West Vancouver Bridge Festival

West Vancouver’s Community Cultural Fest is a two-day event with family-friendly activities and live music at Ambleside Park on a weekend in early June.

The event was called West Vancouver Community Day a number of years ago when it was just a one-day event. It then changed its name to the Bridge Festival and became a two-day event. Since 2023 it once again has a new name. It’s now called the West Vancouver Community Cultural Fest. It’s pretty much still the same event, though, just with a new name.

In 2024 the event happened on May 31st and June 1st.

This article contains the following information about the West Vancouver Community Cultural Fest:

Hours | Activities | Festival Schedule | Getting to the Festival | Other Information

West Vancouver Community Cultural Fest

West Vancouver‘s community festival has been taking place in the Ambleside neighbourhood on the first Saturday in June for many years. It’s a fun event at one of the Lower Mainland’s most popular oceanfront parks.

Ambleside Park is just off Marine Drive southwest of the Park Royal shopping mall. The mall itself is just a short distance from the north end of the Lions Gate Bridge. The park’s address is 1150 Marine Drive. However, its main access is via 13th Street which turns into the park and Argyle Avenue.

West Vancouver Community Cultural Fest Hours

In 2024 the West Vancouver Community Cultural Fest ran on Friday, May 31st, and on Saturday, June 1st. Hours on the Friday were from 4:00 pm to 9:30 pm while the hours on the Saturday were from 11:00 am until 9:30 pm.

West Vancouver Community Cultural Fest Activities

The West Vancouver Community Cultural Fest activities typically include live music, dance performances, food vendors, a kids’ zone, and cultural pavilions.

Featured pavilions in 2024 included countries such as Peru, China, India, Poland, South Africa, Wales, and many more. Each pavilion featured unique activities such as demonstrations, art displays and traditional food. Meanwhile, this year’s kids’ zone offered arts and crafts, plus carnival games, circus workshops and opportunities to try new sports.

Festival Schedule

Below was the schedule of performances for the 2024 West Vancouver Community Cultural Fest. (Note: Exact times and details were subject to change.)

Friday, May 31st (2024)

Main Stage

4:00 pm – Mariachi Los Dorados
6:00 pm – Antonio Larosa
8:00 pm – Mazacote

West Vancouver Schools’ Stage

4:00 pm – West Bay Elementary Concert Band (Grade 6)
4:15 pm – West Bay Elementary Concert Band (Grade 7)
4:40 pm – École Cedardale Band (Grade 6)
4:55 pm – École Cedardale Band (Grade 7)
5:20 pm – Westcot Band (Grade 6)
5:45 pm – Westcot Band (Grade 7)
6:15 pm – Hollyburn Band (Grade 6)
6:35 pm – Hollyburn Band (Grade 7)
7:00 pm – West Vancouver Secondary School Junior, Senior and Rock Bands

TD Cultural Dance Stage

5:15 pm – Vanleena Dance Academy
6:15 pm – Zornitza Dance Ensemble
6:30 pm – North Shore Academy of Dancing
7:00 pm – Pro Dance
7:30 pm – Sentinel K-dance Crew
8:00 pm – Brazilian Swag
8:30 pm – Driftwood Dance Academy

West Vancouver Youth Band at Ambleside Park

Saturday, June 1st (2024)

Main Stage

12:15 pm – J.P. Fell Pipe Band
1:00 pm – Sentinel Rnb Band
1:30 pm – Sentinel Jazz A Band
2:00 pm – Chinese Lion Dancers
2:30 pm – Aché Brasil
4:00 pm – John Welsh & Los Valientes
6:00 pm – Kunda African Culture Music & Dance
8:00 pm – The Paperboys

West Vancouver Schools’ Stage

11:00 am – Caulfeild Bands (Grades 6 and 7)
11:20 am – Bowen Island Community School Bands (Grades 6 and 7)
11:40 am – Chartwell Choir
12:15 pm – Ridgeview Band (Grade 6)
12:30 pm – Ridgeview Band (Grade 7)
1:00 pm – Chartwell Band (Grade 6)
1:15 pm – Chartwell Band (Grade 7)
2:00 pm – Irwin Park Band (Grade 6)
2:15 pm – Irwin Park Band (Grade 7)
3:00 pm – PJ Band (Grade 6)
3:15 pm – PJ Band (Grade 7)
4:00 pm – Sentinel Concert Band (Grade 8)
4:20 pm – Sentinel Jazz B Band
5:00 pm – Rockridge Drumline
5:40 pm – West Vancouver Secondary School Jazz Band
6:00 pm – West Vancouver Secondary School Orchestra

TD Cultural Dance Stage

11:00 am – Mozaico Flamenco
11:30 am – VANTA Korean Drummers
12:00 pm – Inspired By Dance Company
12:30 pm – Method of Modern Movement’s youth program: Studio Pointe
1:00 pm – West Vancouver Seniors & Silver Harbour Centres
1:30 pm – North Shore Academy of Dancing
2:15 pm – Vanleena Dance Academy
3:15 pm – Academy of Middle Eastern Dance (AMED Dance Academy)
3:45 pm – Seymour Dance Academy
4:15 pm – Aura School of Dance
4:30 pm – Tomoe Kai Traditional Japanese Dance
5:00 pm – Mexico Vivo Folklore
5:30 pm – Mulgrave Upper School Dancers
6:00 pm – Perform Art Studios
6:15 pm – Kitka, Hubavitsi and Duo Balkanaria – Bulgarian Dance
6:45 pm – Driftwood Dance Academy
7:15 pm – Pro Dance
7:45 pm – Lorita Leung Dance Academy
8:30 pm – Sri Shakti Indian Dance Academy and Kahlena Movement Studio

Getting to the West Vancouver Community Cultural Fest

Getting in and out of the Ambleside Park area can be a challenge during major events for a number of reasons. First, there is a fair bit of parking at the park itself, but on event days the area is usually closed to cars. Second, Ambleside Park is a popular place on a regular day and so it is particularly crazy when something special is happening.

What does all of the above mean? Well, it’s wise to use public transit, carpool, or ride your bike if possible. If you need to drive, there’s a lot of parking at Park Royal mall which is right close by (although parking there is “just for customers”). You can also get to West Vancouver early and look for street parking further west past Marine Drive and 18th Street.

If you go as far as Dundarave – which is over three kilometres away – you’ll be able to get some good exercise walking back to Ambleside while enjoying one of Metro Vancouver’s finest walks along the waterfront.