The 21st Annual Downtown Eastside Heart of the City Festival, brings over 100 events to venues around the Downtown Eastside from October 30 to November 10. Centred on a theme of Threads of Connection, the 2024 Festival is presented by Vancouver Moving Theatre with community partners including the Carnegie Community Centre, the Association of United Ukrainian
Offering a line-up of cultural events and artistic activities, taking place in-person and online, over twelve days, across 40 venues, including music, stories, poetry, theatre, ceremony, films, dance, readings, forums, workshops, discussions, gallery exhibits, art talks, history walks and more.
For twenty-one years, the Heart of the City Festival has been grounded in the Downtown Eastside and focused on listening and learning from the community’s cultural practices. The Festival works with, for and about the Downtown Eastside community to carry forward our community’s stories, ancestral memory, cultural traditions, lived experiences, and artistic processes to illuminate pathways of resistance and resilience.
This 2024 Festival is also a significant year as Vancouver Moving Theatre / Heart of the City Festival co-founders Terry Hunter, C.M. and Savannah Walling, C.M. are announcing their retirement as of July 2025 following their final 2024-2025 season with Vancouver Moving Theatre.
Terry and Savannah are ending their tenure as festival directors with gratitude to the community of the Downtown Eastside as they pass stewardship of the festival on to new leadership after 21 years of celebrating the community’s culture, nourishing connections and amplifying its voices and concerns.
Highlights of the Festival include:
Festival Opening Ceremony
Wednesday, October 30, 2pm at Carnegie Community Centre Theatre, 401 Main St: Free Admission
Festival co-founders Terry Hunter and Savannah Walling reflect on their 21-year history with the Festival; express gratitude to fellow artists, residents and organizations; and ‘pass the paddle’ to new leadership.
La Llorona
Friday, November 1, 7pm. Carnegie Community Centre Theatre, 401 Main St: Free Admission
A special Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration featuring the enchanting story of the Mexican icon, La Malinche
The Prop Master’s Dream
Saturday, November 2, 2pm & 7:30pm. Vancouver Playhouse, 600 Hamilton St: Book Tickets Online
An innovative fusion opera produced by Vancouver Cantonese Opera is inspired by the extraordinary true-life story of Wah-Kwan Gwan (1929-2000), a little-known Chinese Opera performer and prop master born to a local Chinese father and Indigenous mother.
Hearts Beat 2024
Sunday, November 3, 4pm. Carnegie Theatre, 401 Main St: Free Admission – Tickets: Available at the Carnegie Community Centre Program Office. Monday – Friday 9am to 5pm
Discover a mesmerizing blend of cultures with this special musical exploration that celebrates the shared traditions of drum, dance, and song between Indigenous and Irish communities.
Kin
Saturday, November 9, 8pm. KW Production Studio, 111 W Hastings (enter from Atrium): Book Tickets Online
Join artists AJ Simmons and Kelty McKerracher for an evening of Flamenco dance that explores looping technology and live performance.
Two Amigos Walking Tour, with John Atkin and Bob Sung
Sunday, November 10, Two Tours: Limited capacity, Registration required: Tickets: 10am – 11:30am & 1pm – 2:30pm
The Festival is excited to present two walking explorations with the powerhouse duo of John Atkin and Bob Sung. The Two Amigos shine unique insights on the neighbourhood’s history, culture and architecture.
The Downtown Eastside Heart of the City Festival takes place October 30 to November 10, 2024. Find the complete line up and register for tickets and online events at heartofthecityfestival.com