Director at Opera in The Park

Opera in the Park is an outdoor concert with the Vancouver Opera at Deer Lake Park in Burnaby. The free event happens in July and it’s highly recommended.

The event happens the day after Symphony in the Park which is a similar event at the same location, but with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.

Opera in the Park with Vancouver Opera

Opera in the Park is an annual summer concert featuring the Vancouver Opera. It’s a free event at a beautiful park in Burnaby.

People from all across the Lower Mainland bring their lawn chairs and blankets and enjoy great live music. Some attendees bring their own food, while others buy things to eat from the many food trucks on-site.

Before the Vancouver Opera takes the stage, Opera in the Park also features pre-concert performances by other groups.

Schedule and Location

In 2025 Opera in the Park celebrates its 4th year on Sunday, July 13th. Last year the pre-concert festivities ran from 5:15 pm to 6:00 pm. The main performance by the Vancouver Opera, meanwhile, was from 7:30 until 9:00 pm. 2025 will likely be similar.

As always, the event is held at Deer Lake Park, located at 5435 Sperling Avenue in Burnaby. It’s a lovely venue east of Metrotown and west of Burnaby Lake.

2024 Opera in the Park Repertoire

The 2024 Opera in the Park event featured pieces by Giacomo Puccini and Richard Strauss, all led by director Jacques Lacombe. The full program for last year’s concert is below. The 2025 repertoire will be different, but comparable.

Die Fledermaus (Strauss)
- Overture
- Ich lade gern
- Mein Herr Marquis
An der schönen blauen Donau (Strauss)
Madama Butterfly (Puccini)
- Vogliatemi bene
- Dovunque
- Un bel dì vedremo
- Il cannone del porto!
- Addio, fiorito asil
Gianni Schicchi: O mio babbino caro (Puccini)
Manon Lescaut: Intermezzo (Puccini)
Die Fledermaus (Strauss)
- Watch Duet
- Csardas
- Brüderlein
Unter Donner und Blitz Polka (Strauss)
Die Fledermaus: Finale (Strauss)

Tips & Advice

Below are some tips to help you make the most of your experience at Opera in the Park.

TIP #1: The event is popular and parking is limited. It’s a good idea to use a ride-sharing service or public transit. The nearest SkyTrain station is Metrotown. A number of buses from there travel to Deer Lake Park.

TIP #2: Pets are not allowed, unless these are service animals.

TIP #3: Instead of packing a picnic, why not buy fresh food from the food trucks? Vendors at this year’s event offered everything from potato twists and ice cream to tacos and Thai food.

TIP #4: Bring things to sit on, but nothing too large or distracting like umbrellas or tents. Professional recording equipment isn’t permitted either.

TIP #5: One day before Opera in the Park, there’s another excellent free concert at the same venue. The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra hosts its Symphony in the Park event on July 12th in 2025.