Hurray it's Friday! AND it's also a long weekend. Woohoo! A few of the most anticipated summer events are happening in this last weekend of July.


Powell Street Festival

When
Saturday July 30 & Sunday July 31, 2011
11:30am-7:00pm

Where
Oppenheimer Park (400 Block Powell Street)

35th annual Powell Street Festival is a Japanese Canadian arts & culture celebration attended by thousands each year. There will be dance, music, film and video, visual arts, martial arts demos, amateur sumo tournament, craft vendors, traditional displays, and delicious Japanese food available.







Illuminares Lantern Festival 2011

When
Saturday July 30, 2011
5:00-10:00pm

Where
Along the seawall of Coal Harbour and Canada Place, Vancouver

This Lantern Festival is in its 22nd year and this year there will be a fantastical 30-foot illuminated heron puppet leading the lantern procession. Public Dreams will also be hosting workshops and performances.
Check out the full list of workshops and schedule here or on the Public Dreams Facebook Page.





Smoking Sausage BBQ Competition Cook-off

When
Saturday July 30, 2011
5:00-9:00pm

Where
Laneway west of Main Street between Broadway and 8th

Not exactly a free event but it is quite low cost and all proceeds go to the Vancouver Food Bank. It will cost only $3 to taste all the original BBQ sausage creations made by several Mt. Pleasant's top restaurants competing to take first place. Coffee and bread will also be offered.




Celebration of Light

When
Saturday Jully 30, 2011
10:00-10:25pm

Where
English Bay, Vancouver
Best viewing spots at English Bay Beach, Vanier Park and Kitsilano Beach, and Jericho Beach.

The ever popular 21st annual fireworks competition will be held over three nights starting with China on Saturday. Beaches will fill up quickly so make sure to go early and take transit!




Vancouver Pride Parade

When
Sunday July 31, 2011
12:00pm

Where
Begins at Robson and Thurlow and travels through the downtown core, Vancouver

Rainbows will fill the streets of downtown Vancouver when the 33rd annual Pride parade marches through on Sunday! This spectacular event will feature colourful floats, marching bands and more than 100 community group.




BC Place Open House 

When
Sunday July 31, 2011
12:00-3:00pm


Where
BC Place, Vancouver
Enter through the West Entrance (adjacent to Expo Blvd near Smithe)

This iconic Vancouver building had been under construction for the past year and this Sunday they will be opening doors to let the public see the progress of the construction and how different the building now looks from the inside. Visitors will be able to walk onto a section of the floor while workers continue construction of the retractable roof.