Community Celebrations & Special Events
The East Village is host to a number of annual events and community celebrations, from Chinese Lunar New Year to our Summer Music Series through to Christmas.
Annual Events
Lunar New Year Celebration
Between the 2700 to 2200 blocks of East Hastings St., participating businesses are blessed by the lion to ring in Chinese New Year.
There is a traditional lion dance, performers, and a Chinese drum entourage.
The BIA provides participating businesses with a head of lettuce and a red envelope in which every business puts in a ‘donation’ for the lion to bless the business.
Love Your City Contest
In Febuary, LOVE is in the air and the airwaves, with colourful street installations in Vancouver retail neighbourhoods, and fantastic prize draws on Instagram via https://www.instagram.com/loveyourcitycontest/!
15 Business Improvement Associations across the city, including the East Village BIA, team up to host a month-long #FindLove initiative throughout February.
Enjoy fun-loving street installations including life-size candy hearts, window decals, street decals, and many expressions of love to warm your heart!
Neighbourhood Shredding Day
The East Village BIA helps to organize an annual community shredding and electronic recycling day to protect business and community members from identity theft. This event is jointly organized by the East Village BIA and the Hastings Sunrise Community Policing Centre, with help from Vancity, Best Shredding, and the City of Vancouver.
East Village BIA Live Summer Music Series
During the Summer months the East Village BIA is proud to present our Summer Music Series, a live concert series that is completely free for the neighbourhood to enjoy!
Our goal is to bring more music and art to the neighbourhood, and fill the air with lovely sounds, and colourful grooves for you to sit and stay awhile, or just soak up some nice vibes on your journey down Hastings St.
The Summer Music Series runs every second Friday from June-August in the Kamloops St. and Hastings St Plaza.
Movie in the Park
Most Summers, the East Village BIA hosts an outdoor community screening of a popular family movie in Pandora Park.
Watch our website and social channels for details.
Halloween on Hastings Street
Each Halloween, the East Village BIA organizes and hosts a free candy, “Trick or Treat” public event. Children are invited to visit participating businesses along Hastings St. to score some free candy and then head back to the Kamloops St. and Hastings St. Plaza for more candy and seasonal themed photo opportunities.
Show off your costumes, have fun, and dare to be scared!
Annual Winter Festivities
In the Winter, seasonal themed performances and winter photo opportunities are installed in our community. Keep an eye out for the trio of carollers strolling down East Hastings singing Christmas jingles. Feel free to join in – who knows you may even see Santa with them! Get into the Christmas spirit with us and sing to your little heart’s content!
East Village BIA Annual General Meeting
All business owners and property owners within the East Village Business Improvement Area are invited to attend the Annual General Meeting.
A business or property owner has the right to appoint a representative who is affiliated with their business to attend and vote at the AGM on their behalf.
The boundaries of the area are Renfrew St., East Hastings St., Clark Dr., East Pender St., Powell St., Semlin Dr., Victoria Dr., and Turner St.
Piano on the Street
Music is in the air and pianos are on the streets! Through the Summer, we have a community piano for all to play right outside CIBC on the Southeast corner of Penticton St. and East Hastings St.
Every year we invite an organization to help us paint the piano for all to enjoy. Organizations we have had in the past include Kiwassa Neighbourhood House, Frog Hollow Neighbourhood House, and PALS Autism School.
