Arts and Culture

So Fun City: The Ultimate Vancouver Summer Events Guide (July and August 2025)

Nothing wrong with hitting the beach every day—but there’s culture happening this summer, too.

By Kerri Donaldson /

Photo by Emily Cooper

1. MUCH ADO ABOUT SUNSCREEN: Bard on the Beach

WHEN June 10 to September 20
WHERE Vanier Park
COST From $35
Sun, sand and soliloquies—it’s an ’80s-inspired take on The Two Gentlemen of Verona featuring live music and, yes, a real dog in the cast. (Note to my agent: next time, clarify I’m not auditioning against a golden retriever.) Check out our interview with Bard on the Beach performer Tess Degenstein.

Abby Woodhouse as Elle Woods. Photo by Emily Cooper

2. ELLE FRESCO: Legally Blonde: The Musical

WHEN June 29 to August 16
WHERE Malkin Bowl
COST From $35
Blonde hair, open air! Theatre Under the Stars brings the cult-classic film-turned-musical back—this time proving that blondes can have more fun, earn law degrees and be outdoorsy. Elle Woods, live from the woods. (Stanley Park, to be exact).

3. HIPS DON’T LIE: Sunday Afternoon Salsa

WHEN Every Sunday in July
WHERE Robson Square
COST Free (donations welcome)
Begin with a free salsa lesson, then dance away your Sunday. Even if you’ve got two left feet, you’re in for a spicy good time.

4. GREEK OUT: Greek Summerfest

WHEN July 4 to 6 and 11 to 13
WHERE 4541 Boundary Rd.
COST Free admission
Souvlaki, bouzouki beats and dance circles that make you shout “Opa!” Whether you’re here to feast or dance, it’s a taste of Greece in East Van.

5. ROAD RAGER: Khatsahlano Street Party

WHEN July 5
WHERE West 4th Avenue
COST Free
Vancouver’s ultimate block party—indie beats, artisan treats, food truck feasts and the sweet freedom of a car-free street to get your dance on.

6. SEA LEGS: VFAC Summerfast 10K

WHEN July 5
WHERE Ceperley Park playground (Stanley Park)
COST From $63.27
Lace up for the flattest, fastest 10K in town—no hills, just thrills (and the occasional goose).

7. STAR POWER: Stanley Park Summer Cinema Series

WHEN Tuesdays from July 8 to August 26
WHERE Second Beach
COST Free
Movies under the stars—pack a picnic while you wait for the sundown showtime and be prepared for raccoon-approved popcorn theft.

8. CHAOTIC JOY: Neema Naz: My Estupid Life Tour

WHEN July 11 and 12
WHERE Vancouver Playhouse
COST From $38
Iranian-Canadian TikTok star Neema Naz brings his wildly relatable chaos to the stage—because laughing at his estupid life is way cheaper than therapy for your own.

9. FUEGO IN THE PARK: Carnaval del Sol

WHEN July 11 to 13
WHERE Jonathan Rogers Park
COST Free entry (cash for food)
Fútbol, tacos and samba dancing in flip flops—Carnaval del Sol is the beachy Brazilian banger you want with the Jonathan Rogers Park you have.

10. LOUD AND PROUD: Symphony in the Park

WHEN July 12
WHERE Deer Lake Park (Burnaby)
COST Free
Picnic under the stars with Beethoven and film scores—culture meets casual park hangout.

11. HOP TO IT: Vancouver Craft Beer and Music Festival

WHEN July 12
WHERE PNE Grounds
COST From $30
It’s beer. It’s music. It’s summer. What more do you need—directions?

Photo by Mikey Enriquez

12. SISSY THAT RUN: Vancouver Pride Run and Walk

WHEN July 13
WHERE Various routes
COST Free
Run, walk or sashay a scenic 5K or 10K along the seawall—all for a good cause and great vibes.

