It's shaping up to be a weekend full of fun festivities in Burnaby.
Burnaby Blues and Roots Festival
This iconic Burnaby event will feature headlining indie-folk band Fleet Foxes performing. The band will replace Buffy Sainte-Marie, who recently announced her retirement due to health concerns and physical challenges.
Other artists joining the lineup include Grammy-nominated artist Allison Russell; pop, rhythm and blues group The Dip; hymn-jammer Boy Golden; Arctic soul band The Trade Offs with lyrics blending Inuktitut and English, and vintage-rock songstress BeBe Buckskin, this year’s festival promises to be one to remember.
This is the first year the festival will be free to attend and will have food trucks on-site (including the Brownie Bakers, the Jerk Shack, Shameless Buns and more) and a family zone. Beer and wine service will be available for the 19+ crowd.
The event has a capacity of 9,000 attendees.
When: Saturday, Aug. 12, gates open at 1 p.m., opening act at 2 p.m., event runs till 10 p.m.
Where: Deer Lake Park festival lawn (6450 Deer Lake Ave.)
Cost: Free admission
Nikkei Garden Farmers Market
Enjoy the sights and sounds of a community farmers market with a focus on Japanese food and goods.
With booths full of fresh, locally grown produce from Brave Child Farm and Hans Farm, locally crafted food by Japadog, Hatchan Takoyaki, rice bowls by Japan Rice Bowl Association and more, as well as unique artisanal goods like jewelry by Tsuki Jewels, Kira Craft and Jewellery and Puripi, visitors can also appreciate the Japanese garden in summer bloom.
At 11 a.m. there will be a free samurai sword-fighting show and a Zumba class at 11:30 a.m.
When: Sunday, Aug. 13 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre (6688 Southoaks Cres.)
Cost: Free admission
Stories from a Suitcase
Watch this high-energy, family-friendly piece of theatre presented by three talented storytellers as part of the 2023 Burnaby Summer Theatre Program.
The show will follow various adaptations of Italian folktales, featuring a very wise clock, a very sad prince and a farmer trading his sheep. Woven throughout the 35-minute show are music, acrobatics and audience participation.
All the three performers (Emma Schellenberg, Stella Jack-Rennie and Christian Billet) need are the materials that fit in just a suitcase.
When: Sunday, Aug. 13 at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.
Where: Deer Lake Gallery backyard (6584 Deer Lake Ave.)
Cost: Free, register online on Eventbrite
Karaoke Night at the Great Bear Pub
Get ready for a night of vocal power and pizzazz on a rollicking night of song and lyric at the Great Bear Pub on Kingsway. Whether you want to sing the blues, or power up a pop-punk party anthem, gather your friends for a fun-filled sonic evening.
When: Sunday, Aug. 13 (8 p.m. start)
Where: Great Bear Pub (5665 Kingsway)
Cost: Free admission
