Love craft beer? If the answer is yes, you might want to make your way to the 10th Annual Vancouver Craft Beer Festival happening this Saturday and Sunday at the PNE Fairgrounds. This event which started in 2010 hosting just 100 beer lovers and 15 craft breweries has grown exponentially. This weekend you can expect over 300 beers and ciders for tasting. In case you missed that, if you are not a beer lover, there will also be 10 cideries on hand to mix things up. There will be local offerings of craft beer and cider as well as a number from across the border as well as 10 independent craft berries from the BC Ale Trail. If you get hungry, there will be a good selection of food trucks on hand for the festival. The Craft Beer Week Festival runs this Saturday, June 8th from 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm and Sunday, June 9th from 12:00 to 5:00 pm. Tickets are $39 for one day, or you can purchase a weekend pass for $65. Tickets are available through Ticketleader. Note: You must be 19+ to attend the Vancouver Craft Beer Week Festival and 2 pieces of ID are required for entry.
10th Annual Vancouver Craft Beer Week Festival June 8 & 9, 2019
5 Jun
European Festival At The Alpen Club Sunday May 26th
14 May
The 21st Annual European Festival happens Sunday, May 26th at the Vancouver Alpen Club (Victoria and 33rd Avenue). This all day event is rich in culture and features live music and performances, lots of amazing food as well as an artisan marketplace which feature hand-made jellies, honey products, teas, ethnic instruments and much more. This is a great opportunity to learn about the tastes and sounds of Europe without travelling very far. The European Festival kicks off at 11:00 am on Sunday, May 26th and runs till 6:00 pm. To see what performances they’ve got lined up, visit the Festival Schedule. Admission is $5. Tickets can be purchased at the door, the day of the event or in advance through Eventbrite.
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NEW: Finfolk Nordic Inspired Food In East Van Craft Beer District
11 Apr
We had the pleasure of popping in to check out the new Finfolk restaurant in East Van during their recent soft opening. This is a unique space that we expect will be a happening spot in East Van’s Craft Beer District. Finfolk has a Nordic inspired menu which was created by Jeff Bobyk, his father Karey Bobyk and their partner and Executive Chef Darren Brown. If you are unfamiliar with the name, you will remember the food. Chef Darren Brown has worked in a variety of kitchens including CinCin, Horizon’s and Whistler’s Quattro. So you can expect some unique high quality food but in a casual relaxed setting.
The menu is simple and straight forward, but will be evolving over the coming weeks as they get ready for the official opening in early May. Right now the menu includes pizza, one of which is named Hildaland which comes with lamb, potatoes, truffle cream and rosemary (pictured below). They will also be serving fresh Fanny Bay Oysters which will be delivered every Friday along with fresh organic produce from North Arm Farms in Pemberton. If you wish to nibble, they will have some truly Nordic inspired grazing plates. Finfolk brines and smokes all their own meats and pickles their own vegetables. As they do it all in-house, you can expect a bit bigger portions than you might find on your average charcuterie plates around town.
Last but not least, the beer! Here they are doing something a little different we like. There are many more craft breweries popping up in other parts of the Lower Mainland making a name for themselves including the stretch in Port Moody and Four Winds in Delta. Finfolk will be bring a variety of different beers on top from other breweries to East Van. So you don’t have to travel to Port Moody to try Twin Sails beer, you can try it right here in East Van. We understand the selection will be rotating, so expect it to change. This is definitely a spot worth checking out. We will be keeping an eye out on their evolving menu as they gear up for their official opening. In the meantime, stop by Friday, Saturday or Sunday 11:00 am to 11:0 pm. They are located at 1600 East Franklin Street, just 1 block North of East Hastings. To check for updates on their update, new menu features, follow them on Instagram.
