10 tasty summer food festivals in Vancouver
Postpone your juice cleanse ‘til the fall, because summertime is made for eating here in Vancity. Enjoy the warm weather while tucking into seriously delicious bites and brews during the city’s best summer food festivals. From beer gardens to food trucks to deep-fried Asian delights, check out what’s cookin’ for summer 2017 in Vancouver. [Image of Railtown Cafe courtesy of Jelger & Tanja Photographers]
Vancouver Craft Beer Week
2901 Hastings St E, Vancouver BC V5K 5J1Warm weather and an ice-cold brew go hand in hand, so it makes sense to kick off the summer food festival season at Vancouver Craft Beer Week. This year’s beer bonanza runs from May 26 to June 4 and features 10 days of hop-tastic events – think concerts, industry awards, and beer tastings at local breweries. VCBW culminates in a two-day festival on the PNE grounds with more than 100 visiting brewers and cider makers from across the globe, including local faves like 33 Acres, Brassneck, Stanley Park Brewing and Powell Street.
Richmond Night Market
3073-8700 McKim Way, Richmond BC V6X 4A5Vibrant bright lights and the smell of deep-fried delights helped this popular night market attract more than one million visitors last year. Open Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights from May to October, the sprawling venue is packed with rows upon rows of international food vendors serving an eye-popping assortment of Asian delicacies, as well as North American classics and the infamous Rotato (a deep-fried spiral potato skewer that’s well worth the long lineup). You’ll also find live DJs, carnival games, a new animatronic dinosaur-themed exhibit, and more than 60 retail booths hawking everything from bedazzled iPhone cases to novelty socks.
Red Truck Beer Company
295 1st Ave E, Vancouver BC V5T 1A7Part old school diner, part craft brewery, Red Truck Beer Company hosts live music throughout the year, but their outdoor summer concert series is definitely worth checking out during the warmer months. Now in its third year, the Truck Stop Concert Series brings together live music, Red Truck craft beers and visiting food trucks for a fun-filled evening in East Van. There are three shows this year: June 17, with headliners Cut/Copy from Australia; July 15 with Drake White and the Big Fire; and August 12 with Lee Fields & The Expressions. Check out the Red Truck website for more details.
Italian Cultural Centre
3075 Slocan St, Vancouver BC V5M 3E4Can’t afford to jet off to Tuscany this summer? Il Mercato is likely the next best thing. East Van’s Italian Cultural Centre hosts this popular outdoor market on the third Friday of every month throughout the summer. Part farmer’s market, part street festival, Il Mercato gives Vancouverites a taste of the Mediterranean with authentic chef-prepared cuisine and visiting food trucks. Once you’ve gorged on warm focaccia, handmade pasta and sweet tiramisu, stroll through the grounds to check out the craft vendors and enjoy live music. Close your eyes and you might convince yourself you’ve landed in Piazza del Campo.
Shipyards Night Market
138 Victory Ship Way, North Vancouver BC V7L 0B1Located just east of the SeaBus terminal on the North Shore, the Shipyards Night Market draws big crowds every Friday night from May 5 through September 29. It boasts more than 100 vendors, including around 40 food trucks, local craft makers, and a beer garden offering local brews. There’s plenty of entertainment too, with live music on the Shipbuilders’ Stage and a balloon artist who twists up fanciful creations for the little ones. A walk to the end of the pier for a great view of the Vancouver skyline completes the perfect way to start the weekend.
Panda Market
12631 Vulcan Way, Richmond BC V6V 1J7Not to be confused with Richmond’s other night market, the Panda Market (formerly known as the International Summer Night Market) is open for the season from April 28 to September 10. Inspired by bustling Asian night markets, the annual event features dozens of street food vendors offering globally inspired edibles; take your taste buds on a world tour and sample Indonesian corn cakes, deep-fried squid, stinky tofu, spicy curry fish balls and much more. Don’t miss Top Dough’s authentic chimney cakes sprinkled with sugar. Free admission, carnival games and retail vendors make this family friendly night market a must-see event.
Coho Society Of The North Shore
2235 Marine Dr SW, Vancouver BC V6P 6C1Taking place towards the end of summer, West Vancouver's Coho Festival happens on the second Sunday in September, which is September 9 this year. The event honours the Coho salmon making their way back from the ocean to the spawning grounds in the Capilano River. There are lots of activities throughout the day, with a highlight being the salmon barbecue and a beer garden in Ambleside Park. If the weather co-operates you'll have a wonderful view out over the water to Stanley Park.
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