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June 22, 2017

Celebrate summer at Vancouver’s largest festival

 Vancouver’s largest, longest-running summer festival is now in its 29^th year on the shores of False Creek. Here are 10 reasons to head to the Concord Pacific Vancouver Dragon Boat Festival this weekend to celebrate the arrival of summer:

Pinnacle of the sport: See mixed champion Canadian dragon boat racers test their athletic mettle against enthusiastic teams from China, the Czech Republic and United States in a bid for the International Cup. Plus, watch Dragon Zone under-24 paddlers and junior Eternal Dragon team members in action. They’re training to be part of the Canada U16/U18 National Team at the 13^th World Nations Championships in Divonne-les-Bains, France, July 27-30, 2017. Check the race schedule for times.

 Music of the world: Follow the music to the Main Stage to hear the BC World Music Collective, featuring three Juno award-winning artists among the 13 musicians from seven nations in this renowned group. Get moving to classic reggae from Mostly Marley or New Orleans 60s funk from the Big Easy Funk Ensemble, along with many more great performances this weekend.

Acts of artistry: Bring the kids to marvel at circus acrobats, lion dancers, clowns and street performers, who juggle, spin, balance, and perform in spontaneous acts of artistry as they roam the festival site. Check out more at the Family Fun Zone.

 Vancouver food trucks:  Sample multicultural cuisine close to the Concord Pacific Fan Zone, where a line-up of Vancouver’s popular food trucks serve up everything from jumbo gourmet hot dogs and corn-on-the-cob to Thai tacos, dim sum and donnairs. 

Local brews in the Beverage Garden: Cheer on your favourite teams from a water view seat in the Granville Island Brewing Beverage Zone. Raise a glass of False Creek Raspberry Ale made with local Fraser Valley raspberries.

 Shopping at Portobello West market: Browse among up to 90 local vendors displaying their wares at Portobello West summer market set up this weekend at the Creekside Community Centre as part of this year’s festival.  Shop locally made fashion, food, art, toys, and gifts.

C15 cedar strip canoe display: View the C15 Showcase Tent to see a display of beautifully crafted canoes. As part of a Dragon Zone Canada150 project, mentors guided a group of 16 people in the skills necessary to build these traditional watercrafts.

Accessible and inclusive: In addition to All Access Friday races and the inaugural Barrier Free Canada Cup, the festival provides reserved parking for those displaying a disabled plaque, shaded accessibility areas, seating and wheelchair space, wheelchair accessible washrooms, and fully accessible gender neutral washrooms.

Environmentally conscious:  While there are no sales of bottled water at the festival, look for no-cost water stations throughout the site, as well as Zero Waste stations set up by Urban Impact.

 Free fun for all ages: Head to Concord Pacific Place and Creekside Park on False Creek this weekend, June 23-25. Admission is free to all festival events!