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7th Annual East Side Beer Fest March 13th At The Wise Hall
11 Mar
Liberty Merchant Company presents the 7th Annual East Side Beer Fest tasting event on Wednesday, March 13th at the Wise Hall, 1882 Adanac Street. The event will feature craft beers from all over the world as well as bits of food from food purveyors on Commercial Drive. This event is also a fundraiser for the Great Vancouver Food Bank Society which helps provides some 25,000 people in need each week. All ticket sales and draw prizes directly support the Great Vancouver Food Bank Society. Tickets are $29.99 each and available at all Liberty Wine Merchant locations. In East Vancouver, visit them at 1622 Commercial Drive or call them at 604.633.1922. The event gets under way at 7:00 pm and goes till 9:00 pm.
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Vancouver Brewery Tours Celebrates Italy For Dine Out With Italian Brewery & Culinary Tour
16 Jan
Vancouver Brewery Tours has put together a great experience for Dine Out 2019. They are offering you the best in Italian culture, cuisine and craft beer with their Italian Brewery and Culinary Tour. The tour features a selection of handpicked Italian owned and operated businesses. Craft beer is first on the menu with a visit to the award winning Luppolo Brewing Co. where it’s all about the beer. The next course ventures into historic and vibrant “Little Italy” on Commercial Drive to the deli legend at La Grotto del Formaggio. The main course features a masterfully handmade meal at the renowned Marcello’s Ristorante and Pizzeria. Last up, they have a sweet surprise for you at the end of the evening.
During Dine Out Vancouver guests can choose between multiple dates between January 18th and February 2nd for the Italian Brewery and Culinary Tour. The added bonus is no driving, just sit back and enjoy the experience. Vancouver Brewery Tours provides full transportation aboard their bus including pick up and drop off at Waterfront Station in downtown Vancouver. Your knowledgeable tour guides will take you on a 3 1/2 hour tour which runs from 3:45 pm to 7:30 pm. Tickets for the Italian Brewery & Culinary Tour are $99 and available through Dine Out Vancouver.
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Beer & Cheese Pairing October 23rd at Luppolo Brewing Co.
9 Oct
Luppolo Brewing Co. and les amis du fromage have teamed up to bring you an evening of Beer & Cheese Pairing Tuesday, October 23, 2018. Head Brewer, Ryan Parfitt, of Luppolo and Allison Spurrell of les amis du fromage will guide you through a selection of Italian themed cheeses which they’ve selected to pair with a variety of beers including some limited and special releases. Dessert is included in the evening. The event happens at Luppolo Brewing Co., 1123 Venables Street. Tickets are 
$60 and available online through Picatic, or to avoid service charges, you can stop by the brewery to pick up your tickets.
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What’s On East Van: July 13th Edition
13 Jul
Our weekly feature What’s On East Van sets out some cool events for the upcoming week. Beyond the week, we invite you to check out our Event Listing which is updated daily and features events for the month and beyond.
Greek SummerFest – Boundary & 29th Ave. Until July 15th
Great food, live entertainment and dancing continues this weekend and then it’s done for another year. The Greek Summerfest is happening at Boundary and 29th Avenue. Lots of great talent taking the stage this weekend including Greek sensation Yanni Sahamis and Grupo Asi Somos performing Venezuelan Music. This is an all ages event and admission is free. For more information, visit Greek Summerfest.
Movie In The Park – Collingwood Park – July 13th
Collingwood Community Policing is hosting a free movie in the park event Friday, July 13th. Festivities get underway at 7:00 pm. Movie name not announced, but we expect it to be family friendly.
Adult Nights – Playland – July 13th
Playland Nights continues this Friday Night for the 4th of 6 evening events for the 19+ crowd. There will be beverages, alcoholic and non, midway games, rides, DJs spinning tunes with a definite party theme. New this year is also a burlesque show and the opportunity to test your lumber Jack/Jill skills with axe-throwing which we understand there’s an extra charge to participate in. Tickets are $31 in advance or $34 at the gate.
Eastside Culture Crawl’s 3rd Annual Art, Bike, Beer Crawl– July 14th
This is a fundraiser for the Eastside Culture Crawl Society which does a great job of featuring East Van artists. This event takes you to 4 breweries whether you wish to cycle or walk, your call. Last stop is Strange Fellows Brewing which will be serving light bite as well. To get your ticket, visit Eventbrite.
