Whether itB次元官网网址檚 to Metro Vancouver or on Vancouver Island, festival goers love having destinations in mind to help with B.C. exploring during the summer. Here are some of July and AugustB次元官网网址檚 biggest and brightest festivals and what they have to offer.

VANCOUVER ISLAND FESTIVALS

LAKETOWN SHAKEDOWN

June 30 to July 2

Laketown Ranch, Cowichan Valley

Laketown Shakedown is a three-day festival with camping and concerts held across three stages. Headlining the weekend are iconic B次元官网网址�90s rockers Third Eye Blind, Grammy-winners Portugal. The Man, and Reggae superstar Shaggy.

VANCOUVER ISLAND MUSIC FESTIVAL

July 14-16

Comox Valley Exhibition Grounds

Following the model of a traditional Western Canadian Folk Festival, Vancouver Island Music Festival has concerts, workshops, jam sessions, and song circles.

Their big headliner this year is Sarah McLachlan, along with other performers like Rickie Lee Jones, Galactic, Daniel Lapp, and Bros Landreth. Weekend passes are $240 (plus fees) or day passes start at $129 (plus fees). On-site camping is available via purchasable passes.

SALT SPRING PRIDE FESTIVAL 2023

July 28-31

Salt Spring FarmerB次元官网网址檚 Institute, Salt Spring Island

Salt SpringB次元官网网址檚 four-day Pride Festival is housed at one festival site which includes a dance hall, outdoor stage, pop-up open mic, kid zone, covered booths, camping and shaded rest area. The weekend is all about celebrating love in its many forms.

SUNFEST COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL

Aug. 3-6, Lake Cowichan

Country lovers rejoice! B.C.B次元官网网址檚 top country music festival returns with a lineup that lives up to its hype, with stars like Blake Shelton, Lainey Wilson, Lindsay Ell, Lonestar, and Jade Eagleson. All will take place at the expansive 275-acre Laketown Ranch.

NANAIMO BLUES FESTIVAL

Aug. 10-13

Maffeo Sutton Park, Nanaimo

From R&B, boogie-woogie, blues-rock, to Chicago blues, jump blues, soul & gospel and so much more, Nanaimo Blues Festival covers it all.

Taking place in NanaimoB次元官网网址檚 scenic Inner Harbour, this yearB次元官网网址檚 line-up includes The Legendary Downchild Blues Band, Sue Foley, Thornetta Davis Lady A - Blues Diva, Blue Moon Marquee, Tom Lavin & the Legendary Power Blues, Rick Estrin & The Nightcats, Miss Emily and Kenny B次元官网网址淏lues BossB次元官网网址� Wayne. Tickets are $170.

MID ISLAND CO-OP ROCK THE PARK

Aug. 11-13

Parksville Community Park, Parksville

This three-day music festival celebrates old-time rock and roll, classic rock and more. Featured cover bands are playing the music of ABBA, Bob Seger, David Bowie, Eagles, Elvis, Fleetwood Mac, Joe Cocker, John Fogerty/CCR, Neil Diamond, Santana and other favourites. Cost is $40 for a single-day adult pass or $75 for a three-day pass.

ARTS ON THE AVENUE

Aug. 26-27

First Avenue, Ladysmith

A free festival now in its 25th year, Arts on the Avenue celebrates art via an evening Art Jam and the Arts on the Avenue Market. Interactive activities abound at Art Jam with a live paint competition, live music, a kidB次元官网网址檚 area and art stations. For those looking to shop, the market will be a chance to see all that local artists have to offer.

MAINLAND FESTIVALS

BASS COAST

July 7-10

Merritt

In the words of Ivy LabB次元官网网址檚 Gove Kidao, Bass Coast is B次元官网网址渁 place where people get silly to quite serious music.B次元官网网址� This festival is all about electronic music and art, with art installations, live art, performers, and workshops, all built on community and freedom of artistic expression. Attendees and performers are asked to keep in mind this yearB次元官网网址檚 theme, which is B次元官网网址淎vant GardenB次元官网网址�.

VANCOUVER FOLK MUSIC FESTIVAL

July 14-16

Jericho Beach Park, Vancouver

This folk festival is one of the cityB次元官网网址檚 most popular summer events, drawing in more than 40,000 attendees annually. Some of the bigger names performing this year are Juno Award Winners Jim Byrnes and Steve Dawson, Jill Barber, and rising local stars like Krystle dos Santos and Samantha Parton. ItB次元官网网址檚 also a place to discover folk music from around the globe.

SHAMBHALA

July 21-24

Salmo

As CanadaB次元官网网址檚 premiere electronic music festival B次元官网网址� sometimes referred to as B次元官网网址淐anadaB次元官网网址檚 Burning ManB次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� Shambhala stages over 200 artists, including some seriously big names this year like Griz, RL Grime, Zeds Dead, Liquid Stranger, John Summit, and Gigantic x NGHTMRE. Attendees can expect jaw-dropping stage design, dancing and lots of creative expression from both attendees and performers.

BURNABY BLUES AND ROOTS FESTIVAL

Aug. 12

Deer Lake Park

A large draw to this yearB次元官网网址檚 festival is that itB次元官网网址檚 free, with an attractive lineup of Buffy Sainte-Marie, Allison Russell, The Dip, Boy Golden, and The Trade-Offs. Tickets are not required for admission, but organizers note that the event site has capacity for 9,000 attendees.

EARLY MUSIC VANCOUVER SUMMER FESTIVAL

July 27 - Aug. 5

Celebrating women composers, librettists, and performers of the past and present, this yearB次元官网网址檚 festival theme is WOMENinSIGHT. It was inspired by revolutionary writer Christine de Pizan who questioned the centuries-old treatment of women. There will be more than 60 artists from around the globe to check out, with the festivalB次元官网网址檚 focus on B次元官网网址渆arly musicB次元官网网址�, including concerts dedicated to JS Bach, operas, and other styles from earlier eras of music creation.