Lots of festivals again this weekend! It's also World Oceans Day on Saturday! There's a couple of celebrations for that and also a beach cleanup down by English Bay. The Vancouver Aquarium also hosting a few events on that day. Check out their website for more info.

Friday, June 7, 2013 

World Oceans Day Panel at UBC Fisheries Centre
10:30 am - 12:00 pm 
UBC Fisheries Centre, 2202 Main Mall - Vancouver
The panel will be featuring:      Dr. Simon Donner, Assistant Professor, Geography     Dr. Tony Farrell, Chair, Sustainable Aquaculture and Professor, Zoology and Land and Food Systems     Dr. Maite Maldonado, Associate Professor/Canada Research Chair II Earth, Ocean & Atmospheric Sciences     Dr. Charles Menzies, Associate Professor, Anthropology  The discussion will offer inspiration, hope and insight into what motivates UBC researchers who focus on marine issues. Panelists will be asked to answer two questions:      What made you fall in love with the ocean? and     Why do you have hope for its future?     Coffee and tea: 10:30 am AERL Lobby 

Downtown Bhangra
Friday 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Saturday 12:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Vancouver Art Gallery Plaza (North Plaza), 750 Hornby St. Vancouver, BC Canada
Hundreds of dancers, dozens of musicians and thousands of attendees converge for Downtown Bhangra. Stretching over two days, Downtown Bhangra brings together many local artists, including Inder Kooner, Sukhraj, Dave Bawa, Vancity Bhangra, UBC Bhangra, and a special performance by the HSBC Bhangra Team and more! Plus international performances by Finnish Bhangra Band, Shava, UNC Bhangra Elite, Cornell Bhangra, Bhangra Knightz, and Bhangra Empire., a special performance from the HSBC Bhangra Team and more! Experience the energy that the first night of Downtown Bhangra brings to downtown Vancouver.

In the House Festival - $15
Fri, Sat, Sun
Box office opens at 5 pm on June 7 and noon on June 8 + 9. See festival schedule here.
Community potluck is from 11:30am-1:45pm on June 9.
Various houses around Napier and Victoria.
In the House creates intimate cultural spaces where all genres of music, dance, theatre, circus, magic, puppets, storytelling, spoken word, cabaret, burlesque and more are featured!  Although we produce several shows over the year (including dinner theatre events, a haunted house and more), our signature event is the In the House Festival. On the first weekend of June, 13 houses host the 20 shows of the weekend. Living rooms and backyards open their doors so that you, the audience, can experience the world of performance in original and unforgettable ways. The festival aims to showcase all the talent that Vancouver has to offer while building friendships, creating wonder and strengthening neighborhoods – all in non-threatening and financially accessible ways.

Saturday, June 8, 2013 - World Oceans Day

Environment Festival 
9am - 2pm
City of Burnaby, City Hall (4949 Canada Way), in the outer courtyard. 
This is a free public event with environmental displays, live blue grass music by 5 on a String, prize draws, face painting and many other activities for kids and 200 free veggie burgers fresh from the BBQ. Help create a plan for a greener future! Learn about what the City does now, place landmarks on our giant Green Map of the City, enter to win prizes, and take part in other fun events for kids, youth and adults. Shop for farm fresh food at the regularly scheduled Burnaby Farmers’ Market, which will take place at City Hall at the same time as the Environmental Festival. Go on bicycle tours led by the Burnaby Committee of HUB.Visit a Great Blue Heron colony on a tour led by Rob Butler.

BC Butterfly Atlas Workshop
10am - 3pm
UBC Botanical Garden, 6804 SW Marine Drive
Co-hosted by WildResearch, This workshop will consist of both an indoor and outdoor portion. The indoor portion will include an introduction to butterflies in BC, their food plants, BC Butterfly Atlas protocols, discussion of appropriate field guides and identification resources and a question and answer period. The outdoor portion will include hands-on tips for catching butterflies, safe handling techniques, identification, and suggestions for taking effective photos of butterflies for atlas use.RSVP & info: butterflies@wildresearch.ca

Eastside Flea - by donation
10am - 4pm
The Wise Hall, 1882 Adanac St Vancouver, BC V5L 4E5
The Eastside Flea is a fresh new monthly flea market in East Vancouver featuring a diverse array of vendors from handmade goods, vintage clothing & antiques, art, craftsmen items, garage sale, and more!  Admission into the market is by donation, and is all ages!

Sustainable Garden Fair
10am - 5pm
Strathcona Community Centre, 601 Keefer St  Vancouver, BC V6A 3V8
The Sustainable Garden Fair brings you workshops and activities for the whole family - all totally free.  Visit a workshop or two to learn to grow food, manage your garden, or preserve the harvest, then visit the outdoor activity stations at your leisure.

