Hundreds of people milled about Stanley Park’s Brockton Point under sunny skies this afternoon (July 8) for the first day of Vancouver’s Summer Live festival.

The free, outdoor music and culture festival is taking place July 8 to 10 as part of the city’s 125th birthday celebrations.

Vancouver resident Jill Ottier said she arrived at the festival site around noon with her four-year-old granddaughter, Kaylee.

“We’re just having so much fun. It’s great,” said Ottier, adding, “The weather’s beautiful.”

The night’s main musical performances weren’t scheduled to start until 5 p.m., but the grassy festival grounds were already buzzing with family friendly activity by the early afternoon.

Children raced around carrying balloons and kites while a stilt walker and a person in a glitter-covered lizard suit bobbed through the crowd. Others kicked soccer balls, played badminton, and stacked giant, neon-coloured Jenga puzzle blocks.

Vancouver resident Sara Couttes and her friends were among scattered groups of people who had settled on the ground in front of the festival’s main stage during band sound checking.

“I think it’s pretty cool,” Couttes said of the festival, adding she was waiting for local indie rock group Mother Mother to hit the main stage at 9:45 p.m.

Other mainstage performers today include singer-songwriter Daniel Wesley, Barney Bentall and the Legendary Hearts, and the Be Good Tanyas.