Light up your night
Vancouver’s biggest outdoor event returns this Saturday as Team USA kicks off the first night of the Honda Celebration of Light. The annual fireworks extravaganza is the largest of its kind in the world, attracting more than 400,000 spectators along English Bay each evening of the three-night event. The fireworks are synchronized to music which is also broadcast over LG104.3. Team France will get their turn on Wednesday, July 30, before Japan finishes up the competition on Saturday, Aug. 2.
While the fireworks don’t start until after dark, the beaches will be bumping all day long. The sixth annual SHOREfest offers free music from the likes of 5440 and Dear Rouge at the English Bay Stage, as well as Current Swell and Scarlett Jane at the Sunset Beach Stage. The live music starts at 7:15pm. The Sunset Beach Stage will also be hosting family-friendly fun starting at 2pm with drumline performances, youth choirs, facepainting, and more.
Bard-B-Q on the Beach
If you want a little more culture than exploding pyrotechnics can offer, Bard on the Beach has what you’re looking for. The long-running outdoor Shakespearian theatre at Vanier park presents Bard-B-Q & Fireworks, which includes tickets to the night’s play, a gourmet meal, and private seats to view the fireworks.
Guests will also be treated to a swashbuckling sword fighting demonstration by Academie Duello, as well as improv antics from the cast of Will Shakespeare’s ImprovMusical. Tickets are $99 and include dinner.
Folk off to Mission
In case you didn’t get your folk fill last weekend at the Vancouver Folk Music Festival, the 27th annual Mission Folk Music Festival returns to Fraser River Heritage Park July 25-27. This year’s lineup includes artists from Ireland to Korea, West Africa to Winnipeg, Fiji to Bellingham, Victoria to Cuba, and beyond. Performers include Corey Harris, Alpha Yaya Diallo, Good for Grapes, The Sweet Lowdown, and many more. A trip all the way out to the Fraser Valley may seem daunting, but the fresh air and good music will do you good.
Top DJs throw down
If you prefer your beats to be of the canned variety, the country’s top DJs will going head-to-head on the ones and twos this Saturday at the Commodore Ballroom for the chance to represent Canada at the Red Bull Thre3Style DJ World Finals in Baku, Azerbaijan. Competing will be Adam Doubleyou (Quebec City), C-SIK (Calgary), D-Smooth (Toronto), Tom Fleming (Halifax), Charly Hustle (Saskatoon), Heebz (Calgary), and PLAEBOI (Halifax). Headlining the night will be Will Smith’s former partner in crime DJ Jazzy Jeff as well as former world champs Hedspin and Four Color Zack.
