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The Powell Street Festival takes place on the traditional, unceded and occupied territories of the Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh), and xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nations.
Festival Archives
The Powell Street Festival is the largest Japanese Canadian festival in the country and the longest running community arts celebration in Vancouver! Enjoy traditional and contemporary Japanese Canadian performances and demonstrations, including taiko drumming, sumo wrestling, martial arts, bonsai and ikebana, folk and modern dance, alternative pop/rock/urban music, visual arts, film/video, as well as historical walking tours, tea ceremonies, and a fantastic array of Japanese food, crafts, & displays.
Every BC Day Long Weekend, 11:30am to 7:00pm, since 1977.
Festival Poster Art
The Festival Artist is selected through the input of both the Programming Committee and Merchandise Committee.
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Festival Programs
Explore past festival programs, locations, and dates by clicking on the drop-down menu below:
This year’s Festival returns to Oppenheimer Park and the surrounding Paueru-Gai neighborhood, located on the unceded territory of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh people. We are excited to reconvene with a full-build, in-person festival this year after going online and hosting a hybrid format in the past two years. Applying the lessons from the past years, we will have a livestream component, Festival Connect, allowing those of us who are unable to visit in person to stay connected and enjoy select Festival programming from their homes.
July 30 and 31, 2022, 11:30 AM to 7 PM
- Oppenheimer Park (400 block of Powell Street)
- Firehall Arts Centre (280 E. Cordova Street)
- Vancouver Japanese Language School and Japanese Hall (475 Alexander Street)
- Vancouver Buddhist Temple (220 Jackson Avenue)
- Anvil Centre (777 Columbia St, New Westminster)
See our full 2022 print program here!
Or see our two-day Festival schedule here!
COVID Safe Gatherings- throughout the month of July, culminating July 31 and August 1, 2021
There was no large public gathering event in 2021, but throughout the month of July, the festival website served as the hub for an array of on-demand creative works, on-location performances, DIY workshops, and community-building activities.
A few limited number events were held throughout the month of July at:
- Surrounding Areas of Oppenheimer Park (300-500 block of Alexander Street, 100-300 block of Jackson Avenue, 100-200 block of Dunlevy Avenue)
- Vancouver Japanese Language School and Japanese Hall (475 Alexander Street)
- Vancouver Buddhist Temple (220 Jackson Avenue)
To view more information about events held over July 31 and August 1, please view our press release.
You can still view online content from the 2021 festival through the Powell Street Festival YouTube- Watch ONLINE!
See our full 2021 print program here!
COVID PIVOT- August 1, 2020, 2-7 PM
Online Telethon- Watch ONLINE!
See our full 2020 print program here!
August 3 and 4, 2019, 11:30 AM to 7 PM
- Surrounding Areas of Oppenheimer Park (300-500 block of Alexander Street, 100-300 block of Jackson Avenue, 100-200 block of Dunlevy Avenue)
- Firehall Arts Centre (280 E. Cordova Street)
- Vancouver Japanese Language School and Japanese Hall (475 Alexander Street)
- Vancouver Buddhist Temple (220 Jackson Avenue)
See our full 2019 print program here!
Or see our two-day Festival schedule here!
August 4 and 5, 2018, 11:30 AM to 7 PM
- Oppenheimer Park (400 block of Powell Street)
- Firehall Arts Centre (280 E. Cordova Street)
- Vancouver Japanese Language School and Japanese Hall (475 Alexander Street)
- Vancouver Buddhist Temple (220 Jackson Avenue)
- Centre A Gallery (268 Keefer Street)
See our full 2018 print program here!
Or see our two-day Festival schedule here!
August 5 and 6, 2017, 11:30 AM to 7 PM
- Oppenheimer Park (400 block of Powell Street)
- Firehall Arts Centre (280 E. Cordova Street)
- Vancouver Japanese Language School and Japanese Hall (475 Alexander Street)
- Vancouver Buddhist Temple (220 Jackson Avenue)
See our full 2017 print program here!
Or see our two-day Festival schedule here!
July 30 and 31, 2016, 11:30 AM to 7 PM
- Oppenheimer Park (400 block of Powell Street)
- Firehall Arts Centre (280 E. Cordova Street)
- Vancouver Japanese Language School and Japanese Hall (475 Alexander Street)
- Vancouver Buddhist Temple (220 Jackson Avenue)
See our full 2016 print program here!
Or see our two-day Festival schedule here!
August 1 and 2, 2015, 11:30 AM to 7 PM
- Oppenheimer Park (400 block of Powell Street)
- Firehall Arts Centre (280 E. Cordova Street)
- Vancouver Japanese Language School and Japanese Hall (475 Alexander Street)
- Vancouver Buddhist Temple (220 Jackson Avenue)
- Centre A (229 E. Georgia Street)
See our full 2015 print program here!
Or see our two-day Festival schedule here!
August 1 and 3, 2014, 11:30 AM to 7 PM
For the 2014 Festival, the new site spanned approximately 4 city blocks and will have one main stage located on Alexander Street west of Jackson Avenue. More info ›
- Alexander Street (between Princess and Dunlevy Avenues) and Jackson Avenue (between Railway and Cordova Streets).
- Oppenheimer Park (400 block of Powell Street)
- Firehall Arts Centre (280 E. Cordova Street)
- Vancouver Japanese Language School and Japanese Hall (475 Alexander Street)
- Vancouver Buddhist Temple (220 Jackson Avenue)
- Centre A (229 E. Georgia Street)
- Ming Sun – Uchida Building (439 Powell Street)
August 3 and 4, 2013, 11:30 AM to 7 PM
- Oppenheimer Park (400 Block Powell Street)
See our full 2013 print program here!
August 4 and 5, 2012, 11:30 AM to 7 PM
- Oppenheimer Park (400 block of Powell Street)
- Firehall Arts Centre (280 E. Cordova Street)
- Vancouver Japanese Language School and Japanese Hall (475 Alexander Street)
- Vancouver Buddhist Temple (220 Jackson Avenue)
- Chapel Arts (304 Dunlevy)
- Japanese Canadian National Museum (6688 Southoaks, Burnaby)
- Blim (115 East Pender)
July 30 and 31, 2011, 11:30 AM to 7 PM
- Oppenheimer Park (400 block of Powell Street)
- Firehall Arts Centre (280 E. Cordova Street)
- Vancouver Japanese Language School and Japanese Hall (475 Alexander Street)
- Vancouver Buddhist Temple (220 Jackson Avenue)
- Chapel Arts (304 Dunlevy)
- Japanese Canadian National Museum (6688 Southoaks, Burnaby)
- Blim (115 East Pender)
July 31 and August 1, 2010, 11:30 AM to 7 PM
- Oppenheimer Park (400 block of Powell Street)
August 1 and August 2, 2009, 11:30 AM to 7 PM
- Woodland Park (Woodland and Adanac)
August 2 and August 3, 2008, 11:30 AM to 7 PM
- Oppenheimer Park (400 block of Powell Street)
August 4 and August 5, 2007, 11:30 AM to 7 PM
- Oppenheimer Park (400 block of Powell Street)
August 5 and August 6, 2006, 11:30 AM to 7 PM
- Oppenheimer Park (400 block of Powell Street)
July 30 and July 31, 2005, 11:30 AM to 7 PM
- Oppenheimer Park (400 block of Powell Street)