22 Very Fun Things to Do This May and June in Vancouver

1. PRINCESS TREATMENT: Arts Club Theatre Company’s Casey and Diana

When: Until May 25

Where: Stanley Industrial  Alliance Stage

Cost: From $29

Princess Diana walks into a Toronto AIDS hospice in 1991. No, it’s not The Crown—it’s a play about compassion, legacy and the power of a well-timed pastel suit.

2. GOOF TROUPE: QueerProv Improv Comedy

When: Every Wednesday

Where: The Junction

Cost: Pay what you can

Vancouver’s funniest queer improvisors are here to do the impossible: make you laugh. In this economy? That’s basically Nobel Prize-worthy. Come rediscover joy.

3. WHAT’S UP, DOC: Doxa Documentary Film Festival

When: May 1 to 11

Where: Various venues

Cost: From $16

Sure, finding a doctor here is tough—but finding docs? Easy. This fest brings world-class documentaries to town each May. Just what the doctor ordered. (Still, probably  find a doctor though.)

4. SOUNDS GOOD: Avatar: The Last Airbender in Concert

When: May 4

Where: Orpheum Theatre

Cost: From $95

Maybe the only way you’ll get your kids to appreciate the symphony.

5. GOOD POINT: Ballet BC presents Dusk

When: May 8 to10

Where: Queen Elizabeth Theatre

Cost: From $19

Expect equisite existential dread from this avant-garde ballet show. Think: fewer tutus and tiaras, more deep sighs at sunset.

6. VAMP IT UP: Verboden Festival

When: May 8 to 11

Where: The Cobalt

Cost: From $149

The eighth annual Darkwave music festival. Never heard of Darkwave? Think The Cure—if they were vampires. Heartbroken vampires. Who just got dumped… in the rain.

7. HI FI SCI FI: Vancouver New Music: SlowPitchSound

When: May 10

Where: Annex

Cost: $35

Nature. Outer space. “Sci-fi turntablism.” If two out of three got your attention, this intergalactic turntable voyage could be for you.

8. SPACE JAM: VSO Kids Concerts: Daughter of the Inner Stars

When: May 11

Where: Orpheum Theatre

Cost: From $20

A musical space odyssey for kids (8 to 16) with a live narrator, original animation and a stellar VSO score. Basically Peter and the Wolf—but not boring, because SPACE!

9. LIP SERVICE: Molly Lewis

When: May 13

Where: Fox Cabaret

Cost: $27

If Ennio Morricone and a tropical breeze had a love child… Molly Lewis brings her hypnotic whistling to the Fox Cabaret.

10. BLADES OF GLORY: Stars on Ice

When: May 13

Where: Rogers Arena

Cost: From $47

Olympic-level jumps, spins and drama—figure skating’s best hit the ice. Just maybe don’t say “break a leg.”

11. DANCING QUEENS: Six: The Musical

When: May 13 to 18

Where: Queen Elizabeth Theatre

Cost: From $238

Divorced, beheaded, live at the Queen E. The six wives of Henry VIII reclaim their stories—through pop bangers.

12. THE FEELS: The Music of Hans Zimmer and Others: A Celebration of Film Music

When: May 14

Where: Chan Centre for the Performing Arts

Cost: From $40

Hans Zimmer makes everything feel epic—even your Wednesday night. Just try not to cry when the Interstellar score hits.

13. JINGLE ALL THE WAY: Sleigh Bells

When: May 17

Where: Hollywood Theatre

Cost: From $46

The Brooklyn noise-pop duo storms the Hollywood Theatre with their signature explosive energy and genre-blurring bangers—plus some fresh tracks that, yes, sleigh. And that sleigh? All. Day.

14. WHEEEEE-KEND: Playland Opening Weekend

When: May 17 to 19

Where: PNE Fairgrounds

Cost: From $34

The season of deep-fried everything, acrobatic dogs and questionable stomach decisions is back! Kick off summer with all the thrills (and snacks) at the fairgrounds.

15. MELLOW YELLOW: Dope Lemon

When: May 19

Where: Malkin Bowl

Cost: $60

Indie surf-rock, golden-hour glow and peak festival vibes. You: peak main character energy. Your actual headliner? The porta-potty queue.

16. MIND FREAK: Champions of Magic: Chasing the Unbelievable

When: May 20 to 22

Where: Queen Elizabeth Theatre

Cost: From $55

Mind-bending illusions. Thrilling feats of wonder. Your kids asking “how did they do that?” the whole car ride home.

17. SAD GIRL INDIE: Rilo Kiley Reunion Tour

When: May 21

Where: Commodore Ballroom

Cost: $50

Cue the existential quarter-life crisis—indie darlings Rilo Kiley are back (after a 17-year hiatus). And if you know who they are, it’s time to use a retinol.

18. ELECTRIC NILS: Nils Frahm

When: May 22

Where: Centre in Vancouver for Performing Arts

Cost: From $91

German post-classical genius? Check. Hauntingly beautiful soundscapes? Check. An excellent excuse to dress like a Berlin art student? Ja.

19. STARS AND STRIPES: Jack White

When: May 22 and 23

Where: Commodore Ballroom

Cost: Resale prices vary

The White of White Stripes himself—indie rock’s very own Emo Sweeney Todd—brings his signature raven mop and blues-soaked riffs to the Ballroom. A seven-nation army couldn’t hold me back… but these ticket prices just might (starting at $700!).

20. MOM JOKES: Julie Kim Comedy

When: May 24

Where: Vogue Theatre

Cost: From $44

Stopping back home for her Doing Too Much tour, Vancouver-based comedian (and local hero) Julie Kim juggles it all—comedy, TV, motherhood. Too much? Maybe. Hilarious? Absolutely.

21. CHILD’S PLAY: Vancouver International Children’s Festival

When: May 26 to June 1

Where: Granville Island

Cost: Kids, $13.50; adults, $23

A week’s worth of performances, workshops and activities for the kiddos that isn’t the iPad.

22. WHATEVER FLOATS YOUR BOAT: Vessi 500 Championship Dragon Boat Race

When: May 31

Where: False Creek

Cost: Free to attend

Speed, splash and spectacle—join over 100 teams at one of B.C.’s biggest dragon boat races—a.k.a. the tandem bike of the sea!