Vancouverites can be forgiven for feeling a little bit smug about the breadth of cultural festivities taking over their streets this season, what with Festival Vancouver, the Vancouver Early Music Festival, the Vancouver International Fringe Festival, and the Powell Street Festival, among others, all set to reel in the crowds.

But Vancouver isn’t the only hot spot this summer. With all of the activity taking place across the region, that Kits condo might not seem so hip after all. From North Vancouver’s Party-at-the-Pier to White Rock’s Spirit of the Sea Festival, there’s never been so much going on.

“There is a lot more happening, particularly in communities around the GVRD,” Jeremy Long, executive director of the B.C. Arts Council, observes in a phone conversation with the Straight. “That’s in large part to do with the fact that the communities are growing, and as they grow, the citizens want arts and cultural things closer to home. They don’t want to be coming back downtown all the time.”

Surrey, for instance, is one of Canada’s fastest-growing major cities, and has the celebrations to prove it. It was designated a Cultural Capital of Canada for 2008, and this year marks the rising municipality’s first Fusion Festival, for which 40 international pavilions will present music, food, costume, and dance in Holland Park, at King George Highway and Old Yale Road, from Friday to Sunday (July 18 to 20). Artists headlining the free festival include former local boy and international bhangra sensation Jazzy B (July 19) and Juno Award–winning R & B singer Jully Black (July 20).

Also growing at a clip is Langley, where a church fundraiser organized by Shar Dubas seven years ago has blossomed into the Langley International Festival (August 23).

“Langley has just tripled and quadrupled in size in the last few years,” notes Dubas. “We’ve been here 14 years ourselves and we’ve seen a tremendous change. Where there used to be a lot of acreage…it’s all under development to single-family dwellings and multiple-home dwelling. With that, they bring business, their kids go to school, there are other ethnicities, and it’s just humming.”

So what’s the secret to ensuring these festivities don’t fizzle out in the coming years? A sense of local identity, according to Richard Berg, producer of West Vancouver’s long-running Harmony Arts Festival (August 1 to 10).

When it began 18 years ago, Harmony featured four concerts; now there are 55 free performances of rock, folk, classical, and world music, in addition to visual-art displays. “I think one of the biggest pieces to us is the sense of ownership that this community has of it,” says Berg. “It’s a relatively small community, populationwise, and it’s very, very well supported.…We have 120 volunteers giving over 2,000 hours total.”

And with B.C. moving toward a creative economy, observes the B.C. Arts Council’s Long, it’s more important than ever for municipalities to embrace the arts. “A lot of the smaller communities have been suffering [economically],” he says. “A lot of communities feel that they need to develop arts and cultural amenities not just to attract a creative workforce, but to retain the one they have already.”

All of which is good news for arts lovers everywhere, from Yaletown to Port Moody. Here’s what’s shaking all over Metro Vancouver this summer.

Surrey Fusion Festival (July 18 to 20, Holland Park) A world-music stage and a celebration dance stage welcome performers including Celtic-Indian fusion band Delhi 2 Dublin. International pavilions will showcase food and crafts. Info at www.fusionfestival.surrey.ca/ .

Spirit of the Sea Festival (August 1 to 3, Marine Drive, White Rock) Entertainers including Dal Richards, Mojo Zydeco, and the West Coast Symphony will bring the tunes, while the public takes part in a sandcastle competition and a torchlight parade. Info at www.spiritofthesea.ca/ .

Waterfront Concert Series (Saturdays and Sundays to August 31, 2 p.m., White Rock Museum Boardwalk) The Doe Bender Jazz Trio (July 20) and the genre-blurring Infinitus String Quartet (July 27) are just a couple of the performers who’ll be rocking the boardwalk.

Harmony Arts Festival (August 1 to 10, various venues around West Vancouver) This fest boasts more than 50 performances, including such world-music artists as the Khac Chi Ensemble, Alcvin Ramos, and Tanga’s Latin jazz, as well as outdoor movies, a craft market, art workshops, children’s activities, and artist-studio tours. Info at www.harmonyarts.ca/ .

Party-at-the-Pier (August 31, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Lower Lonsdale) This second annual maritime festival features local performers such as Uzume Taiko and family entertainers Beverley Elliott and the Billionaires, along with maritime-themed activities and displays.

Concerts in the Cove (Fridays to August 15, 7 p.m., Panorama Park, Deep Cove) Jazz, gospel music, and Mexican rhythms are just some of what will greet revellers in the 16th year of this concert series. Info at www.northvanrec.com/ .

