The 22nd Annual Downtown Eastside Heart of the City Festival, presented by Vancouver Moving Theatre in association with Carnegie Community Centre & the Association of United Ukrainian Canadians, returns October 31 to November 8.
Themed Dignity in Community, the 2025 Festival honours the everyday and extraordinary ways people in the DTES community care for each other, resist displacement, and make space to belong. Reflecting on what it means to live with dignity — on unceded land and with each other, Heart of the City 2025 celebrates the strength and creativity found in these connections and asks: What is possible when dignity is a shared foundation for us all?
An array of incredible artists present over 100 events across 40+ local venues, including music, stories, poetry, theatre, ceremony, film, dance, readings, workshops, discussions, art talks, history walks, and more. Rooted in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside for 22 years, The Heart of the City Festival continues to evolve – shaped and led by the voices of the neighbourhood – carrying forward stories, lived experiences, artistic practices, ancestral knowledge, and cultural traditions.
Highlights in the 2025 Festival include:
Festival Opening Celebration
Free, October 31st @ Carnegie Community Centre Theatre.
The afternoon celebration welcomes warmth, mischief, and kinship, and features many fantastic Festival artists
Spirit Encounters
Free with registration, November 2 @ Russian Hall, 600 Campbell Street
Gerardo Avila’s theatrical performance celebrates Día de Muertos, and featuresshadow puppetry, comedy, Flamenco and Mexican dancing, and music.
Indigenous Cultural Exhibition
Free, November 6 @ Russian Hall, 600 Campbell Street
An evening of dancing, drumming and community, featuring Two-Spirit Grass Dancer Larissa Healey, and Powwow Dancer Pavel Desjarlais.
Maraschino Tonight with Reveal Yourself
Ticketed, Friday November 7 @ Russian Hall, 600 Campbell Street
A fabulous evening of entertainment that has it all! In this timeless variety show, host and enigmatic entertainer Cherry Maraschino is accompanied by a ragtag crew of artists, puppets, and nefarious rascals as well as Reveal Yourself, a lo-fi freak music duo
Rhythms of Thunder: An Evening of Taiko
Ticketed, November 8 @ Russian Hall, 600 Campbell Street
As the Festival comes to a close enjoy a rare opportunity of a full evening of Vancouver taiko artists showcases a unique and thrilling lineup of Japanese drumming styles.
The 22nd Annual Downtown Eastside Heart of the City Festival runs Friday, October 31 to Saturday, November 8, 2025 at various venues on Vancouver Downtown Eastside, visit heartofthecityfestival.com for the full festival schedule and to register for ticket.