Vancouver Adventures: Our Picks for June 13 to 20

This week: Jam out with your favourite bands, go to the fair, celebrate Italian culture + more

Red Truck Brewing Parking Lot Concert Series – June 13

You can’t beat beer, music, and sunshine, so get a healthy dose of all three at the Red Truck Brewing Parking Lot Concert Series. The first night of the series is June 13 and features music from Five Alarm Funk, Tonye Aganaba, Kutapira, and Vinyl Ritchie. There are three other dates throughout the summer with bands like The Trews, The Dudes, Head of the Herd, and many more.

June 13, July 11, August 15, September 12, 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
295 East 1st Avenue, Vancouver

Strawberry Festival – June 13

The Strawberry Festival is sure to be the sweetest festival you attend this summer. This all-ages event is filled with fun for the whole family. Kids can keep busy with a bouncy castle, face painting, crafts, an obstacle course and more. Older guests can enjoy the bazaar filled with local goods, the live music, and the complimentary tours of the Roedde House Museum. And of course, grab yourself a slice of strawberry shortcake to really celebrate the day.

1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Barclay Heritage Square, 1447 Barclay Street, Vancouver

Credit: Flickr/Boris Mann, Yolks

Meet the Makers Expo – June 13

If you love to shop local, the Meet The Makers Expo is your chance to connect with creative entrepreneurs from Vancouver’s Strathcona neighbourhood. The expo will feature over a dozen local gems including breweries like Postmark Brewing, restaurants like Yolks, and artisans like YEW WoodShop. Come down to chat, eat, watch demonstrations, and learn about where your favourite local products come from.

11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Maker Labs, 780 East Cordova, Vancouver

Pacific Rim Kite Festival – June 13 and 14

Celebrate blue skies and coastal breezes with the Pacific Rim Kite Festival this weekend. Bring a blanket and picnic lunch so that you can stretch out on the grass and watch the high-flying demonstrations and kite battles. Kids can craft their own kites with help from the experts at the children’s kite-making workshop, and they’re sure to love the teddy bear and candy drops.

10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Vanier Park, 1000 Chestnut Street, Vancouver

Italian Day – June 14

Whether you’re an Italian looking to show your ethnic pride, or just looking for a slice of the city’s best pizza, Italian Day on Commercial Drive is the place to be on Sunday. Satisfy your appetite with a selection of food trucks, food carts, and even free pizza from Community Pizzeria between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. There will be no shortage of sights to see and activities to explore with performances from the Vancouver Opera, a classic car show, a fashion show, a Little Italy Kids Zone, and so much more.

12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Commercial Drive from Venables to Grandview Cut

Seek the Peak – June 14

Seek the Peak is taking the Grouse Grind to a whole new level with an intense race to fundraise for the B.C. Cancer Foundation. Participants can enter on their own or in a relay group of four to tackle the climb. The race runs from Ambleside Beach, through the Capilano Pacific Trail, up the Grouse Grind, and up to the peak of Grouse Mountain. To celebrate at the finish line, there will be a (well-earned) barbeque and lots of bragging rights.

6:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Grouse Mountain, 6400 Nancy Greene Way, North Vancouver

Credit: Flickr/aaronHwarren, Buddy Guy

Vancouver International Jazz Festival – June 18 to July 1

The Vancouver International Jazz Festival is the perfect chance to indulge in some smooth sounds and electrifying shows. All 13 days of the festival feature lineups you won’t want to miss at various locations around town. Catch six-time Grammy winner Buddy Guy at the Orpheum Theatre on June 19, or check out one of the many free shows happening throughout the festival.

For a detailed schedule and guide check online.

Night at the Aquarium – June 18

Submerge yourself in the magical world under the sea. Night at the Aquarium is an elegant gala to raise money for the aquarium’s education, research, and conservation efforts. The night will feature gourmet foods from Vancouver’s best OceanWise restaurants, a long list of local fine wines, exciting auctions, live entertainment, and more.  

Doors open at 7 p.m.
Vancouver Aquarium, 845 Avison Way, Vancouver

Point Grey Fiesta – June 19 to 21

Bring the family down to Trimble Park for the annual Point Grey Fiesta. There will be a carnival set up all weekend with midway games, rides, and food. The real fiesta is on Saturday, when the day will kick off with a pancake breakfast before the parade takes over the street. The parade runs from Blanca, down West 10th and then turns onto Discovery Street to Trimble Park. At the park, there will be an opening ceremony and then the festival will be open to the public with vendors, performances, a wading pool, and more.

Friday, 3 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sunday, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Trimble Park, 2250 Trimble Street (at West 8th Avenue), Vancouver

Tinhorn Creek Paella Picnic, June 20

No trip to the Okanagan is complete without paying a visit to the region’s beautiful wineries, and Oliver’s Tinhorn Creek Vineyards is one of the best. On June 20, Tinhorn Creek is serving up paella prepared by four local chefs (including their own Jeff Van Geest), paired with Tinhorn wines in their outdoor amphitheatre. Make sure to grab your tickets before they’re gone.

6:30 p.m.
537 Tinhorn Creek Road, Oliver