World Ocean's Day Beach Cleanup Party
11:00am - 2:00pm
Seawall Walkway in front of the Cactus Club, 1790 Beach Avenue Vancouver
June 8th is World Oceans Day and we at SPEC Land & Water and Surfrider want to kick off the summer with another Beach Cleanup Celebration! Come join us to make the beach a better place to be. At every cleanup we collect 100s of pounds of garbage preventing it from entering in our oceans and this one will be no different!  If you can't make it for the cleanup you can join us for the after party sponsored by Granville Island Breweries and The Boathouse Restaurant! SCHEDULE:  10AM - Setup Crew  11AM - Beach Cleanup  1PM - Beach Cleanup After Party!

World Ocean Day Celebration in Surrey
11am - 3pm
Blackie Spit Park (3136 McBride Ave), Surrey, BC
Join us for this community celebration of the world's oceans and get some inspiration for ways that you can enjoy and care for our world's oceans.  There are plenty of family activities, great food, and entertainment for you to enjoy at beautiful Blackie Spit Park. The Top 10 Reasons to Join Us for Surrey's 10th annual World Ocean Day Celebration:  1. Get up close and touch marine creatures  2. Dance along to the music of Gogo Bonkers and the Princess Margaret Secondary School Choir  3. Join the Beach Heroes to search for fascinating creatures on the shoreline  4. Have your face painted  5. Listen to Seaside Storytimes with Leslee the Librarian  6. Bounce in a bouncy octopus  7. Check out fun crafts, games, and fascinating environmental displays  8. Use binoculars to spot wildlife in Boundary Bay  9. Learn what you can do for the world's oceans  10. Have FUN!

Vancouver Retro Gaming Expo - $20
11am - 9pm Sat & Sun
The Columbia, 530 Columbia Street New Westminster, BC
The Greater Vancouver Area has a large gaming community and a need for more large-scale community events. On March 17th 2012 we began with the 1st annual Vancouver Retro Gaming Expo. The event sold out and was a massive success, leading to our next event the Vancouver Gaming Expo in November 2012.  Unlike similar events in other cities, Vancouverites like to party. We've taken the basics of: Vendors, Gaming, Tournaments, Panels, Auction, Costumes, etc. and spiced it up a bit with a licensed venue, some awesome old-school music, live bands, special guests and some gaming themed burlesque. Weekend passes are $30 (only in advance), and Single day passes are $20.

Downtown Bhangra
Friday 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Saturday 12:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Vancouver Art Gallery Plaza (North Plaza), 750 Hornby St. Vancouver, BC Canada
Hundreds of dancers, dozens of musicians and thousands of attendees converge for Downtown Bhangra. Stretching over two days, Downtown Bhangra brings together many local artists, including Inder Kooner, Sukhraj, Dave Bawa, Vancity Bhangra, UBC Bhangra, and a special performance by the HSBC Bhangra Team and more! Plus international performances by Finnish Bhangra Band, Shava, UNC Bhangra Elite, Cornell Bhangra, Bhangra Knightz, and Bhangra Empire., a special performance from the HSBC Bhangra Team and more! Experience the energy that the first night of Downtown Bhangra brings to downtown Vancouver.

Re-imagining Wayfinding in Yaletown
1pm - 4pm
David Lam Park, 1300 Pacific Boulevard Vancouver,BC
Take a stroll down to David Lam Park to experience this alternative signage/art intervention, and tell us what you think.  The Artists Walking Home wayfinding team has been working with the content generated during the experiences, walks, and co-research which took place in Yaletown during 2012. Catherine, Carter, Sandy, Adrian, and Vicky are ready to present to community collaborators the first phase of potential signage designs for our upcoming Autumn 2013 exhibition.

2013 Importfest Vancouver - $10
1pm - 11pm
Rocky Mountaineer Vancouver Station, 1755 Cottrell Street Vancouver
IMPORTFEST "Canada's Biggest & Baddest" Car and Lifestyle Show returns to Vancouver, BC on Saturday June 8, 2013 at the Rocky Mountaineer Station!  Come enjoy the first event IMPORTFEST indoor/outdoor show from 1pm to 11pm (One Day Only)  *Purchase Advance tickets today for ONLY $10.00  ($15 at the GATE)

In the House Festival - $15
Fri, Sat, Sun
Box office opens at 5 pm on June 7 and noon on June 8 + 9. See festival schedule here.
Community potluck is from 11:30am-1:45pm on June 9.
Various houses around Napier and Victoria.
In the House creates intimate cultural spaces where all genres of music, dance, theatre, circus, magic, puppets, storytelling, spoken word, cabaret, burlesque and more are featured!  Although we produce several shows over the year (including dinner theatre events, a haunted house and more), our signature event is the In the House Festival. On the first weekend of June, 13 houses host the 20 shows of the weekend. Living rooms and backyards open their doors so that you, the audience, can experience the world of performance in original and unforgettable ways. The festival aims to showcase all the talent that Vancouver has to offer while building friendships, creating wonder and strengthening neighborhoods – all in non-threatening and financially accessible ways.