Miqayel Voskanyan & Friends – The Cultch – July 14th
Miqayel Voskanyan and Friends will be performing at The Cultch this Saturday. This is an ethno-jazz and folk band based in Yerevan, Armenia. They have introduced jazz to the tar (a folk instrument used across the Caucasus and Iran), which we’ve learnt makes them stand out with a fresh, modern sound in world music. This is a new genre of music that fuses old and new. Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 at the door and available at The Cultch.
RecycleFest – Trout Lake – July 14th
You are invited to stop by RecycleFest this Saturday at Trout Lake from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm with your unwanted or broken small appliances and power tools. While there, enjoy free food, music, games and prizes and learn a little about recycling.
Weiner Dog Races – Hastings Racecourse – July 14th & 15th
Hastings Racecourse presents their Dog Days of Summer event, the very popular Weiner Dog Races. Along with the races, there will be food trucks, craft beer and live music and we hope some shade and cooling mats for the hot dogs. Event happens both Saturday and Sunday. Admission is free. First race each day is at 1:50 pm.
Summer Series At Grandview Park – July 15th
The Commercial Drive Business Society is hosting a free family event at Grandview Park (Commercial Drive at Charles Street). You are invited to stop by between 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm for Zumba on the main stage, face painting, balloon twisting and more.
Live Music, Comedy & Entertainment
Looking for live music? Breaking Boundaries is back at Cafe Deux Soleils on the Drive this Saturday night. If you are looking for comedy, East Van Improv League hangs out at Havana Theatre Sunday nights at 8:00 pm. Three farmer markets are happening this weekend. Saturday it’s Riley Park (10 am – 2 pm) and Trout Lake (9 am – 2 pm) and Sunday, Mount Pleasant Farmers Market is back at Dude Chilling Park from 10:00 am till 2:00 pm. To see more of what’s on in East Vancouver, check our Event Listing.
Image Credit: June Hunter
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What’s On East Van: June 22nd Edition
22 Jun
Our weekly feature What’s On East Van sets out some cool events for the upcoming week. Beyond the week, we invite you to check out our Event Listing which is updated daily and features events for the month and beyond.
FIFA – The World Cup
FIFA World Cup Soccer continues which means many local spots will be featuring games. Some of those include The Libra Room featuring games after 10:30 a.m. Portuguese Club will open early for all Portugal matches, but just a reminder that members get first dibs on seats/space. The Vancouver Alpen Club will be open 30 minutes before kick off and beer flows early at 9:00 am. There is a $5 cover charge at The Alpen Club. St. Augustine’s is regularly featuring sporting events.
Playland Nights – PNE – June 22nd
Playland Nights kicks off this Friday June 22nd at 7:00 pm. Playland will be again hosting 6 summer evenings dedicated to adults only (meaning 19+). There will be beverages, alcoholic and non, midway games, rides, DJs spinning tunes with a definite party theme. New this year is also a burlesque show and the opportunity to test your lumber Jack/Jill skills with axe-throwing which we understand there’s an extra charge to participate in. Tickets are $31 in advance or $34 at the gate. We learnt these events sold out last year, so want to attend, hop to it.
What Ifs – The Cultch – June 23rd
Who hasn’t asked themselves at one time or another ‘what if’ I’d done this or that. Your life could or can take a different trajectory. Interesting feature at The Cultch this Saturday asking the What If question. What if you got on a plane today? What If you made the first move? What If you said yes? You are invited to come sit and dream about places and experiences not yet lived. Life is a journey with many possible paths. It’s easy to get stuck in one path which then becomes comfortable. Are you stuck? What if you attended Saturday and it changed your path? There are 2 sessions this Saturday at 3:00 and 7:00 pm. Tickets are $23 in advance or $20 at the door.
Summer Solstice – Mountain View Cemetery – June 23rd
Little Chamber Music is hosting their 4th Annual Summer Solstice Celebration ta Mountain View Cemetery, 5455 Fraser Street, this Saturday, June 23rd. This is a free family friendly event with music, art and dance. This year they are partnering with Birds! Birds! Birds! which means there will be bird origami and flute players recreating bird song whilst watching bird stilt walkers. You are invited to bring your lawn chairs, or a blanket and get settled in between 6:00 – 7:00 pm. Singing begins at 7:00 pm with other activities to follow until 9:00 pm. For more information, visit their Facebook page.
