We’ve revealed our locations and program of artists and activities for the 39th Annual Powell Street Festival running August 1st and 2nd, 2015 from 11:30am – 7:00pm daily!

View our online 2015 Festival Schedule.

Download the 2015 Festival Program Guide (PDF, 12.5 MB) or just the 2015 Festival Schedule (PDF, 1.7 MB).

After holding a successful street festival in 2014, the festival/event/celebration/ will return to its usual main location at Oppenheimer Park (400 Block of Powell Street). “We were extremely pleased with the overwhelming support and positive feedback from last year’s street festival. This year, we’re excited to hold the festival at its traditional site and community hub of Oppenheimer Park,” remarked Powell Street Festival Society President Colin Chan. “We have also incorporated some street festivities with our Jackson Street Block Party, as well as having community food booths on Dunlevy Avenue. However, our audience continues to grow and we would love to add to future festival grounds to include more streets around the park,” added Chan.

Other participating venues will include the Firehall Arts Centre (280 East Cordova Street), Vancouver Japanese Language School / Japanese Hall (475 Alexander Street), Vancouver Buddhist Temple (220 Jackson Avenue) and Centre A Gallery (229 East Georgia Street).

This year’s robust lineup of contemporary and traditional Japanese Canadian artists range from dancers and musicians to a comedy troupe and one of the world’s most influential environmentalists. Cuban inspired pianist Niho Takase, monster jazz drummer Bernie Arai, avant-garde muse Rachel Kiyo Iwaasa, movement artist Mark Ikeda, Butoh-inspired sensation Kokoro Dance and comedians Assaulted Fish will all appear at the Firehall Arts Centre while Katari Taiko, Sawagi Taiko, Sansho Daiko, and Chibi Taiko will combine forces in the park for a mega-taiko drumming event, Against The Current. Author, broadcaster and activist David Suzuki will make a special appearance and speaking engagement in support of his newly released book Letters to my Grandchildren.

This year’s returning demonstrations and activities include martial arts, ikebana, animé, walking tours, a sumo tournament and children’s games, along with the new ‘Asahi Pitch Challenge’ inspired by the legendary Vancouver Asahi baseball team of the early 1900’s.

Guests can also enjoy a large variety of delicious Japanese food from 17 vendors and browse over 20 craft booths, community booths, displays and visual arts.

All events at The Powell Street Festival are free! Information is also available on facebook and twitter.

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