City Gets 'Jazzier' in 2012

The signs of summer are coming and what better way to start it off than with an exciting announcement from the city's biggest summer music festival.  The Vancouver International Jazz Festival is kicking off its 27th annual event in a new location at the heart of Vancouver - in the Robson Square and Vancouver Art Gallery district made famous by the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.  The move from its previous Gastown location to is unfortunate news for the historic district and local businesses, but wider spaces and a more central location will mean better accessibility and open space for the average festival-goer.

This is another great aspect of Vancouver; its able to host festivals that draw large crowds from all over the country to a central downtown location easy and convenient for both locals and tourists. The safe and efficient transportation system allows flows of people to easily come and go from the downtown core.  With access to hundreds of restaurants, shops and lounges that are lively on any given night, this city makes a perfect host for these types of events. Not to mention, a great backdrop of the mountains helps take in the smooth sounds of jazz just a little easier.

The 2012 event kicks off June 22nd and runs until July 1st at various venues throughout the city.  With artists like the sounds of George Benson and the Avett Brothers, this year is looking to be one of the festival's biggest yet.

For full schedules and line-ups, visit Vancouver International Jazz Festival's official website for details.

Caribbean Flavors in the City

One of BC's largest cultural events, Caribbean Days Festival, takes places every summer on the shores of North Vancouver. It draws thousands of visitors from all over for the two-day event and is jam packed with fun activities, food, music and everything else in between.

This was my second time attending the free family-friendly event and I was still amazed at how fun and lively this festival is.  Unlike the cultural events back in Winnipeg which include the popular two-week long summer festival Folklorama, this North Vancouver event took my definition of the word "festival" to a whole new level.

Live entertainment flowed from the main stage area as well as from other folks playing spontaneously on their own drums and instruments throughout the festival grounds. Tents of local homemade jewelry, crafts and clothing were situated in one market area while another food area featured endless lineups for home made Caribbean treats and delights, which infused the air with aromas that brought me back down memory lane of Jamaican vacations.

It was a scorching hot weekend perfect for a Caribbean festival, leading people to come out in hoards.  Public transport Translink's Sea Bus, which connects downtown commuters to the north shore, experiences their year's highest traffic levels during this weekend because of this particular event, which I understand from my first-hand experience in a 30+ minute wait going both directions.  They prepare by increasing number of boats, departure times and staff to accommodate festival goers.

Caribbean Days Festival goes down in my books as an annual must-see event.  I cannot wait till next year where I can only hope for another sun-filled weekend listening to live reggae and devouring jerk chicken!