Vancouverites love festivals, especially those that feature lights or music. The biggest and best festival, especially for children, is the Vancouver International Children's Festival held every year in Vanier Park. In 2006, the festival runs from May 15-22, 2006. In 2007, the festival runs from May 14-21, 2007.
Others excellent events include a number of lantern festivals, the incredible 'Celebration of Light,' an international fire works competition held on 4 nights at the end of July and the beginning of August, many music festivals and neighborhood festivals.
Note: Not all of the festivals listed here are especially for children; however, they are all festivals children will enjoy.
April
Kerrisdale Carnival Days:
This annual spring festival is one of the Lower Mainland's largest free admission family events, including the "Biggest Little Community Parade in Vancouver" on Saturday morning. The fun includes clowns, magicians, pony rides, music, children's entertainment and sidewalk sales.
604-266-9875
May
The Vancouver International Children's Festival, Vanier Park
A week of fun for the whole family with theatre, music, dance and puppetry from around the world as well as face painting, craft workshops and roving entertainers. 604-708-5655
June
July
July 1: Canada Day at Canada Place.
Annual celebration of Canada's birthday with 70 performances throughout the day and four entertainment stages with a fireworks finale.
Vancouver Folk Music Festival, Jericho Beach Park
This famous musical celebration features traditional, contemporary and folk-fusion artists from around the world on seven stages.
Includes local and international folk singers, songwriters, musicians, and storytellers. Daytime and evening performances and special children's programs. 604-602-9798
Vancouver International Comedy Festival, Granville Island.
Free outdoor events for the family and ticketed events in the evening featuring stand-up, sketch, improv and musical comic performers. 604-683-0883
Trout Lake Park Lantern Festival
Join fire-breathers and sculptors, torch-dancers, musicians and stilt-walkers and bring along your own lantern or just join in this magical lantern procession around the lake with a fireworks finale 604-879-8611
Celebration of Light: Three competing countries will amaze us all with a spectacular display of fireworks in this international competition. 604-738-4304
August
Powell Street Festival, Oppenheimer Park
Vancouver's Japanese-Canadian celebration; free festivities include taiko drumming, martial arts and sumo demonstrations plus contemporary art, music and dance. 604-739-9388
Vancouver Wooden Boat Festival, Granville Island
Try your hand at rowing in an 18th-century replica Spanish longboat, join a regatta or learn how to build a boat. This family event also includes knotting classes, wood-carving demonstrations and a canoe race. 604-688-9622
September
Vancouver Fringe Festival, Granville Island
Featuring more than 500 theatre performances by 100-plus theatre groups from around the world, the Fringe offers dance, magic, storytelling, improv, music and comedy performances.
604-257-0366
Chinese Moon Festival, Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden
Honour the moon goddess and enjoy storytelling, a lantern procession, music and moon cakes at this enchanting evening event. 604-662-3207
Vancouver International Film Festival
This is one of the largest film festivals in North America, presenting more than 300 films from 50 countries.
604-685-0260
October
Parade of the Lost Souls, Grandview Park.
"Honour the dead, wake the living and face your fears" at this annual Public Dreams Society procession through the streets and alleys of Commercial Drive. 604-879-8611
November
Hadassah Bazaar at the
Italian Cultural Centre
3075 Slocan at Grandview Hwy
from 9am-8pm
Vancouver's biggest annual garage sale. Kids are sure to find a ton of stuff they can't live without.
604-257-5160
December
Festival of Lights, VanDusen Botanical Garden
This is more for adults but the synchronized lights and Christmas music in such a beautiful setting mesmerize everyone.
604-878-9274
During December: Carol Ship Festival Parade of Lights
Sing Christmas carols and tour Burrard Inlet, Deep Cove and False Creek on ships adorned with Christmas lights. Boats leave from Canada Place.
604-688-7246
During December: Christmas at Canada Place
A family event that includes a miniature train, an animated Christmas village and a seasonal IMAX presentation.
604-682-4629
Christmas at Christ Church Cathedral.
Three evenings of carols and stories with local actor and director Christopher Gaze.
604-876-3434