Kitsilano Showboat Stage

Kitsilano Showboat is a series of free outdoor summer concerts and multicultural performances at Vancouver’s Kitsilano Beach in June, July and August.

There were 37 nights of free entertainment in 2022 that were performed on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:00 pm between June 20th and August 20th. There was also a special performance on National Indigenous Peoples Day which was on Tuesday, June 21st. The exact dates for the 2023 season are to be confirmed.

FIRE AT THE STAGE

On April 21st, 2023, at around midnight, there was a fire at the Kitsilano Showboat Stage. It’s speculated that the cause was arson. Exactly how it happened, however, as of the following day, is to be determined. The fire caused fairly extensive damage. Hopefully it won’t negatively impact the venue’s 2023 season! Fingers crossed that it doesn’t!

Showboat Live Entertainment at Vancouver’s Kitsilano Beach

In 2019 free live entertainment took place on the Showboat Stage in Kitsilano on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays between 7:00 pm and 9:00 pm. The event was postponed in 2020 due to the coronavirus outbreak, and then it ended up taking place in an online format instead of in-person. A virtual concert series again took the stage in 2021, with a lineup of shows from late June to mid-July.

The 2022 season returned to what the the schedule was like pre-pandemic. There were a large number of shows over the course of the summer in 2022 that were open to the public.

The shows usually feature local bands, choirs, dancers and other performing arts groups. Some performers are well-known and exceptional. Others are lesser known and less experienced. Showboat is a venue that showcases amateur bands, musicians and other artists. It’s all free though, and a nice addition to what is already one of Vancouver’s absolute best places. Kitsilano Beach is amazing!

Where is Kitsilano Showboat?

Kitsilano is a Vancouver neighbourhood located southwest of Vancouver’s downtown core. It’s west of Burrard Street, the Burrard Street Bridge and Granville Island, and it’s east of the University of British Columbia, Point Grey and Jericho Beach.

Kitsilano Beach itself is located in the northeast corner of the Kitsilano region not far from Vanier Park and places like the Vancouver Maritime Museum, Museum of Vancouver and H.R. MacMillan Space Centre.

Kitsilano Showboat is the stage and amphitheatre at the southwest end of Kitsilano Beach near the giant outdoor swimming pool. Its physical address is 2300 Cornwall Avenue.

Performance Schedule

As mentioned above, the 2022 schedule was much bigger than in the last couple of years. Below was every performance scheduled for 2022 as of mid-June. Except for on July 1st, which is Canada Day, all the shows ran from 7:00 pm until 9:00 pm.

June Performances in 2022

Monday, June 20th – Kitsilano High School Band
Tuesday, June 21st – Spakwus Slolem/Eagle Song Dancers
Wednesday, June 22nd – Elai Jacobs, Richard Lowry & Friends
Friday, June 24th – Vancouver Performing Stars
Saturday, June 25th – Sea to Sky Wind Ensemble and Friends
Monday, June 27th – Dunvegan Dance Academy
Wednesday, June 29th – Urbana and West Vancouver Concert Band

Canada Day in 2022

The performances on Friday, July 1st deserved their own separate mention as there were a series of them. In addition to the main stage shows there were also other activities like face painting, cake eating and more.

3:15 pm – Story Time with Barry
4:00 pm – Music with Marnie
5:30 pm – Perry Ehrlich’s Showstoppers
7:00 pm – South Van Big Band

July Performances in 2022

Saturday, July 2nd – Asi-Somos
Monday, July 4th – Brock House Big Band
Wednesday, July 6th – Collage and All 4 Dance
Friday, July 8th – Royal City Concert Band and Richmond Community Concert Band
Monday, July 11th – Ikuko May Quintet and Peggy Peat School of Dance
Wednesday, July 13th – Dante, Minami and The Heartbeets
Friday, July 15th – Rock Paper Moon
Saturday, July 16th – Gary Chalk and the Kits Point Allstars
Monday, July 18th – Aché Brasil
Wednesday, July 20th – Ho’okani
Friday, July 22nd – Blue Dirt Girl and Kara Lockwood
Saturday, July 23rd – Sambacouver
Monday, July 25th – West Coast Tap and Burnaby International Folk Dancers
Wednesday, July 27th – Rock Paper Moon
Friday, July 29th – Wailele Wai Wai and Roots Peruvian Dance
Saturday, July 30th – Songtree, Illireratty and Sudanda

August Performances in 2022

Monday, August 1st – Rockabillies Ukulele Ensemble and Boaz and Craig
Wednesday, August 3rd – Reminders Jazz Band and South Van Big Band
Friday, August 5th – Viajes de Baile & Jhoely Triana
Saturday, August 6th – Hamilton Street Swing
Monday, August 8th – Surf Shakers, Heart and Sole and Vancouver Tap Dance Society
Wednesday, August 10th – The Swedgers
Friday, August 12th – Bela Domingo Polynesian Dancers and Halau Kia’l O Ka Hula
Saturday, August 13th – Norine Braun and Sangre Morena
Monday, August 15th – Sillken and Aliza Arts Association
Wednesday, August 17th – Vancouver School of Highland Dance
Friday, August 19th – Southeast Asian Cultural Heritage Society and Spirit of the South Seas
Saturday, August 20th – Penk O’Donnell Irish Dancers