BEST WESTERN PLUS CHATEAU GRANVILLE HOTEL: VANCOUVER EVENTS

Calendar of Festivals and Events 2011 / 2012

January

Annual Polar Bear Swim - January 1st, locals take to the waters at English Bay Beach for the sole purpose of braving the extreme temperatures, which are generally around 8°C / 46°F to 9°C / 48°F. Many spectators turn up to observe this ritual of madness, at which the atmosphere is always jovial

February

Vancouver International Boat Show - early February, this annual event is the biggest and oldest show of its kind in Western Canada. Expect to see displays of modern and classic vessels as well as innovations in equipment and accessories

March

Pacific Rim Whale Festival - held just outside of Vancouver in nearby Tofino, this annual event celebrates the annual migration of some 24,000 grey whales on their way past the West Coast. Expect to see boat races, parades, art shows, live musical performances and more

April

International Wine Festival - Lovers of the fermented grape will be in their element at the Vancouver International Wine Festival, which sees more than 40 events held at a range of venues across the city. Expect wine tasting and talks and discussions involving some 150 different wineries from 15 countries

May

International Children's Festival - Beginning the last week of the month and running into June, this annual event is a must for the young and young at heart. Expect to see theatrical performances, dance exhibitions and puppet shows from a variety of international performers

June

International Jazz Festival - late June, this 10-day event is one of Canada's biggest jazz festivals and features many of the world's top jazz performers. Highlights include the best in live jazz music and performances on 40 stages spread across the city, while in Vancouver's Gastown district there is a two-day street festival

July

Caribbean Days Festival - late July, the Caribbean Days festival is held at North Shore's Waterfront Park and is a two-day celebration of the best of Caribbean culture. Expect live music and dance performances as well as some tasty food and interest

The BMO Vancouver Marathon is an annual race held on the first Sunday of May each year in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada . As the 2nd largest international marathon event in Canada, it has a certified running distance of 26 miles and 385 yards long.   This marathon is certified by the International Association of Athletics Federations & Association of International Marathons and Distance Races as a qualifying marathon race.

The race started in 1972 when a small group of 46 runners ran five loops of Stanley Park to complete the first Vancouver International Marathon (known as Lions Gate Road Runners International Marathon). The marathon grew over the next few years to 300 participants in 1977.

EAT! Vancouver Food and Cooking Festival is the ultimate food expo.

Come for lunch and stay for dinner at EAT! Vancouver's Bite of Vancouver restaurant pavilion. The chefs of favourite Lower Mainland restaurants will serve up appetizer portions of their signature recipes. For a nominal charge ($1.00 - $2.50) per item you will be able to savour the flavours of numerous eateries.

Celebrity chefs, popular local restaurants, wineries, food and beverage manufacturers, cookbook authors, retailers, artisans, and many others from the culinary world will come together for a three day public extravaganza at BC Place Stadium on June 1, 2 & 3, 2012. EAT! Vancouver encompasses unique food experiences, opportunities to learn behind-the-scenes culinary magic from professional chefs, dynamic entertainment through celebrity chef cooking demonstrations and culinary competitions, diverse food, beverage and cooking related exhibits; and of course fantastic shopping opportunities.

In 1940, Theatre Under the Stars started when a group of local theatre people formed to produce professional quality musicals during the summer.  Since then, TUTS has been a Lower Mainland tradition, delighting generations of locals and tourists alike under the stars in the pastoral outdoor setting of historic Malkin Bowl in Stanley Park.  TUTS provides performers and technical staff an opportunity to work in a real world theatrical venue alongside seasoned professionals.

This year’s shows will be Titanic and The Music Man.

For 8 years, the Vancouver ComedyFest has taken advantage of our cities’ perfect backdrop to experience some of the best comedians from around the globe.

They have grown to become a prime destination for talent within the international comedy circuit. They have had the incredible opportunity to host personalities like Carol Burnett, Steve Martin, Jay Leno and Zach Galifianakis to name just a few.

The Vancouver ComedyFest, directed by Will Davis, works diligently to support up-and-coming talent from across Canada and to create a unique west coast festival that represents us here on the water’s edge.

Celebrating its 23rd Season in 2012, Bard on the Beach is one of Canada's largest not-for-profit, professional Shakespeare Festivals. Presented in a magnificent setting on the waterfront in Vancouver's Vanier Park, the Festival offers Shakespeare plays, related dramas, and several special events in two performance tents from May through September.

A new, custom-built Mainstage tent has been built, offering expanded seating (742 seats), a redesigned stage and more comfortable seating for patrons. The Mainstage tent is open-ended so that the actors perform against a spectacular backdrop of mountains, sea and sky - a highlight of the unique Bard experience. Four productions (Taming of the Shrew, MacBeth, The Merry Wives of Windsor, King John) are performed in repertory in the tent from early June through late September.