Almost a full month of events is planned as the Renfrew Ravine Moon Festival returns for another round in early fall.
Now in its 23rd year, the festival celebrates the harvest moon, along with the natural world and art, with lanterns, workshops, and community activities. This year, the focus is on wetlands.
"Just downstream from Renfrew Ravine, Still Creek flows through a narrow channel behind the big box stores, where it once spread out into abundant ponds and wetlands," reads the event's webpage.
Four weeks of events have been planned for this year's festival, culminating on Oct. 4 with a magical lantern parade and fair.
Things will kick off on Friday, Sept. 12 as people gather to repair lanterns and build new decorations for the rest of the festival.
Through the rest of September, there will be history tours, scavenger hunts, lantern-building workshops, live music, a full moon labyrinth walk, and more.
All events are free, though a $10 donation is recommended; registration is required for most events.
Many of the events take place at Renfrew Ravine Park or Renfrew Community Park, while others are in nearby East Vancouver locations like the Slocan Community Hall.
It'll all come together on Saturday, Oct. 4, at Slocan Park and Renfrew Community Park (which are near each other).
Three events are planned for that day, kicking off with the Harvest Fair at Slocan Park, which runs from 4 p.m. to 6:45 p.m.
There will be live music and performances, lantern-making workshops, local food for sale, and artisans will be selling their wares.
At 6:45 p.m. the festival will shift, literally. The Twilight Lantern Procession will take place as the festivities transition to Renfrew Community Park.
"As day transitions to night, Harvest Fair ends and Streamside Lanterns begins," reads the website. "When the sun sets, make the journey from Harvest Fair to Streamside Lanterns along with Tsatsu Stalqayu and hundreds of community members, colourful puppets and performers."
The procession will end on the banks of Still Creek — the longest visible creek in Vancouver and the only ravine creek in the city — in Renfrew Community Park, just north of Renfrew Ravine Park.
The park will be lit, in part, by all the lanterns created for the festival.
"Explore illuminated art and intriguing sounds that evoke the ‘Wetlands’ theme of this year’s festival, among the towering trees and the flowing waters of Still Creek," reads the website.
Snacks will be available at the park's tea garden, along with live music and performances.
Renfrew Ravine Moon Festival
When: Sept. 12 to Oct. 4
Where: In and around Renfrew Ravine and Renfrew Community parks.
Cost: Free (though $10 donations are recommended)
Renfrew Ravine Moon Festival - Main Day
When: Saturday, Oct. 4, from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Where: Mostly Slocan Park (2750 East 29th Ave.) and Renfrew Community Park (2929 East 22nd Ave.)
Cost: Free
