While some of us chart the passage of summer with the changing daylight hours, hard-core food enthusiasts prefer to use the city’s lively (and delicious) food and cultural fests as seasonal signposts. Sure, it’s the time of year when you display your beach body in all its glory, but calories consumed outdoors among crowds of happy people don’t count, right (wink)?

Greek Day
(June 23 on West Broadway between Macdonald and Blenheim streets)
Once the summer solstice has passed, marking the start of summer gorging fun, you have no excuse not to attend this kick-ass Greek street party. And this year it’s bigger than ever, with an expanded kids’ zone that includes a dairy cow and calf on-site and two Hellenic Experiences tents offering samples of items like Greek coffee and feta cheese. Watch folkloric Hellenic performances while you pig out on all sorts of goodies like souvlaki, roast lamb, spanakopita, and, best of all, loukoumades—little doughnuts soaked in honey syrup. “There are over two dozen food vendors, so it’s definitely a foodie event,” says event coordinator Nick Pogor by phone. See www.greekday.com/.

Carnaval del Sol
(July 6 and 7 on Granville Street between Smithe and Dunsmuir streets)
Get into full-throttle summer mode at this Latin American fest, where there’s plenty of tango, salsa, and samba music and dancing to shake out that No Fun Vancouver mentality. Add a street soccer tournament and plenty of activities for children—like Juego de Sapo, an Incan token-tossing game—and you’ve got a guaranteed good time for the whole family. Oh, and dig into Latin food, such as Mexican tacos and burritos, Cuban pan con lechon (roast-pork sandwiches), and Salvadoran pupusas. See www.carnavaldelsol.com/.

Caribbean Days
(July 27 and 28 at Waterfront Park [just west of Lonsdale Quay], North Vancouver)
It’s the height of summer, and who better to bask in the sun with than heat-lovin’ islanders? Get the good times started by catching the vibrant carnival parade down Lonsdale and Esplanade avenues, then jive at Waterfront Park to calypso, reggae, and Latin live music. All your favourite Caribbean eats will be on offer, including jerk chicken, flying fish, roti, and Jamaican rice pilau, as well as other options like souvlaki. If the weather is scorching, cool down with refreshing ginger beer or coconut water, or head to the beer garden for highly popular, thirst-quenching Carib Lager. “It goes as fast as it comes,” says festival manager Victor Bryan during a phone chat. See www.caribbeandays.ca/.

Powell Street Festival
(August 3 and 4 at Oppenheimer Park [400 block of Powell Street])
Kick off the last glorious month before school starts up again in September with a day out at this diverse celebration of Japanese-Canadian arts, culture, and food. “Our theme this year is ‘Champion’, involving artists who have gone through different challenges and created very dynamic work,” explains festival general manager Kristen Lambertson during a phone interview with the Straight. Take in cosplay as you munch away on some sake-flavoured ice cream, yakisoba, chicken karaage, and cold ramen salad. Or you could indulge in Japanese waffles, pork miso katsu sandwiches, and matcha and white chocolate macarons at the Jackson Street marketplace. See www.powellstreetfestival.com/.

Telus TaiwanFest
(August 31 to September 2 in the 600 to 800 blocks of Granville Street and the Vancouver Art Gallery plaza [801 West Georgia Street])
Before you pull out the fall turtlenecks, consider a long-weekend staycation with a visit to TaiwanFest. This year’s theme is “The Children of the Ocean”, so expect dishes that incorporate local seafood. Granville Street will be transformed into one big street banquet, with dishes by two top Taiwanese chefs: “brave chef” Ching-Yung Chen and “hot and spicy chef” Cheng-Chung Chen. On offer will be items such as pumpkin seafood rice noodles, seaweed-wrapped salmon, prawns with lemon and hot peppers, and the “hottest mussels in town”. If you think you’re bubble-tea hot stuff, enter the bubble-tea making contest. “You have to be an entertainer and a mover and a shaker to win,” says managing director Charlie Wu with a laugh. See www.taiwanfest.ca/.