It’s already the end of June but brings us to the first long weekend of Summer and all the entertainment that Canada Day brings to the week’s picks.

Jazz: The 34th Vancouver International Jazz Festival runs until July 1st with hundred of artists, performances and events, many free, taking place all over downtown Vancouver’s parks, theatres, restaurants and other venues
Arts: The 11th Annual Queer Arts Festival continues through June 28th at Roundhouse Community Centre
Dance: Let’s Hear It For Yaletown brings free Jazz and Dancing to Bill Curtis Square from noon – 2pm & 5-7:30pm Monday to Friday, the perfect way to spend your lunch time or relax after work.
Musical: Adapted from Roald Dahl’s novel about the precocious, pint-sized, imaginative student, Matilda the Musical is running at Arts Club Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage until July 14th.
Moms: A play you and your mom can enjoy Mom’s The Word 3 – Nest Half Empty, is playing at The Arts Club Granville Island Stage, until July 20th
Pride: Surrey Pride is celebrating 20 years with Pride Party on the Plaza, a family-friendly festival at Surrey Central City, Saturday June 29th 3pm-8pm

Tents: The 30th season of Bard on the Beach is underway at Vanier Park with Taming of the Shrew and Shakespeare in Love playing in repertoire through the summer
Diva: Thursday, stage legend & Golden Globe-winning actress Bernadette Peters joins the VSO, at the Orpheum, for a show filled with classic Broadway tunes, delivered in Peters’ unique and inimitable style.
Queen: The VSO presents a 100th anniversary gift to the community with a free outdoor concert, featuring Queen Latifah alongside the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Saturday at Deer Lake Park.

Symphony In The Park
Park: On Sunday, June 30th the VSO and Music Director Otto Tausk return to Deer Lake for its 32nd annual free summer performance Symphony in the Park
Bats: Vancouver Canadians host a 6 game home stand against Spokane and Hillsboro from June 28 – July 3, including Fireworks nights on June 29 and Canada Day.
Puppets: Museum of Anthropologie’s Shadows, Strings and Other Things features a broad array of puppets, old and new, from 15 countries across Asia, Europe, and the Americas until October 14
SoapOpera: Vancouver TheatreSports presents its newest show, Improv Mondays with Michelle – Fake Stories, Real Improvisers hosted by the character Michelle from the popular web comedic soap opera Michelle’s.

Dominion: Celebrate Canada Day at any of the community celebrations around Metro Vancouver; including Canada Day at Canada Place, O Canada Day at Granville Island, Surrey Canada Day at Bill Reid Millenium Amphitheatre, Steveston Salmon Festival, West Van Canada Day at John Lawson Park, Historic Canada Day at Burnaby Village Museum, to name just a few of the events.