John Lawson Park at Harmony Arts Festival

The Harmony Arts Festival features market vendors, beer gardens, live music, art displays and entertainment along the waterfront in West Vancouver in August.

In 2024 the festival runs from August 2nd to 11th (which includes the BC Day Long Weekend). Other events happening elsewhere in the Lower Mainland on the second weekend of the West Vancouver festival are the BC Dumpling Festival, Chilliwack Fair & Rodeo, African Descent Festival and Brewhalla New Westminster. There is also the Shipyards Got Talent Contest at the Shipyards Night Market in North Vancouver on August 9th.

To learn more about the above and other events that happen at the same time as the Harmony Arts Festival, see the Lower Mainland’s August Calendar of Events. To learn about the arts festival in West Vancouver, however, continue reading.

TIP: The best days to visit the Harmony Arts Festival are Fridays and Sundays. That’s because on Fridays you can combine your trip with a visit to the Shipyards Night Market which is amazing and just a short drive away in North Vancouver. Also, on Sundays, there is the Ambleside Artisan Farmers Market (so you can do some shopping and pick up picnic ingredients to enjoy at the festival). There is also usually more happening at the festival on weekends than weekdays.

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Harmony Arts Festival

The Harmony Arts Festival runs from Friday, August 2nd, until Sunday, August 11th in 2024.

The free family-friendly festival runs for 10 days each year and usually draws thousands of people every day. As many as 140,000 attend over the course of the event.

We highly recommend the Harmony Arts Festival if you like art and live music against a magnificent ocean backdrop. It’s also one of the Lower Mainland’s most beautiful areas when there is lots going on.

There is an art market along Argyle Avenue as well as art exhibits and food trucks. There is also live music every day at Millennium Park.

Harmony Arts Festival Concert — Concert Stage at Millennium Park

What’s Going On and Where?

The setting for the Harmony Arts Festival is beautiful. The venue stretches from the westernmost tip of Ambleside Park around the end of 14th Street all the way to John Lawson Park by 17th Street and Argyle Avenue in West Vancouver. Much of the venue is right along the ocean, with views of Stanley Park and English Bay.

Harmony Arts at Millennium Park

Millennium Park is about halfway between Ambleside and John Lawson Park. It’s here where you’ll find food, a beer garden and live music.

During the festival the patio and lounge are nice places to enjoy drinks and sit at a table while enjoying the live entertainment and marvelling the scenery. If you go towards the end of the afternoons, you’ll be treated to majestic cruise liners up close as they sail out into the open ocean. The live music occurs on the outdoor stage during the daytime and evenings every day.

Concerts at Millennium Park

During the Harmony Arts Festival, outdoor concerts take place at Millennium Park. This is located at the foot of 15th Avenue about halfway between John Lawson Park and Ambleside in West Vancouver.

There are plenty of concerts in Millennium Park throughout the festival in 2024. Below is the full schedule.

(Note: Times and performer details are subject to change.)

Friday, August 2nd Concerts in 2024

5:30 pm – Ivan Hartle
7:00 pm – Locarno
8:30 pm – The Whiskeydicks

Saturday, August 3rd Concerts in 2024

1:15 pm – Evie from Earth
2:15 pm – Jesse Waldman
3:15 pm – Ryan McMahon
4:15 pm – Sue Malcolm & The Swingin’ Doors
5:30 pm – The Luckies
7:00 pm – ZADA
8:30 pm – Timba Cartel

Sunday, August 4th Concerts in 2024

1:15 pm – Jim Kwan Duo
2:15 pm – Beverly Elliott & Linda Kidder
3:15 pm – Just a Season
4:15 pm – Mike Edel
5:30 pm – Melanie Dekker
7:00 pm – Serengeti
8:30 pm – HB Wild

Monday, August 5th Concerts in 2024

1:15 pm – Justine Lynn
2:15 pm – The Pat Chessell Band
3:15 pm – Harris&DeBray
4:15 pm – Tiller’s Folly
5:30 pm – Jeff Standfield
7:00 pm – Orchard Sky
8:30 pm – The Boom Booms

ALCOHOL ALLOWED IN MILLENNIUM PARK

When there isn’t an event going on in the summer, people are allowed to drink alcohol in Millennium Park. You can take your own alcohol. You don’t have to buy it there, which makes it extra affordable. During the Harmony Arts Festival, however, you can’t take your own alcohol into the festival’s official “fenced-off area.” You can take it, though, and drink your beverage in the part of the park that’s outside the fenced-off area.

Tuesday, August 6th Concerts in 2024

5:30 pm – Jackson Hollow
7:00 pm – Jim Byrnes & Band
8:30 pm – West Coast Chicago

Wednesday, August 7th Concerts in 2024

5:30 pm – Hayley Wallis & the Bright Futures
7:00 pm – Dawn Pemberton
8:30 pm – American Rock Legends

Thursday, August 8th Concerts in 2024

5:30 pm – Angela Kelman
7:00 pm – Scott Jacobs
8:00 pm – Trilojay

Harmony Arts Festival Garden Stage — Millennium Park Stage

Friday, August 9th Concerts in 2024

5:30 pm – Mimosa
7:00 pm – Diyet & The Love Soldiers
8:00 pm – Best Night Ever

Saturday, August 10th Concerts in 2024

1:15 pm – Blake Harvard
2:15 pm – Reid Jamieson Band
3:15 pm – Anna & Regan Luth
4:15 pm – Matt Storm
5:30 pm – Buddy & The Scarecrow
7:00 pm – Warren Dean Flandez
8:30 pm – Tanner Olsen Band

Sunday, August 11th Concerts in 2024

1:15 pm – Coast
2:15 pm – Kate Yahn
3:15 pm – Karma Sounds
4:15 pm – Murfitt & Main
5:30 pm – Brandon Isaak & The Saints of Swing
7:00 pm – Tonye Aganaba
8:30 pm – Coco Jafro

Harmony Arts at Argyle Avenue

Argyle Avenue is the lane that goes along West Vancouver near the waterfront, connecting Ambleside with John Lawson Park.