Middle Eastern Celebration – Trout Lake Community Centre – June 24th
You are invited to a Middle Eastern Celebration happening at Trout Lake Community Centre this Sunday, June 24th. Join them for henna, dance, arts and craft, theatre performances and more. Festivities happen from 11:00 am to 1:30 pm. Participation is free, but food will be available for $7.00. Registration is requested.
Our Social Fabric – Textile Sale – June 24th
Our Social Fabric, a textile recycling initiative is having a sale this Sunday, June 24th from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. For those that sew or do crafts, there are some amazing deals. Come early for best selection. Sale happens at 1275 Venables Street, Suite #270.
Zumba & Beer – Andina Brewing Co. – June 24th
ZOOMbeer is back at Andina Brewing Co, 1507 Powell Street. this Sunday, June 24th. Class gets under way at 11:00 am followed by a flight or glass of beer. Cost is $20. Registration through Zumba Vancouver.
Live Music, Comedy & Entertainment
If you love Star Trek and burlesque, then the Rio Theatre has you covered this Friday and Saturday, Geekenders present a Star Trek Burlesque Show both nights at 8:00 pm. If you are looking for live music, Cumbia Galeria with Joshua Job will be at Café Deux Soleils this Saturday night specializing in Latin music. Three farmer markets are happening this weekend. Saturday it’s Riley Park (10 am – 2 pm) and Trout Lake (9 am – 2 pm) and Sunday, Mount Pleasant Farmers Market is back at Dude Chilling Park from 10:00 am till 2:00 pm. To see more of what’s on in East Vancouver, check our Event Listing.
Image Credit: June Hunter
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Eastside Culture Crawl’s 3rd Annual Art, Bike & Beer Crawl July 14, 2018
19 Jun
The Eastside Culture Crawl is hosting their 3rd Annual Art, Bike & Beer Crawl on Saturday, July 14, 2018. This is fundraiser for the Eastside Culture Crawl Society which does a great job showcasing some of the amazing artistic talent we have in East Van. As the name depicts, you will be taken on a crawl of 4 breweries, names to be announced, but their official beer sponsor is Strange Fellows Brewing which is also where the wrap tour will be held along with light eats. The beer crawl will feature tasting flights at each brewery along with tours and/or chats on beer as well as art exhibits at certain spot on the tour. The event happens rain or shine and you are invited to cycle or walk the Art, Bike & Beer Crawl. Tickets are $55 and available from Eventbrite. You must be 19 years or older to participate in this event.
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Croatia Days Festival At The Croatian Cultural Centre June 15 & 16
13 Jun
It’s cultural festival season in Vancouver and what a privilege it is to live in a community that encompasses so many different ethnic and cultural enclaves. This weekend, come down to the Croatian Cultural Centre for some food, beer, folk dancing and of course, soccer!
Croatia Days Festival begins Friday, June 15th starting at 5:00 p.m. There will be a men’s futsal tournament and an outdoor barbeque with local and Croatian beers available for purchase. At 9:00 p.m. the bar will open for a pub night with live music and entertainment! For the main event on Saturday, June 16th, starting at 10:00 a.m. there will be cultural displays and food offerings from the various regions of Croatia, vendor stands from local Croatian businesses as well as a petting zoo and face painting station for kids. Up until 4:00 p.m. there will also be a lineup of Croatian dance groups who will be showcasing traditional Croatian folk dancing for festival attendees!
For all FIFA fans, head down to the Croatian Cultural Centre at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday for the pre-game party including food and beverages available for purchase where fans will be getting revved up for the Croatia vs. Nigeria game at 12:00 p.m. Wear your red and white checks and join the electric atmosphere while watching the game on nine jumbo projection screens and enjoying specialty imported beer from Croatia!
By Contributing Writer: Nicole Alivojvodic
ILiveInEastVan.com 