The city's biggest free music and arts festival of the year is back and is about to descend on the Kitsilano neighbourhood on Saturday July 11th from 11am to 9pm.

The party is set to transform West 4th Ave into 10 blocks of live music, beer gardens and outdoor art.

Now into its 5th year this party is probably best known for great live music and this year we will enjoy more than 50 bands with local roots who will perform on 8 different stages. 

Of course this wouldn't be a street party without street food.  Vancouver's top food trucks will circle up the event with options compilmented by more than 50 restaurants, pubs and eaties that will line the party zone.  Many of which have street-side patios or make great picnic options.

You can also enjoy some family entertainment with special children's performers including Kiki the Eco Elf, balloon artists and face painting.

Always a great event.  Enjoy!

There is always a frenzy of activity around Canada Place on Canada Day, but the action continues throughtout the summer.  Take a walk alongside the sails and you will find a wonderful variety of free entertainment.

Every Thursday night starting July 9th, the Fresh Air Cinema gets into gear.  A 3 story tall inflatable screen will be erected at the north point of Canada Place where around 1,000 people can kick back and watch a movie. A classic setting with the ocean and mountains as the backdrop.

The films are free and you can bring whatever you need to make yourself comfortable: blankets, lawnchairs...  Popcorn and beverages will be available to purchase but there is no alcohol or smoking at this family friendly event.

Here is the lineup:

• July 9            Despicable Me
• July 16          Austin Powers 2
• July 23          Mean Girls
• July 30          The Lego Movie
• August 6        The Proposal
• August 13      Back to the Future Part II
• August 20      Dumb & Dumber
• August 27      The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Each movie starts at dusk; you can find approximate start times and more info on the Canada Place website.

The 2015 East Van Summer Jam takes place on Saturday July 4th and this year their line up includes AB-Soul, Mayer Hawthorne, Kelela, The Booms Booms, ESTA, Slow Jam Sundays, Kinnie Starr and more.   The EVSJ takes over the Strathcona Park in East Vancouver and it promises to be a full day of music and activities tailored for the whole communitiy.

The Festival began in 2008 as the Boom Boom Block Party and continues to thrive as a celebration of East Vancouver community, music and culture, where you can enjoy a day of live bands, soccer tournaments, BBQ, 19+ beer garden and more.

The Best part of EVSJ is that it is truly a community event.  Kids under concert going age attend for free, and the park remains dog-friendly during the event.  Profits will be donated to Music Tree charitable initiatives both in Vancouver, as as well as in Kenya and Uganda.

Again, it takes place on July 4th at Strathcona Park in Vancouver from 12pm to 9:30pm.  Have fun!

The Steveston Salmon Festivial returns for the annual tribute to all-things Salmon.  A large parade will once again wind its way through the centre of town, while some 1200 pounds of wild salmon are grilled over an open fire.  Meanwhile, you can also wander over to the waterfront for Ships to Shore, a display of more than 20 working and historic ships.  The parade starts at 10 am and fireworks at 10:15 pm.  Come down and visit the the village

Shareable bikes may be coming to Vancouver after all.  The city is currently seeking a new partner to launch its long -anticipated bike share scheme.  An initial plan, approved in 2013, called for $6 million to be spent to implement a network of 1500 rental bikes throughout the city.  

Most recently the company that was to provide the city with bikes went bankrupt. 

Calls for bids for a new bike sharing partner are expected to be put out by the city in coming weeks, according the The Vancouver Sun.  The latest news conflicts with early reports that the fate of the bike sharing plan would hinge on the result of Vancouver's current transit plebiscite.

if this program does eventually get traction, it will mark the end of a long, difficult slog for it's boosters. 

The intial plan called for some 1500 seven speed, adult sized bikes to be docked at 125 solar powered stations.  The stations were to be  spaced every  two to three blocks within a zone that included downtown and it's surrounding areas.  A smart phone app was planned to display the docking stations and bike availabililty.

Fingers crossed. Let's see if this really becomes a realty??