Welcome to the 45th Powell Street Festival!  

We have adapted to public health restrictions and revamped programming so festival-goers can stay bubble-safe, yet connected to the historic Japanese Canadian neighbourhood! 

Throughout the month of July, the festival website (www.powellstreetfestival.com) will be the hub for the country’s largest celebration of Japanese Canadian art and culture. We are offering an array of on-demand creative works, on-location performances, DIY workshops, and community-building activities.  

There will be no large public gathering event, however, should you feel drawn to visit Paueru Gai on BC Day Long Weekend, July 31 and August 1, there will be opportunities to connect!  

• Contribute to our well-wishing Daruma Campaign! Mail in or drop off your origami daruma to be entered in our raffle and be a part of the Daruma Community-Installation at Oppenheimer Park.  
• Pick up some down-home Japanese Canadian community cuisine and locally-made crafts at our drive-thru Festival Depot (advance purchase required). The Festival Depot is located at the Vancouver Buddhist Temple, 220 Jackson Street. 
• Join a guided 360 Riot Walk tour offered in Japanese, Cantonese, Punjabi and English. 
• Engage with Tasai Collective’s immersive poetry/music installation at the Vancouver Japanese Language School and Japanese Hall, 487 Alexander Street.  
• Experience Randall Okita’s immersive, virtual-reality film Book of Distance at the Vancouver Japanese Language School. 
• Learn the Paueru Mashup Dance and join a flash mob performance at Oppenheimer Park. 
• Attend the Festival Lottery draws! The lottery barrel will be in front of the Vancouver Buddhist Temple, July 31 at 1:30 pm and August 1 at 6:00 pm. 
• From the corner of Powell Street and Jackson Avenue, listen to the sounds of durational taiko drumming emanating from the rooftop of the Vancouver Japanese Language School. 

From the comfort of your home, expect exciting festival points of engagement!  

• Are you missing the festival’s annual sumo tournament? Fold origami sumo wrestlers and host your own paper-version competition following our stop motion tutorial video. 
• Follow workshops to develop your Japanese language skills! Ranging from Japanese song writing, recitation of the iconic Haru wa akebono, and vocabulary in the context of being Japanese Canadian, no prior experience is required. 
• At your own leisure, enjoy on-demand pieces from: Denise Sherwood, Sawagi Taiko, Onibana Taiko, Adrian Sherwood, and Don Chow; Kazuma Glen Motomura and Sammy Chien; Jody Okabe, Rupe Singh and Aya Garcia; Shion Skye Carter and Kysuu; Rita Wong, Emily Riddle, Sacha Ouellet, and E. Hiroko Isomura; and more will be released throughout July.  
• Stay connected to our community groups and performers through their community messages (a favourite component of The Telethon Pivot in 2020). 
• On the BC Day Long Weekend, join a Zoom Check-in to say hello to festival friends, enjoy impromptu visits from special guests, and witness the live Lottery Draws.  

Follow the #powellstfest hashtag, to discover a critical mass of good festival vibes! 

Most in-person events have limited capacity and require advance registration. Please follow our website home page for program and reservation releases.