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 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 fourth year on Sunday, July 13th. The pre-concert festivities run from 5:15 pm until 6:00 pm. The main performance by the Vancouver Opera, meanwhile, is from 7:30 pm onwards.
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.
Opera in the Park Repertoire
This year’s Opera in the Park event opens with performances by Sarabande and M’Girl. The main show features pieces by Verdi, Mozart and Puccini. The full program for the 2025 concert is below.
- La Forza del Destino: Sinfonia (Verdi)
- Rigoletto (Verdi)
- Gualtier Maldè… Caro Nome
- Cortigiani
- La Donna è mobile
- Così fan tutte (Mozart)
- In uomini
- Overture
- Don Giovanni (Mozart)
- Deh, vieni alla finestra
- Là ci darem la mano
- La Bohème (Puccini)
- Che gelida manina
- Sì, mi chiamano Mimi
- O soave fanciulla
- Quando m’en vo
- Donde lieta
- Dunque è proprio finita
- O Mimì
- Nabucco: Sinfonia (Verdi)
- La Traviata: Libiamo (Verdi)
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 they 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 offer everything from potato twists and popcorn to tacos and ice cream.
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.
Other Information
See our article about Vancouver Opera or visit the vancouveropera.ca website to learn more about the organization behind the event.
Other articles that might be of interest include the following:
- Vancouver Choirs and Music
- Free Events in July
- Vancouver on a Budget
- July Calendar of Events
- Vancouver Shows & Entertainment