Events, Festivals and Marathons
“I had as many doubts as anyone else. Standing on the starting line, we’re all cowards.” -Alberto Salazar, Three-Time Winner of the New York City Marathon
Consistently ranked as one of the world’s most livable cities, Vancouver lures visitors with its abundance of natural beauty, cosmopolitan flair, and multicultural vitality. Vancouver’s events and festivals showcase its arts community, cultural diversity, and outdoor activities. Visitors to the city can discover its neighbourhoods through festivals like the Chinese New Year Parade, the Eastside Cultural Crawl and Greek Days.
The TD Vancouver International Jazz Festival featuring world-class musicians is held annually from late June to early July. The Honda Celebration of Light fireworks festival is held in late July and draws hundreds of thousands of spectators to the city’s beaches. The PNE is a popular summer attraction with its amusement rides, agricultural displays, and open air concerts.
Held annually in June, the Rio Tinto Alcan Dragon Boat Festival is one of Canada’s largest dragon boat events. The Vancouver Sun Run is held each year in April. The Sun Run is Canada’s largest 10K road race, and is the second largest timed 10K in the world. More than 48,000 people ran the race in 2012.
The BMO Vancouver Marathon is an annual race held on the first Sunday of May each year. As the largest international marathon event in Canada, it has a certified running distance of 26 miles and 385 yards. The marathon is certified by the International Association of Athletics Federations and Association of International Marathons and Distance Races as a qualifying marathon race for the Boston Marathon.
2012 Vancouver Marathon
Held annually in October, the hugely popular Vancouver Writers Fest turns reading into a community experience. For more than 25 years, the Writers Fest has enriched imaginations and inspired thousands of people by creating a forum for authors to connect with readers.
These are just a few examples of the dozens of events and festivals held annually throughout the Metro Vancouver area. Please visit hellobc.com to view a comprehensive listing of events in your area.
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