A free, annual tradition in Coquitlam, the Kaleidoscope Arts Festival is a weekend of music, art and culture. In 2023 it happened at two different parks.
Last year’s festival ran on August 18th and 19th. The dates for the festival in 2024 are to be confirmed. It might happen again this year, or it might not. Fingers crossed that it will!
Other events that take place around the same time in August each year include free events such as Ribfest Langley, the Shipyards Night Market, Chilliwack Pride Festival and Chilliwack Flight Fest airshow. Ticketed events include Playland and the PNE Fair.
This article contains the following information about the Kaleidoscope Arts Festival:
Dates and Locations | Performance Schedule | Other Information
The Kaleidoscope Arts Festival
The Kaleidoscope Arts Festival began in 2016 as a one-day event. It has since grown into a weekend of programming. Fitting given its name, the festival has a range of offerings and is split up into multiple venues.
In 2023 the festival took place over two days. Each day of the festival is in a different public park with its own theme. The first day is an evening concert with two local bands. The second day features live music as well, in addition to art activities and dance performances.
2023 Dates and Locations
The dates for the festival in 2023 were Friday, August 18th, and Saturday, August 19th.
Two different Coquitlam parks hosted this past year’s festival. On Friday the festival began at Town Centre Park at 1299 Pinetree Way. The activities happened next to Lafarge Lake. Performances that night were from 6:00 pm to 9:30 pm.
On Saturday the festival hit Blue Mountain Park at 975 King Albert Avenue from noon until 4:00 pm.
All of the festival’s events are free to attend! They take place outdoors so make sure to dress appropriately for whatever the weather is like.
2023 Kaleidoscope Schedule
Each day of the festival is different from the other, not just in location but with regards to the theming as well. One detail they all have in common, though, are the food trucks stationed at the parks. You’ll always be able to find something to eat!
Below were the full performance schedules for the festival in 2023.
Friday, August 18th, 2023
The first day of the festival was a free concert at Town Centre Park. There were two indie rock bands performing. Also, alongside the stage was a collection of food trucks offering ice cream, kettle corn, Fijian cuisine, and more.
Below was the performance schedule for the Friday.
- 6:00 pm – The Zolas
- 7:30 pm – Current Swell
Saturday, August 19th, 2023
The day at Blue Mountain Park was meant to focus on art. There were hands-on activities, plus live music and dance performances for all to enjoy.
The workshops and activities below ran from 12:00 pm until 4:00 pm.
- Beaver and Bird Workshop
- Hapazome
- Métis Dot Painting
- Wood Carving Workshop
Live performances that took place on the Saturday are listed below.
- 12:00 pm – Her Tribal Roots x Eartern Bodies (Dance Performances)
- 12:00 pm – STORIES on WHEELS (Storytelling)
- 12:30 pm – CTRL:N (Flamenco Dance)
- 1:00 pm – Aeriosa Dance Society (Aerial Performance)
- 1:20 pm – CTRL:N (Flamenco Dance)
- 1:55 pm – Aeriosa Dance Society (Aerial Performance)
- 2:15 pm – To’Kam (Indigenous Musical Performance)
- 2:50 pm – Aeriosa Dance Society (Aerial Performance)
- 3:15 pm – The Boytles (Musical Performance)
Other Information
For more information about the events, visit the City of Coquitlam‘s website.
Other articles that might be of interest include the following:
- City of Coquitlam
- Vancouver’s August Calendar
- Vancouver on a Budget
- Lower Mainland Activities for Children