Summer is festival time

NICOLE NOZICK

Nothing says it's summer in Vancouver quite like the arrival of festival time in the summer months. Here's a closer look at five of these wonderful events.

Pack a picnic basket and mark your spot at the False Creek waterfront's David Lam Park, as the 23rd annual International Jazz Festival kicks off the summer season, June 20-29. Even if you don't particularly like jazz, but enjoy relaxing outdoors and listening to live music, this festival is for you. For jazz plebs who haven't yet acquired the fine taste, the festival offers a pleasant afternoon of free outdoor entertainment to share with friends and family, while jazz aficionados can purchase tickets to hear some of the world's great musicians. Bring sunscreen, hats and a large blanket to sit on and you're set for a wonderful time. Jewish artists at this year's jazz festival include Saul Berson, Bruce Freedman, June Katz and Mark Feldman. Visit www.coastaljazz.ca for details.

The Salwan Mela Festival is a gem that will give you a warm welcome and open your eyes to a different culture. In traditional India, Sawan Mela was a time when young brides returned to their family homes to visit childhood friends and relish in the memories of their pasts. In modern India, the season is marked with folk dancing, story sharing, singing and, of course, eating! This festival transports you to another time and culture, filled with ancient, colorful and fun traditions. Throughout the day, performers sing, act and dance their way into your hearts, while culinary delights and treats win their way into your stomachs. Poetry reciting, rangoli, mehndi, arts and crafts and face painting all contribute to the mela atmosphere. Other activities include roti-making and turban-tying competitions. For those of you who don't yet know what rangoli, mehndi and mela mean, here's a great opportunity to find out and learn about a different and vibrant culture. The festival takes place on July 13, noon-8 p.m., at the Sunset Community Centre, 6810 Main St. (between 51st and 53rd avenues).

It must be something in the water (or air) that keep audiences coming back to the Vancouver Folk Festival year after year after year. Perhaps it's the laid back atmosphere, or the harkening back to simpler times when music was king and folk its queen. The line-up for this year's festival includes an African-infused blues band, a country punk chanteuse, an award-winning fiddling step dancer and the fusion group Delhi 2 Dublin (who knew India and Ireland had anything more than the letter "I" in common?), as well as favorites Spirit of the West and Spearhead. If you're a folk fest virgin, or a hardened folkie, make it out to Jericho Beach this July to "chill out." The festival takes place July 18-20. Kids under 12 get in for free and the last day for early bird tickets is June 21. Go to www.thefestival.bc.ca for details and tickets.

The 15th annual Alice in Wonderland and Mad Hatter's Tea Party Festival takes place July 26. This little-known festival, running on a shoestring budget, is a unique Vancouver gem. Celebrating the child in us, this event is a veritable masterpiece of magic. For one afternoon in July, Trout Lake Park is transformed into a magical wonderland where the Queen of Hearts reigns supreme, the Mad Hatter sits down to share a cuppa and the Cheshire Cat can't wipe the grin off his face. Throughout the afternoon, a cast of 50 actors bring scenes from Alice in Wonderland to life, and spectators can't help but be drawn into the fun. So take a leap down the Rabbit Hole, have tea with the Duchess and join the Tweedles (Dum and Dee) in a game of croquette – you'll have to pinch yourself to believe you aren't dreaming. Go to www.communityartsworkshop.com for details.

If you're an A-type personality who has a hard time concentrating on one thing, then Festival Vancouver might just be your cup of tea. This festival prides itself on the wide variety of its top-quality performances, from blues to baroque. With this year's focus on music of the Americas, the festival introduces Vancouver to the richness of South and Central American artists, including virtuoso Brazilian guitarist Yamandu Costa. For something really special, attend the new World at the Garden series, where the superb VanDusen Gardens serves as a magical backdrop to three nights of music. Other highlights include the Jazz Trio Series at the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver's Norman Rothstein Theatre with pianist Bill Charlap and a tribute to the late Oscar Peterson. Jewish artists include Charlap and Rena Sharon. Festival Vancouver takes place Aug. 3-17. Go to www.festivalvancouver.ca to learn more.

Nicole Nozick is a Vancouver freelance writer and director of the Cherie Smith JCC Jewish Book Festival.

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