Vancouver Cultural Events for the Whole Family to Enjoy

Spring and summer in Vancouver mean more fun activities for the whole family to enjoy together on weekends. Our city is known for its rich cultural diversity, and that means many different free public events, street festivals, and block parties in the warm sun for everyone to experience our shared heritage.

Celebrate all the different cultures and communities we have by embracing these showcases of food, music, art, and live performances outdoors.

Community Cultural Fest

On the North Shore, come celebrate the two-day annual West Vancouver Community Cultural Fest at Ambleside Park on Friday, June 6 (4pm-9:30pm) and Saturday, June 7 (11am-8pm). Put on by the District of West Vancouver, the city invites everyone to enjoy the vibrant event celebrating our cultural diversity with over thirty local and international artists, multicultural pavilions, live performances, and much more.

Community Cultural Fest highlights:

• Walkway of Nations – Showcasing cultural pavilions

• International Lounge – Offering global flavours and live music

• Main Stage – Multicultural performances

• Park Royal Kids’ Zone – Family-friendly activities

• ML Emporio Cultural Dance Stage – Diverse dance styles

• West Vancouver Schools Stage – Showcasing student talent

Italian Day

Honour Italian Heritage Month by visiting East Vancouver's iconic “Little Italy” neighbourhood for their "15-Year Anniversario" of Italian Day on the Drive, a huge fiesta that blocks off Commercial Drive (aka "The Drive") from Venables all the way to Grandview on Sunday, June 8 (12-8pm). Commemorate all things Italiano, from their vibrant culture, heritage, food, and community.

Join the crowd for another lively 14-block open-air Italian block party, Vancouver’s largest and highly anticipated cultural street festival, drawing hundreds of thousands of attendees of all ages and cultures. This year's theme of Mille Baci translates to "a thousand kisses," evoking a celebration of love, connection, and Italian passion. Furthermore, the event symbolizes the warmth, joy, and affection of Italian culture through art, music, and food.

Embrace that Italian energy on the street by checking out the hundreds of participants, patios, food trucks, and other merchants. Choices abound with dozens of food vendors, performance stages, family activations, and fashion showcases.

Italian Day highlights:

• Multiple music stages with live performances throughout the day

• Dancing in the streets and pop-up cultural showcases

• Italian fashion and design activations

• Artisan markets, kids' zones, and roaming street performers

• Authentic Italian Table – Traditional bites and curated wine pairings

• Italian Tapas & Craft Cocktails – Small plates and premium drinks

• Beer & Wine Gardens – Perfect for sipping and relaxing

Greek Day

Don't miss out on the 51st annual Greek Day on Broadway in the heart of Kitsilano on Sunday, June 22 (11am-9pm) on West Broadway between Macdonald and Blenheim. Join another spectacular celebration of Greek culture by immersing yourself in a day filled with authentic Greek food, live music, traditional dance performances, interactive activities, and other family-friendly fun for everyone.

Greek Day has been a cornerstone event in the local Kits community as a slice of Greece brought to Canada for over fifty years. It has a rich tradition of connecting generations of participants and lovers of Greek culture together. It's remarking on this history by making this year's event the biggest one yet.

Greek Day highlights:

• Greek cuisine – Savour the flavours of Greece, from mouthwatering souvlaki to sweet baklava

• Live Entertainment – Get swept away by the rhythm of Greek music and the grace of traditional dancers

• Family Fun – All-ages activities include interactive games, crafts, and more

• Marketplace – Stroll the Agora, featuring artisan crafts, Greek products, unique gifts, and souvenirs

Polish Festival

Looking ahead to late summer, show your appreciation of Polish culture at the annual Polish Festival Vancouver on Saturday, September 6 at The Shipyards in North Vancouver. Hosted by the Belweder North Shore Polish Association, experience authentic Polish heritage through live demonstrations of its traditional folklore, singing, dancing, cuisine, and much more.

Each year, the festival celebrates the contributions Polish-Canadians have made to Canada's rich cultural mosaic by showcasing local artists and vendors.