Vancouver Adventures: Our Picks for August 22 to 28

This week: Catch an outdoor opera, show off your style at Diner en Blanc, have fun at the fair + more

Vines Art Festival – August 22

For the first year ever, the Vines Art Festival is taking root at Trout Lake Park in Vancouver. The festival is a chance for artists and the public to “tangle and grow” through a day of collaborative art. Over 20 artists including dancers, visual artists, musicians, and more will converge to share their talents and celebrate the intersection of art and nature at this one-of-a-kind festival.

12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Trout Lake Park, 330 Victoria Drive, Vancouver 

Columbia StrEAT Food Truck Fest – August 22

The biggest one-day food truck festival in Canada is rolling into town for another year. The Columbia StrEAT Food Truck Festival is taking over New Westminster with over 70 trucks of mouth-watering cuisine. The festival is two blocks larger than last year, making space for four beer gardens and some new faces to the festival such as Culver City Salads, Rocky Point Ice Cream, Mom’s Grilled Cheese Truck, and more.

4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Columbia Street from Eighth Street to just past Blackwood, New Westminster

The Fair at the PNE – August 22 to September 7 (closed August 24 and 31)

From SuperDogs to mini donuts, The Fair at the PNE is one of Vancouver’s most beloved summer traditions. If (somehow) you’ve never been to the PNE, then this is the year to go since there’s a lineup of exciting one-time events that you won’t want to miss. Lovers of The Beatles, Jurassic Park, and/or superheroes will find exhibits dedicated to their respective fandoms, while the Broadway show of Peter Pan takes flight nightly.

11 a.m. till “late”
2901 East Hastings Street, Vancouver

YVR Garlic Fest – August 23

The YVR Garlic Festival is one of the few events where garlic breath is to be expected (and accepted). Twenty local restaurants will be serving up garlicky treats for guests to sample, as well as leading cooking demonstrations that are geared towards families. If you’re feeling inspired, pick up fresh ingredients at the on-site farmers’ market, the stars of which are, of course, those tasty little bulbs.

10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Terra Nova Rural Park, Richmond

Operas and Arias at Bard on the Beach – August 24 and 31

The next event on Bard on the Beach’s busy calendar is Operas and Arias, featuring the UBC Opera Ensemble and the Vancouver Opera Orchestra. The performances will showcase the rising stars of the local opera scene and feature music from Gilbert and Sullivan classics like Pirates of Penzance, The Mikado, and more.

Matinees at 2 p.m. and evening performances at 7:30 p.m.
Vanier Park, 1000 Chestnut Street, Vancouver

L’Abattoir Collaborative Dinner – August 25

The city’s hottest chefs are shining the spotlight on B.C. wines at the L’Abattoir Collaborative Dinner. L’Abattoir’s own executive chef Lee Cooper will be joined by Vij’s Vikram Vij, The Pear Tree’s Scott Jaeger, and Okanagan College’s Bernard Casavant. The four will be crafting their dishes to complement a selection of local wines for an exclusive dinner in L’Abbatoir’s stunning private dining room. Tickets are available online.

6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.
217 Carrall Street, Vancouver

Credit: Diner En Blanc

Diner En Blanc – August 25

Food, friends, and unlimited elegance are all a part of the Diner En Blanc experience. Vancouver’s most sophisticated picnic takes place on Tuesday, but to find out where you’ll have to sign up for their guest list. On the day of the event guests will be told the secret location, and past events have taken place in stunning spots like Jack Poole Plaza and False Creek. Just be sure to show up in style though, guests are expected to be dressed in their best all-white outfits. More information and registration can be found on their website.

5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Location TBA

CAMRA X Postmark Pairing Dinner – August 25

Vancouver’s Postmark Brewing is pairing up with the Campaign for Real Ale Society of British Columbia (CAMRA) for a night of delicious food and tasty brews. The CAMRA X Postmark Pairing Dinner will be held in Postmark’s beautiful brewery in The Settlement Building in Railtown. Guests will dine on four full courses, including dishes like hazelnut stuffed pork shoulder paired with a West Coast Pale Ale, and charred tomato bruschetta with a light Pilsner, and more. Tickets for this tasty event are available on CAMRA’s website.

7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
55 Dunlevy Avenue, Vancouver

Summer Nights at Front and Company – August 27

You’re running out of time to catch the action at Front and Company’s popular Summer Nights event series. Wrap up the summer with a bang and get all your back-to-school shopping done in one place with a chance to win 40 per cent off your purchase. To add to the celebration, Black Rook Bakehouse will be selling baked-from-scratch treats, Brand and Iron Leather Goods will have their artisan leather wares available, and Hocus Rocus will be selling a selection of ’90s-style threads.

7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
3772 Main Street, Vancouver

Gourmet Ice Cream Tour – Wednesdays till September 30

There’s no sweeter way to beat the heat than with a Gourmet Ice Cream Tour by Off the Eaten Track. Explore the city’s best spots to indulge with stops at four different shops. The tour begins at Railtown Cafe and hits up Cadeux Bakery for ice-cream sandwiches and Soft Peaks for some organic soft serve before finishing at Gastown’s Twisted Ice Cream. Tickets to the tour include samples at each location and an informative talk from an ice-cream expert.

5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Tour begins at 397 Railway Street, Vancouver