Sunday, June 9, 2013 

37th Annual Pacific Rim Kite Festival
10am - 5pm June 9 & 10
Vanier Park, Vancouver, BC
Kids Kite Making Workshop, Candy & Teddy Bear Drops, Face Painting, Kite Displays & Demonstrations, Music & Refreshments

Vancouver Retro Gaming Expo - $20
11am - 9pm Sat & Sun
The Columbia, 530 Columbia Street New Westminster, BC
The Greater Vancouver Area has a large gaming community and a need for more large-scale community events. On March 17th 2012 we began with the 1st annual Vancouver Retro Gaming Expo. The event sold out and was a massive success, leading to our next event the Vancouver Gaming Expo in November 2012.  Unlike similar events in other cities, Vancouverites like to party. We've taken the basics of: Vendors, Gaming, Tournaments, Panels, Auction, Costumes, etc. and spiced it up a bit with a licensed venue, some awesome old-school music, live bands, special guests and some gaming themed burlesque. Weekend passes are $30 (only in advance), and Single day passes are $20.

Rain Barrels for Better - A Community Workshop
12:00 PM to 1:30 PM
The World in a Garden, 57 Ave W & East Blvd Vancouver
Join us on June 9, 2013 for our community workshop on Rain Barrels. There will be a rain water harvesting demonstration,  snacks and drinks. Bring the kids along to make their own DIY planters at the Happy Planet planting station while you learn how to make the best of your garden by harvesting your rainwater!

Italian Day
12pm - 8pm
Commercial Drive, Vancouver BC
Italian Day on The Drive embraces everything that is Italian: food, music, fashion, dance, art, sport, history and community.    And for Italian Day 2013 - the Italian Day Festival Society is excited to offer 'a first' in the form of a street festival to the city of Vancouver: the world famous 'Carnevale di Venezia' when the event's 'dolce vita' signature extends itself to Venice. In the heart of Vancouver's 'Little Italy', The Drive will come alive 'Venetian style' with masks, costumes, street entertainers, music, food, fashion, contests and more!

In the House Festival - $15
Fri, Sat, Sun
Box office opens at 5 pm on June 7 and noon on June 8 + 9. See festival schedule here.
Community potluck is from 11:30am-1:45pm on June 9.
Various houses around Napier and Victoria.
In the House creates intimate cultural spaces where all genres of music, dance, theatre, circus, magic, puppets, storytelling, spoken word, cabaret, burlesque and more are featured!  Although we produce several shows over the year (including dinner theatre events, a haunted house and more), our signature event is the In the House Festival. On the first weekend of June, 13 houses host the 20 shows of the weekend. Living rooms and backyards open their doors so that you, the audience, can experience the world of performance in original and unforgettable ways. The festival aims to showcase all the talent that Vancouver has to offer while building friendships, creating wonder and strengthening neighborhoods – all in non-threatening and financially accessible ways.

Reoccurring:

River District Farmers Market
10:00am - 3:00pm every Saturday from May4 - Oct26
Kerr Street Plaza – on Kerr Street, one block South of SE Marine Drive, Vancouver
This one-of-a-kind farmers market is the only riverfront market in Vancouver. Come shop for fruits and veggies, prepared foods, and handmade products produced farmers and artisans. Enjoy the waterfront, playground and pier.


Shop for organic and conventional product, meat, cheese, seafood and plants as well as tasty baked goods, beautiful crafts while being entertained by local musicians. Hot coffee and hot food available on site each week.

Chinatown Night Market
6pm - 11pm Fri, Sat, Sun May 17th to Sept 8
Keefer Street between Main & Columbia, Vancouver
This summer, the Chinatown Night Market is bringing a heady mix of time-honoured tradition and new school flavour to the festivities on Keefer Street. Live music, storytelling, and Mahjong; new vendors, more food, and some other stuff that wasn’t here last year like outdoor classic movie screenings and epic ping pong tournaments. See some photos from last year here.

Richmond Night Market - $2
Fri-Sat  7PM - 12AM 
Sun & Stat Holidays  6PM - 11PM 
Sat (Jul & Aug) 7PM - 1AM
8351 River Road, Richmond BC
Lots of food, live entertainment and vendors. $2 fee for regular admission (Subject to changes). FREE admission for children 10 & under and FREE admission for Seniors 60 & up. $10 and $20 Zoom Passes are available for purchase.  Check out my photos from last year here.

International Summer Night Market
7pm - 12am Fri, Sat, Sun, May 10 - Sept 8
12631 Vulcan Way, Richmond BC
6th annual Summer Night Market in Richmond starting May 10, 2013! Lots of food, live entertainment and vendors. Check out my photos from last year here.