YVR Food Fest Celebrates Canada Day with an Epic Brunch and More

Canada’s big 150th birthday bash is coming up next week and there are tons of events happening around town to celebrate the big 1-5-0. If you’ve got a craving for a side of tasty food with your Canadian celebrations, you’ll be happy to hear that the sixth annual YVR Food Fest will be returning to Vancouver from June 29 to July 3 at Olympic Village.

This is one food festival you’re not going to want to miss. This multi-day event will include something for everyone, with a food-focused speaker series (June 29), a long-table dinner (June 30), a Canada Day barbecue (July 1) with live music, and the largest outdoor brunch in the city’s history (July 3).

Not to mention, the festival’s flagship event, The Streetfood Showdown, a gathering of 70+ food carts, restaurants, wineries, and breweries with tasting menu items that pair well with drinks offered from the local breweries, wineries, and distilleries on site.

Tickets for the event are still on sale, but will likely sell out as the festival gets closer. If you’re at all interested in any of the events, it’s a good idea to grab a pair or two soon. Prices range per event from $10 for general admission to $199 for the long table dinner.

Can’t wait for the event? Check out a sampling of the events that will be happening during 2017 YVR Food Fest:

Food for Thought

When: Thursday, June 29
Time: 7pm – 10:00pm
Where: The Fox Cabaret (2321 Main Street)
Price:$17+tax
More info

Food For Thought is speaker series of genuine and personal stories about food-related topics that engage, provoke, and inspire. The event also includes a panel discussion with audience participation. This event aims to foster dialogue and build community while those at the forefront of the industry share their personal stories.

Gather Dinner Series

When: June 27, 28, 29
Time: 6:30pm / 7:00pm / 7:30pm
Where: Fayuca Restaurant (1009 Hamilton Street)
Price:$135.00 includes ten-course meal, wine pairings and gratuity
More info

A series of communal dinners that boast some of the city’s top culinary talent cooking alongside visiting culinary stars. These unforgettable meals feature pairings from the province’s top wineries. The dress code may be casual, but the meals will be sumptuous four-star delights. Attendees can come with a group or come alone and leave with new friends.

Canada Day Cookout

When: Saturday, July 1
Time: noon – 8:00pm
Where: Olympic Village (215 West 1st Avenue)
Price:$10 – $60
More info

A gigantic Austin-style outdoor party with bands, DJs, and, of course, amazing food, the Canada Day Cookout will be one of the city’s biggest celebrations. The event will feature some of the top bands + DJs in the city, while the culinary aspect will be based around the idea of pairing great tasting BBQ staples (everything from dogs and burgers to brisket and ribs) with great local craft beer.

Street Food Showdown

When: Sunday, July 2
Time: 11:00am – 7:00pm
Where: Olympic Village (215 West 1st Avenue)
Price:$10 – $60
More info

YVR Food Fest’s flagship event, offering up an affordable tasting menu items that allows one to sample as many different food carts and restaurants as they can handle. This feeding frenzy will be complemented by pairings from the top breweries, wineries, and distilleries in the province. At the end of the event, attendees will vote on their favourites and winners will be declared in a variety of categories.

The BIG Brunch

When: Monday, July 3
Time: 11:00am – 3:00pm
Where: Olympic Village (215 West 1st Avenue)
Price:$10 – $60
More info

A unique event, and the first of it’s kind in Vancouver! A gigantic outdoor brunch that feature every conceivable type of delicious brunch fare from some of the city’s best restaurants and cafés. In addition to the main event, we’ll be staging multiple food/drink events: a Caesar competition, a breakfast sandwich cook-off, and a cold-brew kegger featuring the city’s best coffee roasters.

For full details about the festival, check out the YVR Food Festival website.