Powell Street Festival moves to new site

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      The Powell Street Festival will take place at a new site this year, centred at Alexander Street and Jackson Avenue.

      Festival organizers are moving the event from nearby Oppenheimer Park due to an ongoing tent city protest there.

      The festival will take place from Friday (August 1) to Sunday (August 3) on Alexander Street, between Princess and Dunlevy avenues, and on Jackson Avenue, between Railway and Cordova streets.

      "We are very excited about the new plan for this year’s festival and the fact that we are remaining in the historic Japanese Canadian neighbourhood near our indoor venues,” festival general manager and programming director Kristen Lambertson said in a news release.

      "While it’s disappointing not to have use of Oppenheimer Park, we believe this could be one of our biggest and best festivals to date and we invite everyone to come enjoy our free event.”

      All performers, vendors, and other activities are scheduled to go ahead as part of the festival, which will span about four city blocks. Indoor venues for some events include the Firehall Arts Centre and the Vancouver Japanese Language School & Japanese Hall.

      Comments

      8 Comments

      tf

      Jul 29, 2014 at 6:51pm

      Well done Powell Street Festival - you lead by example!

      ursa minor

      Jul 30, 2014 at 8:27am

      It says a lot about the character of festival organizers that are willing to 1. Move the festival as the result of Oppenheimer Park occupation, and 2. move to a location right next to the occupation so that the protest is visible.

      If this was anything else I'm sure we would have seen a police crackdown by now because high-powered corporate sponsors would insist that "the show must go on" without any "distractions" from anyone trying to practice democracy.

      Um,

      Jul 30, 2014 at 10:25am

      No acknowledgement from the above commentators on what Powell Street Fest must have gone through to achieve this? Protesters appear to have caused a major inconvenience to an important festival and its artists--the protesters should have been the ones to have "led by example" in my opinion. Here's hoping people still come out to the event.

      uh huh

      Jul 30, 2014 at 12:23pm

      so its the Alexander Street Festival now?

      sad sumo

      Jul 31, 2014 at 9:52pm

      way to go to the organizers setting the right example; if only the protesters could realize they are hurting their own cause by blocking this celebration of the neighbourhood, only causing resentment. I want to see the martial arts demos, but that can't happen on the sidewalk, and i cannot participate in the sumo event for the same reason. does it make me selfish to resent the protest, for ruining this awesome celebration of this wonderful neighbourhood? It's already hot, cement is very hot, parks with grass are cooling & you can sit down & rest. Can't imagine I'll spend much time at the festival if you have to stand on hot cement with no shade...

      Boon

      Aug 1, 2014 at 10:23am

      Thanks to all for the positive comments. We as the PSF feel this is a win/win situation this year for keeping in solidarity with the concerns of the homeless in the DTES and still marching on with the festival in the neighborhood.

      Uh huh: yes, the festival will be in full force block party style on 4 blocks off Jackson and Alexander. All of the programming remains in tact!

      Here is the map of the new festival layout: http://www.powellstreetfestival.com/festival2014/venues/

      Here is the official statement from the PSF on the park occupation: http://www.powellstreetfestival.com/powell-street-festival-announcement/

      Hope to see all down this weekend.

      Save Vancouver

      Aug 2, 2014 at 9:57am

      It's time the celebration of Japanese-Canadian culture moved away from Powell Street permanently. There are areas such as Steveston with far more current ties to the community. There has been nothing "Japanese" about Powell Street for over 70 years.