Vancouverscape, a Vancouver based blog covering travel, tech, and lifestyle

Ready to DIY with Vancouver’s most talented artists, makers, performers, designers, and creatives?

Then check out Vancouver’s first Watch & Learn Festival, a Vancouver maker event taking place on August 19 and 20. Presented by Vancouver Civic Theatres, this all-ages event showcases Vancouver’s vibrant arts and culture community.

[El Patcha patch-making workshop]

Watch & Learn will feature workshops, live mural painting, an Etsy Vancouver Marketplace, musical performances, food trucks, a curated art show, a craft beer garden and much more.

The inaugural two-day gala event aims to connect the curious-minded with local makers and encourages everyone to tap into their inner creativity.

Watch & Learn’s incredibly diverse marketplace will showcase art, design, home and lifestyle wares, fashion and accessories, beauty products and skincare curated by the team at Etsy.

Festival goers can shop until they drop or attend demonstrations and hands-on workshops. There’ll be myriad opportunities to watch skilled artisans or learn by doing. ‘How to’ workshops include wild-crafted tonics, indigenous body products, patches, indigo dyeing, embroidery and macramé.

Participants must book workshops in advance; to avoid disappointment, secure your seats early!

Guaranteed to sell out are the Saige and Skye macramé workshops and indigo dyeing classes with Sophena Kwon of Indigo Social.

A stellar roster of savoury and sweet vendors will tantalize visitors’ tastebuds during Watch & Learn. Choose from Johnny Pops, Via Tevere Pizza, Dinner by Bayan, Chickpea, Tacofino, Disco Cheetah Korean Grill and Varinicey Pakoras, in addition to Say Hello Sweets vegan ice cream truck and Bandidas brand new food truck.

For those of age and carrying ID, there will also be a pop-up bar on site featuring Strange Fellows Brewing, Backcountry Brewing and Good Company Lager along with cocktails featuring Standard Kombucha and Dickie’s Ginger Beer.

Foodies can also learn a new skill by booking a wild-crafted tonic workshop with Moonbrew Tonic Co. that guides you through the jun fermentation process utilizing local fruit, herbs and botanicals.

Festival guests will get a unique chance to follow the creative process of two gifted craftsmen. Live painting demonstrations by mural artists Benjamin William Knight and Peter Ricq will take place from noon to 5 pm on both days. Two 8 ft. x 4 ft. paintings will be up for bids at the Watch & Learn silent auction.

Musical performances take place at noon, 2:30 pm and 5 pm daily with a noteworthy lineup: Old Soul Rebel, Andrew Phelan, Twin River, David Morin, Jody Glenham and Star Captains.

Watch & Learn Festival

Dates: Saturday, August 19 and Sunday, August, 20, 11 am to 7 pm
Venue: Queen Elizabeth Theatre Plaza, 650 Hamilton Street, Vancouver
Tickets: Day pass, $7 Day Pass, weekend pass, $10 (kids 12 and under, free); tickets available online
To book a workshop, visit watchandlearnyvr.ca/workshops 

Please note: workshops are individually priced and must be secured in advance.