Vancouver in June Video

This video features markets, Father’s Day activities, street parties and various community festivals and events in Vancouver in June.

Vancouver in June Video

Wondering what the Lower Mainland looks like in June? Want to take a look at festivals happening in June in Metro Vancouver? Then check out the video and see how many festivals and events you recognize!

IMPORTANT VIDEO UPDATES

The following video was produced a couple of years ago. Since that time a few of the events have changed. For example …

The City of Bhangra Festival is now called the 5X Festival.
Aboriginal Day has been officially renamed National Indigenous Peoples Day and celebrations no longer take place at Canada Place. They do still happen though at other venues though including at Trout Lake and in Steveston Village.
West Vancouver Community Day is now a two-day event (instead of just one) and, as of 2019, now called the West Vancouver Bridge Festival.
The Mercato Italian Market used to take place every month in the summer. In 2019, however, it only happens in June (plus again with a Christmas theme once in November).

As you’ll see from the above video, highlights of the month include community festivals like Burnaby’s Hats Off Day, West Vancouver’s Community Day and North Vancouver’s Lynn Valley Days. Major events also include Greek, Italian, Bhangra and Scandinavian ethnic festivals, as well as Car Free Days and both running and dragon boat races.

For more information on the places, festivals and events featured in the video, see below.

Video Festivals & Activities

Festivals and events taking place in Vancouver in June and showcased in the above video include the following:

Summer Farmers Markets – numerous farmers markets happen in June including the Kitsilano and Trout Lake ones featured in the video. These are two of Vancouver’s largest and most popular markets. For a list of other similar summer markets, click Lower Mainland Farmers Markets.
Richmond Night Market – the larger of Richmond’s two Asian summer night markets and, as of 2018, the only one of the two still in existence. The market is located at 8351 River Road.
Shipyard Night Market – an upscale night market that includes dozens of food trucks and artisan vendors, a beer garden and live music on Friday evenings at Shipbuilders’ Square in North Vancouver. The photo in the video is of the Lower Lonsdale waterfront at night from Shipbuilders’ Pier just a short stroll from the market.
Bard on the Beach – a festival of Shakespearean theatre that takes place in giant circus-style tents from June until mid-September at Vanier Park.
Vancouver Canadians – Vancouver’s Northwest League professional baseball team that plays at Nat Bailey Stadium. On about half a dozen days of the season the game ends with fireworks which are a great way to finish the evening.

Vancouver Shakespeare Festival — Bard on the Beach

Vancouver Craft Beer Week Festival – VCBW is a week-long event showcasing craft beer breweries at the end of May and beginning of June. It finishes on the weekend with a 2-day outdoor festival showcasing hundreds of North American craft beers and ciders at the PNE fairgrounds.
Hats off Day – an annual street festival that features a parade and live entertainment along Hastings Street in Burnaby on the first Saturday of June.
West Vancouver Community Day – a community parade along Marine Drive followed by a festival at Ambleside Park in West Vancouver. As of 2019 the event is now called the West Vancouver Bridge Festival.
Surrey Greek Food Festival – a small ten-day community event in mid-June showcasing Greek food and entertainment outdoors under a giant tent at the Saints Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church.

Alexander the Great Greek Dancers at Surrey Greek Food Festival

Seek the Peak – a running event benefiting the BC Cancer Foundation that starts in West Vancouver’s Ambleside Park and finishes at Grouse Mountain.
City of Bhangra Festival – an East Indian performing arts festival that showcases the dance and music of the Punjab in mid-June. (Note: As of 2018 it has rebranded and is now called the 5X Festival.)

Boys Dancing at City of Bhangra Festival — City of Bhangra Festival

Italian Day on the Drive – a cultural street festival along the Little Italy portion of Commercial Drive.
Mercato Italian Market – a once-a-month summer farmers market at the Italian Cultural Centre in Vancouver. (Note: The event used to take place on one Friday in each of June, July and August, plus in November. As of 2019, however, it only happens twice – once in June and then again in November.
Scandinavian Midsummer Festival – a cultural festival at the Scandinavian Community Centre near Burnaby Lake that features a Viking village, Northern European foods, live entertainment and Finnish wife-carrying races.
Lynn Valley Days – a festival with a parade, bouncy castles and participation from local community organizations in the Lynn Valley neighbourhood of North Vancouver.
West End Car Free Day – a massive street party for pedestrians along Denman Street between Robson Street and Davie.
Main Street Car Free Day – another giant street party but this time in the middle of Main Street between Broadway and 30th Avenue.

Masses of People on Car Free Day — Car Free Day on Main Street

Red Truck Concert Series – a day of non-stop live music featuring multiple bands at Red Truck Brewery as part of a once-a-month summer series of concerts.
National Indigenous Peoples Day at Trout Lake – formerly called National Aboriginal Day, the occasion is marked by a procession from the Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre to John Hendry Park followed by festival activities at Trout Lake. Similar events take place in other communities throughout the Lower Mainland.
Aboriginal Celebrations at Canada Place – family-friendly events used to take place at Canada Place in celebration of National Aboriginal Day on a weekend close to June 21st. (Note: As of 2018 this event is no longer taking place.)
Vancouver International Jazz Festival – a two-week music festival featuring both free and ticketed jazz concerts around town. Venues featured in the video include David Lam Park and Granville Island.
Scotiabank Half Marathon – a major running race that goes from the main University of British Columbia campus to Stanley Park.
Greek Day on Broadway – a massive one-day street party showcasing Greek culture and the local community along West Broadway Avenue in late June.
Vancouver Dragon Boat Festival – a three-day festival featuring dragon boat races and live entertainment in False Creek.

Outdoor Jazz Festival Concert — TD Vancouver International Jazz Festival

Venues Featured in the Video

In addition to festivals and events, the above June Video also features several prominent Vancouver venues including the following:

English Bay – the video starts with a photo of English Bay beach which is located right in the city in the West End (close to where the West End Car Free Day takes play mid-month by the corner of Denman and Davie).
Nat Bailey Stadium – the home field for the Vancouver Canadians baseball team whose regular season starts in June.
Ambleside – an oceanfront park featured in both the West Vancouver Community Day and the Seek the Peak running race photos.
John Hendry Park – a popular park in the City of Vancouver where both the Trout Lake Farmers Market and Trout Lake Indigenous Peoples Day celebrations take place.
Canada Place – a building with giant white sails that’s part of the Vancouver Convention Centre and hosts various events throughout the year.
Granville Island – a popular tourist attraction, shopping district and entertainment area which appears in the video in the last photo about the TD Vancouver International Jazz Festival. The photo itself is taken from just outside the world-famous Granville Island Public Market.
False Creek – the body of water just south of the core of downtown Vancouver. Granville Island is located in False Creek, and Vanier Park which is home to the Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival is at its mouth. The final two photos of the video offer fabulous views of False Creek during the Vancouver Dragon Boat Festival.
BC Place Stadium – Vancouver’s 54,500-seat stadium is the giant building in the second-to-last photo featuring the Vancouver Dragon Boat Festival races in False Creek.
Science World – Vancouver’s science museum is the mirrored-ball-shaped building in the final photo of the video with the dragon boats at the eastern end of False Creek.