Join Tom Lavin and the Powder Blues, The Paperboys and more on Saturday, June 18 for the Fifth Annual Gathering Festival in Emery Barnes Park, in support of Vancouver’s most vulnerable and disadvantaged inner-city populations.
This inclusive celebration is the result of four weeks of free community art workshops and activities, including stilt walking training for at-risk street youth, kite painting for seniors, Bike-To-Work Week activities, dance and adapted music for the physically disabled, button blanket making, screen printing, cooking, Iranian art, etc.
Saturday’s full-day community celebration will kick off at 10 am with an Aboriginal blessing and free pancake breakfast, followed by an Art Alley with professional and amateur artists, community information booths as well as banners and flags created by local seniors.
Other activities throughout the day will include hands-on crafts, games, stilt dancers, face painting, mixed abilities dance, kids corner, bike repairs, food and performances by some of Vancouver’s most talented musicians.
Check out Tom Lavin and the Legendary Powder Blues (with two sets starting at 1 pm) and The Paperboys celebrating their 25th year (with two sets beginning at 6 pm). Add the inspired marimba stylings of Kutapira, gypsy jazz by Van Django, the vocal harmonies of Iskwew Singers and the big sound of the Carnegie Jazz Band (Brad Muirhead, Band Leader) for a fun-filled day out!
Fifth Annual Gathering Festival
Date: Saturday, June 18, 10 am to 8 pm
Venue: Emery Barnes Park at Davie and Seymour Streets, Vancouver
All events are free, everyone’s welcome
About The Gathering Place Community Centre
The Gathering Place Community Centre offers both free and low cost programs and services to marginalized citizens on low and fixed incomes, people with disabilities, the homeless, seniors, at-risk youth, LGBTQ and other disadvantaged people. Visit their website for more info.
Photos courtesy of The Gathering Place.
