The latest arts, culture and other happenings in Vancouver this August, 2023. Have a tip? Email kristi@looselipsmag.com
Fitness is Such a Drag: Celebrate Vancouver Pride with a fitness fundraiser by CMMN GRND YVR. Featuring performances by Canada’s Drag Race star Kendall Gender with Bibi SouPhresh, Tiffany Ann Co. & Venus. Take a few beginner-friendly cardio sessions for charity.
Date: August 1, 6:30 – 8:30 PM
Location: šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl’e7énḵ Square (Vancouver Art Gallery, North Plaza)
Queer as Funk: Vancouver Pride kickoff show: As the tenth anniversary of Vancouver-based funk and soul band Queer As Funk approaches, anticipation builds for a milestone celebration that promises to captivate hearts and minds. The band has been a transformative force within the 2SLGBTQI+ community, using their music as a catalyst for joy, acceptance, and social justice.
Date: August 4, 8 PM
Location: The Commodore Ballroom
Vancouver Pride Parade: Join Vancouver Pride Society, 2SLGBTQAI+ communities, queer serving organizations, and allies in marching for the first time along the new Parade route starting in the West End. The new route will span 3.1km and include 120 Parade entries, 3 host stations and 3 accessible viewing zones.
Date: August 6, 12 PM
Location: Vancouver’s West End
The Bad Academy: Bike Maintenance 101: What are the actual names of the bike parts? How do you fix a flat tire? How do you decide to change a flat vs. get a new tube? How do you look less like a hot mess when you need to go to the nearest bike shop? Bad Academy is partnering with the badasses at Sidesaddle Bikes to help you get to know your ride inside and out and, more importantly, how to fix a flat tire!
Date: August 9, 6-8 pm
Location: The Hive North Shore, tickets here.
Vancouver Mural Festival Mural Tour: You’ll stroll through neighbourhoods to check out the latest artwork while learning the meaning and behind-the-scenes stories of how they were made.
Date: August 11, 6 PM
Location: Jonathan Rogers Park
VANCITY HIP-HOP 50 CONCERT: Celebrate the 50th anniversary of Hip Hop with the Rascalz & Friends and a stacked local line up featuring Snak The Ripper, Junk, Teon Gibbs, Shaylen D, Prevail, Moka Only & more (plus some surprise guests!)
Date: August 11
Location: The Hollywood Theatre
Mount Pleasant Street Party: The Mount Pleasant Street Party is back, taking over 5th Ave, 6th Ave, Main Alley and the City Centre Artist Lodge. Come for art and music, stay for the cute hangout spots, rotating vendor markets and family friendly pop-up bars located throughout the site.
Date(s): August 10 – 13 (Thu & Fri: 5 PM – 10 PM; Sat & Sun: 2 PM – 10 PM)
Location: City Centre Artist Lodge (2111 Main Street) and surrounding areas
Burnaby Blues + Roots Festival: Join Burnaby’s annual festival on the Deer Lake Park grounds, this year featuring acts Buffy Saint-Marie, Allison Russell, Boy Golden, The Dip, and more.
Date: August 12
Location: Deer Lake Park
Summer Pop-Up Concerts with Music on Main: Brighten up your summer evenings with concerts in the park. What started as sharing free live music safely outdoors during the pandemic has turned into an annual event, filling the park with even more live music and the gorgeous sounds of instruments like the flute, harp, cello, and the voices of Vancouver.Become immersed in the gorgeous sounds of a string quartet, original Persian compositions, classical arrangements, and more!
Date(s): August 14-16 & 21-23, 6:30 PM
Location: Mount Pleasant Park (West 16th Avenue at Ontario Street)
The Art of Dimension: A vibrant celebration of Haida metalwork practices, and a powerful artistic affirmation of Indigenous knowledge sharing across generations, The Art of Dimension features the copper, gold and silver carving artistry of Haida Gwaii’s lauded Skil Xaaw Jesse Brillon, alongside Bill Reid’s own masterful repoussé works.
Date:Until October 15
Location: Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art (639 Hornby Street)
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical: Beautiful tells the story of Carole King’s early life, weaving both her professional and personal realities, triumphs, and challenges, into a theatrical ‘tapestry’ that is both moving and funny, sensitive, and generous.
Dates: Until August 6
Location: The Arts Club’s Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage
Million Dollar Quartet: An ode to four beloved musical icons and the genius who made them legends, brought to life each night with high-voltage energy and musical fireworks by a crazy-talented cast of singers/actors/musicians. Million Dollar Quartet celebrates rock ‘n’ roll, providing us with the nostalgia we all crave and need right now.
Dates: Until August 6
Location: The Arts Club’s Granville Island Stage
Back to the 80s film series: Join VIFF for their Back to the 80s summer season, giving you an overview of this pivotal decade in dominant culture. They spotlight the vital films such as Back to the Future, Ghostbusters, Diner and Scarface, the landmarks, the trendsetters, and, most importantly, the unjustly marginalized, misunderstood or overlooked.
Dates: Until August 31
Location: The VIFF Centre
Tall Tales: The Quest Is Up To You! Join an (improv) hero on a fantastical journey where the audience is the author. Inspired by fantasy fan favourites like The Princess Bride, Labyrinth and Lord of the Rings, Tall Tales: The Quest Is Up To You! will whisk audiences off to a faraway land where laughs and larks abound. What happens along the way? It’s up to YOU!
Dates: Until August 19
Location: The Improv Centre on Granville Island
Ambleside Music Festival: Ambleside Music Festival is a two-day outdoor festival in West Vancouver. This year’s lineup includes Weezer, Third Eye Blind, Bahamas and more.
Dates: August 19-20
Location: Ambleside Park, West Vancouver
Sam Smith: English singer-songwriter performs Gloria The Tour at Rogers Arena.
Date: August 22
Location: Rogers Arena
Sylvan Esso: American electronic pop duo from Durham, North Carolina performs the Vogue Theatre for the No Rules Sandy Tour.
Date: August 25
Location: The Vogue Theatre