Live in Lynn Valley (Fridays to August 15, 7 p.m., Lynn Valley Library Town Centre Plaza) North Vancouver’s newest outdoor concert series features R & B, swing, Cajun, Cuban, and jazz music. Info at www.northvanrec.com/ .

Evenings in Edgemont (Fridays to August 22, 7 p.m., Edgemont and Highland boulevards) This varied concert series includes Celtic crooners Tiller’s Folly, bebop jazz courtesy of the Paul Pigat Quartet, and the surfer sounds of California Calling. Info at www.northvanrec.com/ .

Concerts by the Sea (Sundays to August 31, 7 p.m., Ambleside Landing) Dark Horse (July 27) and Rosco (August 17) are just two of the performers taking the stage in this picture-perfect setting. Info at www.westvancouver.ca/ .

Lonsdale Quay Summer Concert Series (Sundays to August 31, 1 p.m., South Plaza) Cover bands galore feature in this lineup, including Neil Diamond tribute artist Nearly Neil (July 20) and ABBA-CADABRA (August 3). You’ve been warned. Info at www.lonsdalequay.com /.

Blue Mountain Music Festival (July 19 and 20, Blue Mountain Park, Coquitlam) Blues and country predominate at this festival, with roving clowns and face painters to amuse the kiddies. Info at festivalcoquitlam.citysoup.ca/ .

Discovery Day Festival (July 20, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Deer Lake Park, Burnaby) This grassroots community festival highlights organizations involved in arts and culture, heritage, and sport, with music, live theatre, street performances, and arts activities. Info at www.tourismburnaby.com/ .

Blues and Roots Festival (August 10, 2:15 to 10 p.m., Deer Lake Park, Burnaby) Colin James and Shelby Lynne are just two of the big names taking the stage in the ninth year of this popular event. Info at www.burnabybluesfestival.com/ .

Korean Heritage Day (August 16, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Blue Mountain Park, Coquitlam) Art exhibits, performances, and cultural displays make up this seventh annual celebration of Korean heritage.

Music in the Park (Sundays to August 31, Lions Park, Port Coquitlam) Folk, blues, and Latin music—and even a mariachi band—appear in the lineup of entertainment for this concert series. Info at www.portcoquitlam.ca/ .

Summer Sunday Concerts (Sundays to August 24, 2 p.m., Rocky Point Park, Port Moody) Jazz, R & B, and soul are the offerings of this second annual outdoor concert series. Info at www.smoothjazzvancouver.ca/ .

Tsawwassen Sun Festival (August 2 to 4, Winskill Park and the South Delta Recreation Centre) The largest community festival in South Delta, the Sun Fest attracts upward of 8,000 revellers with a parade, antique fair, fireworks, main-stage entertainment, food vendors, and family-friendly activities. Info at www.corp.delta.bc.ca/ .

Arts Alive Festival (August 16, Fraser Highway, Langley) Now in its 14th year, this festival has more than 100 participants who take to the streets to display fine arts and crafts, while three stages showcase local musicians.

Langley International Festival (August 23, 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., Douglas Park, Langley) More than 60 countries will be represented at this celebration of multiculturalism, with a fashion show, soccer tournament, and music performances. Info at www.internationalfestival.ca/.

Concerts in the Park (Various evenings and locations, to August 6) Local musicians enliven Delta’s parks with rock, folk, and jazz. Info at www.corp.delta.bc.ca/ .

Multifest (August 9, King George Park) This celebration of cultural diversity includes performances, activities, visual displays, and food from East Richmond’s multicultural community. Info at www.richmond.ca/ .

Richmond Maritime Festival (August 15 and 16, Britannia Heritage Shipyard National Historic Site) Now in its fifth year, this festival celebrates Richmond’s heritage with maritime exhibits and activities, not to mention plenty of chanteys. Info at www.richmond.ca/ .

Children’s Festival (August 23, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Minoru Park Plaza) This event includes storytellers, crafts, face-painting, and a kids-only swap meet. Info at www.richmond.ca/ .

Concerts in the Park (Various evenings and venues, to August 29) Singer-songwriter CJ Li (July 17, 7:30 p.m., Steveston Community Centre), the Summer Pops Youth Orchestra (July 22, 6:30 p.m., Minoru Plaza), and Tera Taiko Drummers (August 22, 7:30 p.m., South Arm Community Centre) all appear in this series of free outdoor concerts. Info at www.richmond.ca/ .