Our weekly feature What’s On East Van sets out some cool events for the upcoming weekend. Beyond the weekend, we invite you to check out our Event Listing which is updated daily and features events for the month and beyond.
Neil Diamond Tribute – Federico’s Supper Club – August 30th
If you love the sounds of Neil Diamond, enjoy dancing along with having a great dinner, Federico’s Supper Club is the place to be Friday night. Cost is $69 per person and includes a 3 course meal and the evening’s entertainment. Note price doesn’t included tip and tax. For more info, visit Federico’s Supper Club.
The Fair At The PNE – Now to September 2nd
The Fair at the PNE is on daily from 11:00 till 11:00 pm every evening until September 2nd. In case you hadn’t heard, there are lots of free events with admission once inside the gates. Kids under 5 are free with an adult and children aged 6 to 12. If you are looking for an energetic performance, Billy Idol will be hitting the summer concert stage Saturday night at 8:30 pm and the Beach Boys take the stage Sunday.
Lovin’ The Earth Climate Action – Riley Park Community Garden – August 31st
You are invited to come join in a family-friendly event on climate action this Saturday. The event will focus around around 5 themes where you can make a difference: Food, Energy, Transportation, Waste and Resilient Neighbourhoods. There will also be a Butterfly Project Talk with a Butterfly Ranger from the David Suziki Foundation. For more info, visit Climate Action Fair.
Lantern Making in the Food Forest – Renfrew Collingwood – August 31st
If you are looking for something to entertain the kids this weekend, Renfrew Collingwood Food Security Institute is hosting a free lantern making workshop this Saturday from 2:00 to 4:00 pm. All materials will be supplied. These will be glass jars that kids decorate. Although the event is free, registration is requested. The event happens at Norquay Community Food Forest (2732 Horley Street).
Comedy Bucket – Little Mountain Gallery – August 31st
Looking for some laughs this long weekend? Little Mountain Gallery, 195 East 26th Avenue, plays host to Comedy Bucket. What is it? Vancouver’s top stand up comedians abandon all their material to create brand new jokes on your (the audience’s suggestions). Evening is hosted by Gina Harms and Gavin Banning. Tickets are $8 online or $10 at the door.
Heartbreak On The Coast Release Party – Wise Hall – August 31st
Full Circle is putting on a show on Saturday, August 31st at the Wise Hall to celebrate the Release of Nimkish’s first album “Heartbreak On The Coast.” Expect an evening of Indigenous/Queer music that supports local artists. There will also be vendor tables set up to showcase local art. Tickets are $12 and available through Eventbrite.
Artful Sundays – Napier Greenway – September 1st
The last Artful Sunday for the summer happens this Sunday between Noon and 5:00 pm. Expect some great local talent, live music, workshops and artisans. The event is free to attend. The Napier Greenway is located just outside the Britannia Community Centre/Library.
The Great Canadian Porno: The Musical – Havana Theatre – September 1st
If you are looking for a good laugh this weekend, you may wish to check out The Great Canadian Porno: The Musical happening at Havana Theatre this Sunday night. We hear it’s a bold and funny fast paced production with Canadiana undertones. Tickets are $20 and available through Showpass.
Comedy, Music & Entertainment & More
Do you love cartoons? Miss those Saturday morning cartoons you used to watch as a kid. Do you know Storm Crow Tavern offers cartoons Saturday morning from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm whilst you enjoy breakfast/brunch?
Also 7 days a week, you will find live music at the Libra Room on The Drive. Tangent Café hosts live jazz Sunday nights from 6:00 to 8:30 pm. Saturday, Pat’s Pub has live jazz Saturday afternoons from 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm, no cover.
Looking to shop and support local? Be sure to check out one of the farmer markets happening this weekend. Saturday is Riley Park Farmers Market at 30th & Ontario from 10 am – 2 pm and Trout Lake Farmers Market from 9 am – 2 pm at John Hendry Park. Sunday, Mount Pleasant Farmers Market is back in Dude Chilling Park from 10:00 am – 2 pm. To see more of What’s On in East Vancouver, check our Event Listing. We also have a separate listing of Free Events for those on a budget and in Vancouver, who isn’t.
Image Credit: June Hunter
The 5th First Pick Handmade takes over the Heritage Hall on Saturday, September 14th. The 3300 square foot space will be transformed into a Handmade Pop Up Department Store. You can expect to find a wide range of high quality, fashion forward Canadian made clothing, footwear, jewellery, lingerie, active wear, scarves and hats. If that list isn’t long enough, there will also be other winter accessories including belts, bags and wallets as well as skincare products and small batch fragrances. The items are handcrafted with an eye to sustainability. If there’s something specific you are looking for men’s or women’s wear, there’s a whole lot of talent coming to this event. We’ve set out all the designers that will be on hand.
We know many people search our site looking for the Illuminares Lantern Festival and Procession from days gone past. We hear from many people that are disappointed that this large scale event no longer takes place. The Illuminares Lantern Festival took on a life of its own over its 25 year run. It drew large crowds upwards of 20,000 people to John Hendry Park. Although this event is no longer, you may be pleased to know that 
Although we are still in the swing of summer, there is some interesting theatre coming up late summer. One that caught our eye is the modern-day adaptation of William Shakespeare’s King Lear, Lear Inc. All Or Nothing. In this production, Lear is a 55 year-old C.E.O. of a multinational corporation who lives and dies by the principle of ‘all or nothing’. Lear disowns his youngest daughter, Cordelia, hands the reins of corporate power over to his eldest daughters, Goneril and Regan, and unleashes the merciless forces of instrumental reason and denial responsible for 21st-century social, familial and environmental crises. The production is only showing for 2 nights and tickets are reasonable at $20 for adults, $15 for seniors and $10 for student and youth. So we suspect this one may sell out. For tickets, visit 
Richard Wolak of Vancouver Foodster is bringing back his 
Looking to kick up your cooking skills in the kitchen a notch? You can’t go wrong with Mexican food for a get together. Having brought various ceviches to gatherings with friends, it is always a popular hit and easy to keep some aside to make a vegan option. On September 19th, Sue Wiebe hosts a class at Gourmet Warehouse showing you how easy it is to put together a Mexican spread with fresh ingredients. This is an evening class beginning at 6:00 pm. We’ve set out the menu below:
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