The Kitsilano portion of Vancouver’s Seaside Greenway, from Burrard Bridge to Jericho Beach, will explode with waterfront activity on Saturday, July 5th, with a three kilometre-plus-long, multi-park neighbourhood block party to celebrate the recent completion of the Seaside Greenway project.
Despite controversy and protests the Seaside Greenway is now complete, connecting the downtown seawall to Jericho Beach. Saturday, celebrate the new green space the true Vancouver way, with food trucks, bicycles, and live music. Grab your costume (there’ll be a contest) and hop on your bike for a ride down the separated bike/pedestrian path. Stop at Volunteer Park for a community jam session (play ’em if you got ’em), and continue on to Hastings Mill Park to figure out what exactly Tostitos and Chef Josh Wolfe (Fresh Local Wild) are serving up from their Nacho Average Food Truck.
On the eastern front of the new Seaside Greenway, activities kick off in the new green space just south of the Burrard Bridge, and meander along through Kitsilano Beach (where there’ll be both a bring your own picnic, and a volleyball tournament), as well as Volunteer, Tatlow, Point Grey Road, and Hastings Mill parks. Near the western end of the Seaside Greenway, look for food trucks galore, live music, yoga and a bike valet service, as Hastings Mill Park (Point Grey Rd & Alma) will transform into a welcoming picnic venue.
“We’re hoping area neighbours, residents of Vancouver and visitors to the city will take the opportunity to walk, run, roll and ride their way along this amazing new Greenway,” offers Paola Qualizza, Chair of the Vancouver Public Space Network (VPSN), one of the event supporters. “The party is a great opportunity to experience this beautiful part of the city. On Saturday, there’s something for people of all ages at this free, family-friendly event.”
In addition to the VPSN, Seaside Greenway Party supporters include groups of local residents and businesses, including the Save Kits Beach-Hadden Park coalition, HUB Cycling, the UBC-AMS Bike Co-op, BEST (Better Environmentally Sound Transportation), and a host of others (see below).
Seaside Greenway Completion celebration events are set to include:
The Save Kits Beach and Hadden Park Seaside Greenway Picnic and Party
Kitsilano’s very own Fraser River Ramblers will offer live bluegrass and folk music, at this celebratory potluck / bring your own picnic and party. Location: the family picnic area, located at the north end of Kitsilano Beach, nestled within the grove of maple trees (see the picture above). Refreshments will be provided. Come meet your neighbours and enjoy the natural beauty of one of Vancouver’s most welcoming land-and-seascapes.
Volleyball BC Clearly Contacts Open
Now in its 23rd year, the ClearlyContacts.ca Beach Volleyball Open is a three-day beach volleyball tournament run by Volleyball BC, featuring the best pro beach volleyball players from Canada, North America, and destinations worldwide. The event takes place at Kitsilano Beach, and offers the largest pro beach volleyball purse in Canada — with $15,000 in prize money, the event attracts more than 20,000 spectators each year.
This is an all-ages event that includes a youth volleyball tournament, prize giveaways, interactive crowd activities, food and beverages, and some of the best beach volleyball action in North America. Live streaming broadcast coverage will be available throughout the tournament.
Tournament hours: Friday: 8:30am - 6pm; Saturday & Sunday: 8:30am - 7pm. The Donnelly Group/Granville Island Brewing Beer Garden hours: Friday, 1pm - 7pm, Saturday 11am - 7pm, and Sunday 11am - 7pm.
Hastings Mill Museum
The iconic Old Mill Store stood at the foot of Dunlevy Street, East of Gastown for more than 60 years, before it was rescued when Hastings Sawmill was slated for demolition. The store was barged to its current location in Hastings Mill Park, at Point Grey Road and Alma, and re-opened as a museum in 1931 by the Native Daughters of B.C. Founded in 1919, the non-profit, historical society composed of B.C. born women, continues to operate and own the building and steward its amazing collection.
Don’t forget: at the Hastings Mill Park venue, there’ll be food trucks galore, live music, yoga and bike maintenance on offer, as well as a HUB Cycling bike valet service, as the park will transform into a welcoming picnic venue.
The Brock House Annual Summer Fair
A Brock House showcase that annually brings family and friends together for a day of beachfront fun, this year’s event offers two BBQ’s (hot dogs and salmon burgers), The Morris Dancers, beverages, snacks, and a pub. In addition, Brock House-sponsored events will feature musicians’ performances under the tent, including the peerless Brock House Big Band, as well as the Brock House Orchestra, and the Brock House Jazz Band.
The Brock House Woodworkers, Porcelain Painters and Monday Ladies Crafts will display, and sell, beautiful handmade items (they make perfectly lovely, year-round gifts), the crafts fair also featuring jewelry, books, gifts and games, a vast array of plants, baking and preserves (mmmm, good), white elephant items, and a silent auction. The Brock House Artists’ Group will be selling their own work, as well as art donated by Society members.
Transportation. There’s a shuttle bus that will run every half-hour from Alma at West 4th Avenue, beside Jericho Village; the first trip is at 9:30am.
Jericho Sailing Centre 40th Anniversary
Occurring in concert with the MEC Paddlefest, this anniversary celebration will feature live music, balloons, clowns, a BBQ, cake and wake, as the Jericho Sailing Centre celebrates 40 years “as Vancouver’s ocean community centre”, on Saturday from 11am til 5:30pm. Everyone’s invited to this family friendly, face painting, ice cream eating, wave lapping, ocean festival.
At the MEC Paddlefest, you can go for a test paddle, participate in a hands-on skills clinic, browse the various exhibitor’s booths, and hunt for deals at the MEC Paddleswap. Paddlefest will also feature live performances, entertainment, food vendors and children’s activities for kids of every age.
Bring your friends and family, and come celebrate the fun of floating!
Clearly, the Seaside Greenway completion party, picnic, party, BBQ, paddlefest, Jericho Sailing Centre anniversary celebration — and appreciation of the beauty of the Kitsilano and West Point Grey neighbourhoods, as well as the newly-enhanced pedestrian-and-bike-friendly Seaside Greenway — is the place to be on Saturday.
Thank you to the organizers of this west side summer’s day celebration!
See you all at some festival point along the Seaside Greenway pedestrian / park / bike corridor, a day to celebrate with your friends and neighbours.
