an interactive workshop at Van Dusen Gardens that will tell you everything you need to know about organic veggie gardening, whether you have a farm or only a foot of space on your patio. Learn about how to manage pests and make the most of your veggie patch this summer.

6.30 p.m. to 9 p.m., Members only tickets for $42 ($50 for non-members), spaces are limited
Van Dusen Gardens, 5151 Oak Street



Credit: Facebook/VancouverChineseGarden

Enchanted Evenings – Thursday, August 11, Thursday, August 18 and Thursday, August 25

Chinatown’s charming Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden is the tranquil setting for live music every Thursday night throughout the summer. Enjoy a gourmet picnic and sunset drinks before catching jazz star Gabriel Mark Hasselbach on August 11; B.C.-based Chinese group Silk Road Music on August 18; and legendary blues musician Jim Byrnes on August 25.

Garden opens at 7 p.m., music from 8 p.m. to 9.30 p.m., tickets from $11
Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, 578 Carrall Street



Credit: Facebook/Crankworx

Crankworx Whistler – Friday, August 12 to Sunday, August 21

Mountain bike enthusiasts will be flocking to Whistler for the Canadian leg of this world tour of mountain biking legends that features enduro challenges, speed and skill competitions, and slopeside contests. Buckle up for the Red Bull Joyride, where the world’s top freestylers will be bringing their A-game.

Click here for event schedule, free admission
Whistler, B.C., various locations



MetMirage – Until Monday, September 5

Beat the heat and retreat to the air-conditioned wonderland of Metropolis at Metrotown to take a trip to another dimension. MetMirage is an immersive 360-degree audio-visual experience created by Go 2 Productions. Be transported as the two-minute walkthrough takes you on a journey through colourful 3-D illustrations, while the mirrored floor and ceilings give it an incredible infinity effect.

12 p.m. to 7 p.m. daily, free admission
Metropolis at Metrotown, Burnaby, grand court, lower level