The Vancouver Arts and Music Festival returns to Esther Short Park this week, with four days of free music, art, and community celebration. What began as a post-pandemic vision to bring people together has quickly become one of the region's premier cultural events, drawing tens of thousands of visitors annually.
The festival, a unique collaboration between the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and the City of Vancouver, has grown to attracting over 40,000 visitors annually. This year, the festival expands to four days, kicking off on Thursday, July 31 and running through Sunday, August 3.
The festival offers multiple stages featuring performances from both local and international artists. Each day culminates with a two-hour Vancouver Symphony Orchestra performance featuring world-renowned musicians. This year's headliners include violinists Mark and Maggie O'Connor on Friday, soprano Renée Fleming on Saturday, and guitarist Sharon Isbin on Sunday.
What sets this festival apart is its accessibility. As Igor Shakhman, CEO of VSO shares, “This is the opportunity to show that classical music of the highest caliber is completely, totally accessible. You don't have to dress up. Just bring your family, have a picnic, and listen. Enjoy the highest quality of what’s available in the world."
The entire festival is FREE - even the VSO concerts.
Beyond the main stage, the festival features community dance and music stages, food vendors, workshops, art demonstrations, and interactive activities. New this year is a smaller stage showcasing spoken word, youth performers, and acoustic artists. Clark College partners to bring curated community and international performances to the park as well.
The Vancouver Arts and Music Festival represents a community coming together to celebrate arts and culture while making world-class performances accessible to all. With free admission to all events, this weekend offers Clark County residents an extraordinary opportunity to experience arts and music in their own backyard.
