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Vancouver Adventures: Our Picks for June 21-27

This week: go opa-style at Greek Day, celebrate diversity at Burnaby's Multicultural Fest and go vroom vroom at the Vancouver Collector Car Show

By Anna Dupas /

Credit: Flickr/Gordon Watts

Red Rock Diner – June 19 to August 2

Want to know what’s being served up at Red Rock Diner, a musical playing from June 19 to August 2 at Granville Island Stage? We’ll sum it up like this: Vancouver, 1957. Five teens come of age while DJ Red Robinson plays the biggest hits of the time – everything from “Great Balls of Fire” to “Jailhouse Rock.” Just don’t be surprised if people start dancing in the aisles. Tickets are available online or by phone at 604-687-1644.



Credit: Flickr/Midbach

Lost in the Memory Palace – June 21 to September 21

Ever heard of Janet Cardiff and George Bures Miller? Folks far more sophisticated than us have called them “among the most respected artists in the world today.” Here to prove it is Lost in the Memory Palace, a highly anticipated travelling exhibition on view at the Vancouver Art Gallery from June 21 to September 21. Showcasing seven significant artworks produced by this B.C.-based duo, the exhibition offers a rare overview of the artists’ work of the past 20 years.



Credit: Flickr/Kenneth Lu

Burnaby Multicultural Fest – June 21

It takes all kinds to make a world. That’s the message behind Burnaby’s Multicultural Fest on June 21 at Bonsor Recreation Complex (6550 Bonsor Ave). Parties don’t get much more PC than this, as Burnaby’s cultural diversity is celebrated with an afternoon full of live entertainment, international eats and kids’ crafts. Drop by this free community carnival from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., or call 604-297-4597 for details.



Credit: Flickr/Stephen Drygas

Vancouver Collector Car Show Sale and Auction – June 21 and 22

Seems vintage wheels are not a niche interest, judging by the 15,000 folks revving up for the Vancouver Collector Car Show Sale + Auction, running June 21-22 at the PNE Fairgrounds. Over 12 acres of indoor and outdoor space will set the stage for the largest celebration of collector cars that Vancouver has ever seen, with 700 vehicles, 200 vendor booths and 125 autos up for auction.



Credit: Flickr/Larissa Sayer

Klahowya Village – June 21 to September 1

Everyone is welcome at Klahowya Village, a large-scale Aboriginal attraction in Vancouver’s Stanley Park. Know how we know? Because “klahowya” means welcome, and visitors are guaranteed to feel right at home as they hop aboard a Spirit Catcher Train for a ride through old-growth forest, enjoy First Nations dance, cuisine, storytelling and woodcarving, and check out a traditional artisan marketplace. Open daily from June 21 to September 1, this family-friendly adventure is open weekdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and on weekends from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 



Credit: Flickr/Rick Chung

Greek Day – June 22

Sure, Vancouver is a multi-culti community, but there’s one day a year when everybody raises the figurative flag for a single nation. On June 22, Greek Day draws crowds from all over the Lower Mainland for some big-time Grecian appreciation in the form of food, fun and folk music in the heart of Kitsilano, along West Broadway, between MacDonald and Blenheim streets. Check out all the Hellenic-style hoopla from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., rain or shine. 



Credit: Flickr/Rick Chung

Project Empty Bowl – June 26

June 26 is one of the shortest nights of the year, but it’ll go a long way toward providing a better life for local men, women and children fighting HIV/AIDS. As A Loving Spoonful’s signature fundraiser, Project Empty Bowl welcomes do-gooders to Vancouver’s Coast Coal Harbour Hotel for a night of fabulous food, entertainment and auctions. Tickets are $100, and include a special handcrafted bowl for each guest as a reminder of their contribution to a very worthy cause.   



Credit: Flickr/Judy Baxter

Penticton Pacific Northwest Elvis Festival – June 27 to 29

Humble homeboy that he was, Elvis would be shocked to know he’d spawned so many imitators. And some of the best of them will be on stage at the Penticton Pacific Northwest Elvis Festival, held from June 27 to 29 at Okanagan Lake Park and Penticton Trade & Convention Centre. This annual Presley-palooza salutes the songs of the hip-swinging singer with top tribute artists from around the world, all competing to be crowned “The King.”



Credit: Flickr/Natalie Tsang

Tinhorn Creek Vineyards Concerts – June 28, July 26, and August 23

Wine, music and…thou? Tinhorn Creek Vineyards has got the first two criteria covered with a summer concert series set to unfold at the picturesque South Okanagan estate, set amidst the sagebrush of the famed Golden Mile wine region. On June 28, The Boom Booms take the stage at an outdoor amphitheatre, followed by Hey Ocean on July 26 and the Odds on August 23. Tickets go fast, so book yours now online. 



Credit: Flickr/Opus Hotel

Opus Hotel Summer in the City – Until September 15

When celebs come to town, they often bunk at the Opus Hotel. But why should they have all the fun? They shouldn’t, and that’s why you should check out the Summer in the City package, allowing you to experience a day curated by the hotel’s concierge team that embodies the very best of Vancouver. Enjoy a perfect day in the sun that includes a stand-up paddleboarding session, a packed picnic, loaner bikes to cycle the seawall, breakfast for two in La Pentola della Quercia … and that’s just for starters! Prices start at $399, until September 15.