It’s normally a small roadway for cars and bicycles with parking along the side, but during the Harmony Arts Festival, the lane is set up with rows of market stalls with artists selling their works.

Harmony Arts Art Market — Artist Stalls Along Argyle Avenue

Harmony Arts at John Lawson Park

Concerts and outdoor movies used to take place during the festival in John Lawson Park years ago, but not anymore. Various art-related events do still happen at the park, however, including plenty of hands-on activities. The schedule for this year is below.

Friday, August 2nd, 2024

11:00 am to 7:00 pm – Silk Purse: Take Yourself There
2:00 pm to 7:00 pm – Artsy Kids Outdoor Studio
2:00 pm to 9:00 pm – For The Love of Art: Youth Exhibition

Saturday, August 3rd, 2024

11:00 am to 7:00 pm – Silk Purse: Take Yourself There
11:00 am to 9:00 pm – For The Love of Art: Youth Exhibition
12:00 pm to 7:00 pm – Artsy Kids Outdoor Studio
2:30 pm to 4:00 pm – Silk Purse: Community Art Project

Sunday, August 4th, 2024

11:00 am to 6:00 pm – Silk Purse: Take Yourself There
11:00 am to 9:00 pm – For The Love of Art: Youth Exhibition
12:00 pm to 7:00 pm – Artsy Kids Outdoor Studio
2:30 pm to 4:00 pm – Silk Purse: Community Art Project

Monday, August 5th, 2024

11:00 am to 9:00 pm – For The Love of Art: Youth Exhibition
12:00 pm to 4:00 pm – Silk Purse: Take Yourself There
12:00 pm to 7:00 pm – Artsy Kids Outdoor Studio

Tuesday, August 6th, 2024

11:00 am to 7:00 pm – Silk Purse: Take Yourself There
4:00 pm to 7:00 pm – Artsy Kids Outdoor Studio
4:00 pm to 9:00 pm – For The Love of Art: Youth Exhibition

Wednesday, August 7th, 2024

11:00 am to 7:00 pm – Silk Purse: Take Yourself There
4:00 pm to 7:00 pm – Artsy Kids Outdoor Studio
4:00 pm to 9:00 pm – For The Love of Art: Youth Exhibition

Thursday, August 8th, 2024

11:00 am to 7:00 pm – Silk Purse: Take Yourself There
4:00 pm to 7:00 pm – Artsy Kids Outdoor Studio
4:00 pm to 9:00 pm – For The Love of Art: Youth Exhibition

Friday, August 9th, 2024

11:00 am to 7:00 pm – Silk Purse: Take Yourself There
2:00 pm to 7:00 pm – Artsy Kids Outdoor Studio
2:00 pm to 9:00 pm – For The Love of Art: Youth Exhibition

Saturday, August 10th, 2024

11:00 am to 7:00 pm – Silk Purse: Take Yourself There
11:00 am to 9:00 pm – For The Love of Art: Youth Exhibition
12:00 pm to 7:00 pm – Artsy Kids Outdoor Studio
2:30 pm to 4:00 pm – Silk Purse: Community Art Project

Sunday, August 4th, 2024

11:00 am to 6:00 pm – Silk Purse: Take Yourself There
11:00 am to 9:00 pm – For The Love of Art: Youth Exhibition
12:00 pm to 7:00 pm – Artsy Kids Outdoor Studio
2:30 pm to 4:00 pm – Silk Purse: Community Art Project

Harmony Arts Festival Tips

Below are some suggestions to help you make the most of your time at the Harmony Arts Festival.

TIP #1: The best times to visit the festival are in the evenings and on the weekends, although that’s also when it’s the most crowded. It can be pretty quiet during the daytime on weekdays. There’s more to see and listen to in the evenings, and all the art displays come out on the weekends.

TIP #2: If coming over the Lions Gate Bridge from downtown, try to avoid rush hour. During the morning rush on the three-lane bridge, there will likely be two lanes of traffic heading southbound into Vancouver and only one going northbound to the North Shore, with the opposite in the evening.

TIP #3: Make a day of your visit – there is so much going on, with all the music and things to see. There is also a lot to see and do in the area, including the beaches.

While at the festival go for a stroll along the seawall, take the kids to the giant kids’ play area at John Lawson Park, have a swim in the ocean or enjoy the sun on the sand. And if you don’t want to spend the whole day at the festival, then check out all the other top attractions to visit nearby on the North Shore.

TIP #4: Parking can be a challenge. Take public transit if you can. If you drive, though, there is parking at Ambleside Park at the bottom of 13th Avenue. There is also street-side parking along the lower part of West Vancouver nearby. Park Royal Shopping Mall is just a 10-minute-or-so walk away as well, although you’re not supposed to park there when you’re not shopping.