Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
than 1,500 musicians from countries around the world gather to perform traditional and
contemporary jazz at 40 venues around the city. The festival kicks off with a free street
party in historical Gastown, as well as other venues including the historical Orpheum
Theatre, David Lam Park, Granville Island Market, Metrotown, and the Commodore Ball-
room. Get your tickets early; if you want to go to several events, buy a jazz pass from
Ticketmaster.
Canada's national day is
Canada Day
(Canada Place/Steveston, July 1). The main cel-
ebrations—music, dancing, and fireworks—are held at Canada Place, but if you head out
to the
Steveston Salmon Festival
(604/718-8094,
www.stevestonsalmonfest.ca
)
, you'll
come across a massive salmon barbecue, art show, food fair, children's festival, drag ra-
cing, and more.
In addition to wonderful music, the
Vancouver Folk Music Festival
(Jericho Beach,
604/602-9798,
www.thefestival.bc.ca
, middle weekend of July) features storytelling,
dance performances, live theater, and a food fair. Summertime folk festivals draw crowds
across North America, and although the Vancouver version isn't the best known, it still at-
tracts around 40 big-name artists performing everything from traditional to contemporary
to bluegrass to the music of the First Nations. The beachside venue includes seven stages
with the city skyline and mountains beyond as a backdrop. A day pass costs $60-90 with a
three-day weekend pass offered at a worthwhile savings.
The
Celebration of Light
(English Bay, 604/733-7171,
www.hondacelebrationoflight.com
,
late July/early Aug.) draws multitudes of Vancouver-
ites. It's the world's largest musical fireworks competition, filling the summer sky with
color. Each year, three countries are invited to compete; each has a night to itself (the last
SaturdayinJuly,thenthefollowingWednesdayandSaturday),puttingona30-minutedis-
play at 10pm; on the final night (first Saturday in August), the three competing countries
come together for a grand finale. The fireworks are set off from a barge moored in Eng-
lish Bay, allowing vantage points from Stanley Park, Kitsilano, Jericho Beach, and as far
away as West Vancouver. Music that accompanies the displays can be heard around the
shoreline; if you're away from the action, tune your radio to 101.1 FM for a simulcast.
