Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
aWesterntradeshow,FirstNationsdancingandartsandcrafts,andaparade.Alloftheac-
tion takes place at the Cloverdale Fairground. Cloverdale is between Surrey and Langley;
to get to the fairground, take Exit 53 south from the TransCanada Highway and follow
176th Street south beyond Highway 1A.
Don'tletyourchildrentellyouhowboredtheyareifyourfamilyisinVancouveronthe
third weekend of May. The
Vancouver International Children's Festival
(Granville Is-
land, 604/708-5655,
www.childrensfestival.ca
,
third weekend of May) is a kid's paradise,
with face painting, costumes, plays, puppetry, mime, sing-alongs, storytelling, and fancy-
hat competitions. The festival is now more than 35 years old and has a strong history of
attracting the world's best clowns as well as numerous performing groups. A large area of
Vanier Park is fenced off for the week. Admission to the grounds is $8, but you'll need to
buy tickets in advance for the special events.
Summer
In June the
Rio Tinto Alcan Dragon Boat Festival
(False Creek, 604/688-2382,
www.dragonboatbc.ca
, third weekend of June) takes place. Dragon Boat racing is a
2,000-year-old Chinese tradition held on or around the summer solstice. Originally held to
ensure bountiful crops, these races are now held throughout the world. Vancouver's fest-
ival attracts up to 2,000 competitors from as far away as Asia and Europe. In addition to
the races, a blessing ceremony and cultural activities take place in and around the Plaza of
Nations.
Throughout summer,
Bard on the Beach
(Vanier Park, 604/739-0559,
www.bardonthebeach.org
,
mid-June to late Sept.) performs three favorite Shakespeare
plays in two open-ended tents in Vanier Park, allowing a spectacular backdrop of English
Bay, the city skyline, and the mountains beyond. Tickets are well priced at just $22-34 for
1pm and 3pm matinees and $45 for 7:30pm evening performances. They're sold in ad-
vance through Ticketmaster and on the night of the performance at the door.
Watching amateur variety acts at the
Kitsilano Showboat
(Kitsilano Beach, 604/
734-7332,
www.kitsilanoshowboat.com
,
late June-Aug.) on a warm summer evening has
been a Vancouver tradition since 1935, when local authorities decided that free entertain-
ment would keep local spirits up through the Depression. Today amateur singers, dancers,
and musicians take to the Showboat stage Monday, Wednesday, and Friday nights to en-
tertain more than 100,000 people throughout the 10-week season.
Vancouver taps its feet to the beat of the
Vancouver International Jazz Festival
(throughout the city, 604/872-5200,
www.coastaljazz.ca
,
last week of June), when more
