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 returns to Deer Lake Park in 2026 for its fifth 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 food from the many on-site food trucks.

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

Stage at Opera in the Park

Schedule and Location

In 2026, Opera in the Park takes place on Sunday, July 19th, from 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm. The family-friendly pre-show begins after 5:00 pm. The main performance by the Vancouver Opera, meanwhile, is usually at 7:30 pm or later.

As always, the event is held at Deer Lake Park, located at 5435 Sperling Avenue in Burnaby. The venue is beside the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts and is a beautiful spot for a large outdoor concert. Deer Lake Park is east of Metrotown and west of Burnaby Lake.

What to Expect

At Opera in the Park, expect a large crowd, a relaxed summer atmosphere and a beautiful evening of outdoor music as long as the weather is fair. People usually arrive well before the performance starts to find a good spot on the lawn and enjoy the pre-show. The event is family-friendly and free.

Opera in the Park Repertoire

As of mid April, the 2026 program has not yet been released. Last year’s Opera in the Park event opened with performances by Sarabande and M’Girl. The main show featured pieces by Verdi, Mozart and Puccini.

The full 2025 program was as follows:

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)

Opera in The Park Singers

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 the 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 hosted its Symphony in the Park event on July 18th in 2026.