If you love summer, West Vancouver is inviting you to celebrate it at this year’s Harmony Arts Festival.
The 31st annual throwing of the event starts next Friday, July 29, with 10 days of events showcasing arts and culture.
An array of programming includes more than 50 free live musical performances, art markets, al fresco culinary experiences, art demonstrations and exhibits and cinema nights in the park. There’s also fun activities and interactive art experiences for children.
Free live concerts every day and night of the festival. The PARC Retirement Living West Stage and the RE/MAX Garden Stage at Millennium Park feature daily concerts, including dinner concerts at 5:30 p.m. and evening headline concerts at 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
Among the long list of performers, watch out for highlights Eagles Eyes: Tribute to The Eagles on Wednesday, Aug. 3, at 8:30 p.m. and local legends Chilliwack on Friday, Aug. 5, in the same evening time slot.
Unfortunately, the Cinema in the Park outdoor movie series has been cancelled as a sponsor couldn't be secured by the district.
Returning to the festival this year is the mid-week art market. The Bespoke Night Market happens Tuesday, Aug. 2, through to Thursday, Aug. 4, from 4 to 10 p.m. The festival’s unique artisan market mainstay, The Fresh St. Market Art Market, will liven Argyle Avenue both weekends (July 29 to Aug. 1 and Aug. 5 to 7) with artists selling products like ceramics, glass, jewelry, leather, painting, photography, textiles and woodcraft.
New to the festival this year, a visual arts hub will fill John Lawson Park with daily events, showings and hands-on activities every day of the festival.
At the ArtSpeaks Presentation Tent is a lineup of workshops, demonstrations and artist talks. Tent workshop facilitators also display their work at a showcase exhibition. There’s also the Harmony Group Show Exhibition, a juried gallery featuring 80 local artists’ works in various media.
For the Love of Art features youth artwork in an outdoor show. Artsy Kids is a program for kids to get creative with a variety of media presented in fun drop-in workshops.
Any night of the Harmony Arts Festival offers many opportunities to indulge in refreshing drinks and delicious dining options, from charming pop-up restaurants in a park setting at the Park Royal Beachside Patio in Millennium Park, to food trucks serving up flavours from around the globe.
For a more upscale experience, there’s Best of the West. The “quick-to-sell-out” food and wine pairing event takes place Wednesday, Aug. 3, at a new location, the Grosvenor Ambleside Galleria Plaza, a glass-covered galleria with a direct walking route from Marine Drive to Bellevue Avenue, with open views of the waterfront.
The fest’s favourite culinary event features the most delicious dish and sips pairings from local restaurants and wineries. Tickets to the Best of the West are $109 ($105 + fee), available for sale online now on the Harmony Arts Festival website.
This article has been updated with new information from District of West Vancouver that the outdoor movie series has been cancelled.