13. WALTZ DISNEY: Disney’s Encanto in Concert

WHEN July 18 and 19
WHERE Orpheum Theatre
COST From $32
Watch the magic unfold live as the VSO brings Encanto to life. Yes, they will talk about Bruno (in full orchestral glory).

2024 Vancouver Folk Music Festival. Photo by Alfred Batrina

14. FOLK YA: Vancouver Folk Music Festival

WHEN July 18 to 20
WHERE Jericho Beach Park
COST From $225 for a weekend pass
Canada’s only beachside folk fest is back. Three sun-soaked days of folk, roots, world music—and probably some Spikeball.

15. THE BLOW UP: Honda Celebration of Light

WHEN July 26, July 30 and Aug 2
WHERE English Bay Beach
COST Free
The annual fireworks fiesta lights up the night sky, this time with provincial competitors instead of international pyro experts. Pro tip: arrive early to snag a prime spot.

16. SOUND OF SIMON: Paul Simon in Concert: A Quiet Celebration

WHEN July 25, 26 and 28
WHERE Orpheum Theatre
COST From $270
A legendary night with the icon himself—intimate, orchestral and quietly unforgettable. Bring tissues.

17. BACH IT UP: Baroque in Motion on Granville Island

WHEN July 26
WHERE Granville Island
COST Free
Baroque? Don’t stress—it’s free! Expect harpsichord, violin and flute, paired with authentic 17th- and 18th-century dance moves. (Tell your kids it’s old-timey TikTok. No promises they’ll look up from their phones.)—And be sure to check out our guide to eating, snacking and enjoying Granville Island.

18. BIG DRAW: Vancouver Comic Jam

WHEN July 26
WHERE The Pleasant
COST Free (just buy your drinks)
It’s a collaborative doodle fest where stick figures and quirky comics steal the show.

19. SAUCE BOSS: Vancouver Hot Sauce Fest: Hot in the City

WHEN July 26
WHERE 250 W 3rd Ave.
COST Free
Calling all heat seekers—it’s Vancouver’s first rooftop hot sauce fest with spicy snacks, fiery contests, cold drinks and a DJ’d after-party so you can dance the night (or acid reflux) away.

20. CRY GUYS: Father John Misty

WHEN July 31
WHERE Queen Elizabeth Theatre
COST From $67
Indie folk troubadour Father John Misty is coming all the way to Vancouver to give the bearded and mustachioed among us an excuse to feel—because men will do anything but go to therapy.

21. SKY HIGH PRIDE: HI Pride Patio and Rooftop Party Pride Vancouver 2025

WHEN August 3
WHERE HI Vancouver Downtown
COST From $49
Take your Pride to new heights with a DJ’d rooftop bash—because turning the city skyline into your dance floor is a point of pride.

22. NO BAD DAYS: The Pleasant Day Festival

WHEN August 9
WHERE Mount Pleasant
COST Free
Mount Pleasant’s newest, chillest all-day block party serving art, live music and excuses to snack. It’s literally called Pleasant Day: you’ve gotta be in for a good time.

23. I LOVE LUCY: Lucy Dacus with Julia Jacklin

WHEN August 12
WHERE Queen Elizabeth Theatre
COST From $82
Boygenius alum Lucy Dacus (a.k.a. the voice behind your current emotional spiral) is touring her new solo album Forever Is a Feeling—a perfect time to test-drive that waterproof mascara.

24. THE CRAFT: Indigenous Weaving Workshop

WHEN Mid-August
WHERE Museum of Anthropology
COST $10 plus museum admission (free for Indigenous folks)
The two‑hour hands-on session with an Indigenous artist covers the basics of cedar bark and wool weaving. Create a bracelet or woven rose while soaking in cultural stories in MOA’s Great Hall.

 

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25. VEG OUT: Ratha Yatra Festival of India

WHEN August 23 to 24
WHERE Creekside Park
COST Free
Two days of joyful vibes, soul food and live music and a colourful parade along the seawall, plus a free three-course meal on Sunday. Yes, really.

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