A new festival is aiming to recapture some of what was lost when the Vancouver Mural Festival shuttered, while also creating something new.
The Astro Arts Festival will have its inaugural event from Aug. 8 to 10, 2025, in Mount Pleasant. The fest will feature more than 35 experimental murals, graffiti, and street art painted live through the weekend; there will also be food trucks, DJ sets, beer gardens, and more art.
"The Astro Arts Festival is throwing a full-blown block party for the arts," say organizers in a media release. "Astro Alley, the heart of the festival, is back after a two-year hiatus."
It's all taking place at the Astro Club, a creative space and arts collective, based at 165 W 4th Ave. Part of the festival will see six large-scale murals created, making a huge mural wrap.
"Artists will have complete creative freedom to turn the block into an immersive, open-air gallery," reads the press release.
There will also be an exhibition featuring more than 100 local artists curated by Douglas Coupland, Pablo Zamudio, and Astro Arts' Drew Young.
"Following its grand opening in 2024, Astro Club is now home to over 60 artists. More than a workspace, it’s a movement rooted in fine art, public art, and street culture, built to elevate talent and foster creative expression," reads the press release.
Drew Young and Steve Love opened the Astro Club in October of 2024.
The Vancouver Mural Festival was a popular summer event in Vancouver for nine years, but announced earlier this year it was shutting down.
Astro Arts Festival
When: On Friday, Aug 8, from 6 to 8 p.m., and on Saturday, Aug. 9, and Sunday, Aug. 10, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Where: Astro Arts Club - 165 W 4th Ave
Cost: Free
