Vancouver provides free fun with concerts, movies in city parks this summer
The weather is warm, the days are long and we just can't get enough time outdoors. The city of Vancouver is answering the call of the wild, so to speak, with a lineup of al fresco concerts and movies on Vancouver's waterfront, at Columbia Tech Center Park in east Vancouver and at various parks all around the city. Here's a quick guide to help you plan.
Thursday Waterfront Concert Series
Enjoy live music from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. every Thursday night in July at Vancouver Waterfront Park, 695 Waterfront Way. Park at the Vancouver Waterfront Parking Center, 700 W. Columbia Way, or take C-Tran Route 71. Bring a picnic dinner or come early to savor a meal at one of Vancouver's waterfront restaurants and wine bars. You might want to bring your dancing shoes, because the eclectic mix of performers will get your toes tapping. The music lineup is as follows:
* July 9: Dina Y Los Rumberos, playing Cuban and international dance music
* July 16: Jujuba, playing world Afrobeat music
* July 23: Shanghai Woolies, playing swing, Latin, jazz and blues grooves
* July 30: Cha Wa, playing Mardi Gras Indian funk, opening with the Thilo Kluth Trio
Sunday Sounds Concert Series
The Columbia Tech Center Amphitheater in east Vancouver will be filled with good vibrations from 6 to 8 p.m. Sundays, July 12 to Aug. 16, at Columbia Tech Center Park, 17701 S.E. Mill Plain Blvd., Vancouver. Buy food and drinks from on-site food vendors or bring a picnic dinner and relax on the lawn with blankets, pillow and low-backed chairs (but no alcohol, please; it's not permitted in parks). Park south of the amphitheater in the gravel lot off Southeast Cardinal Court or take C-Tran's Route 74 or the Vine bus service to Mill Plain. Here's the schedule:
* July 12: Concert rock violinist Aaron Meyer, playing classical and rock fusion
* July 19: Tracy Stone Band, playing R&B, Motown, funk and soul
* July 26: Prom Date Mixtape, an '80s tribute band (This concert includes ASL interpretation.)
* Aug. 2: Petty Fever, a Tom Petty tribute band
* Aug. 9: Slicker Band, playing country hits
* Aug. 16: Kalimba, an Earth, Wind and Fire tribute band.
Free Friday Night Movies in the Parks
Start your weekend with a free movie on Friday night. Movies will be shown in a different Vancouver park every Friday in August. Movies start at dusk, but you can come early to enjoy family-friendly activities or to buy food and drinks from food trucks. Nonalcoholic picnics are also encouraged. Arrive early to enjoy fun activities from our community partners. Activities start at 5 or 6:30 p.m. (see below) and movies start at dusk. All movies are open captioned. Here's the movie lineup:
* Aug. 7: "Fantasia" (1940, rated G) at Esther Short Park, 605 Esther St, Vancouver. Activities start at 5 p.m.
* Aug. 14: "Lilo & Stitch" (2025, rated PG) at Fruit Valley Park, 3200 Fruit Valley Road, Vancouver. Activities start at 6:30 p.m.
* Aug. 21: "Zootopia 2" (PG) at Bagley Community Park, 4607 Plomondon St., Vancouver. Activities start at 6:30 p.m.
* Aug. 28: "Superman" (2025, ASL version, rated PG-13) at Columbia Tech Center Park, 17701 S.E. Mill Plain Blvd., Vancouver. Activities start at 6:30 p.m.
If you're looking for other things to do this summer, you'll find a ton of events, fairs, festivals, workshops, classes, lectures, concerts, plays and art shows at The Columbian's free online event calendar, events.columbian.com, or sign up for our weekly Out & About newsletter at columbian.com/newsletters/.
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This story was originally published June 26, 2026 at 5:51 PM.