Festivals
Concord Pacific Dragon Boat Festival 2025
The 2025 Concord Pacific Dragon Boat Festival made a splash this weekend, both on the water and at the TD Main Stage. Over three days, more than 200 teams from across Canada and around the world competed in one of the largest dragon boat races on the continent. And while the racing action in False Creek was thrilling, it was the music that lit up the shoreline Saturday night.
We didn’t catch every set, but we were lucky to catch two standout Canadian acts: Felix Cartal and Lights.
Felix Cartal hit the TD Main Stage around 6pm, bringing the energy you want from a Saturday night set. The Vancouver-based producer brought beats and friends. Fellow Canadian artists Reve and Lights joined him on stage, turning his DJ set into a mini pop party. The crowd was fully into it. People were dancing, jumping, filming everything, and just soaking up the summer vibes.
Then it was Lights’ turn to headline the night. She ran into a few technical issues early on, but she handled it like a total pro. She shared how happy she was to perform in Vancouver, and that this crowd was always the best. Judging by the way fans sang every word to her songs, she wasn’t wrong. The crowd’s energy never dipped, and Lights kept things light and fun while the crew sorted things out behind her.
The festival marked its 38th year with its biggest edition ever, now based at its new home at Concord Pacific Place. It’s a big upgrade: easy access from the SkyTrain, more room to roam, and a great view of the races between Cambie Bridge and Science World. And even with grey skies hanging overhead and the occasional showers, the vibe stayed sunny.
Beyond the stage and races, the festival was packed with things to do. More than 100 local artisans lined the craft market, food trucks kept bellies full, and cultural pavilions (including ones focused on Indigenous culture, Pride, Chinatown, and breast cancer paddlers) gave people even more reason to linger
This year’s entertainment lineup was 100% local, highlighting BIPOC, queer, and female voices. It felt like a true snapshot of Vancouver’s creativity, diversity, and roots in community.
With over 200,000 people attending, the Concord Pacific Dragon Boat Festival is one of the most loved events in the city. From the races to the music to the people watching from every bridge and dock, this is how summer starts in Vancouver.
Check out our favourite photos of Felix Cartal & Lights below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
FELIX CARTAL
LIGHTS
All Photo Credit: Caroline Charruyer
Festivals
PNE Summer Night Concerts – Nelly
Nelly brought a career-spanning party to Vancouver’s Freedom Mobile Arch on August 26 as part of the PNE Summer Night Concerts, packing more than two decades of hits into a fast-moving set.
DJ Trife got things started with the Derrty Entertainment logo filling the big screens, then quickly brought out the headliner with little buildup. Nelly opened with “Where the Party At,” the Jagged Edge collaboration that launched straight into a run of familiar tracks. “E.I.,” “Air Force Ones,” “Shake Ya Tailfeather,” and “Batter Up” arrived early, with music video clips playing behind him and keeping the show firmly rooted in the era that made him a household name.
The Country Grammar material landed particularly well. Nelly performed the album’s title track with an added beat switch. The set also moved through his later musical evolution. A country-leaning stretch included “Hey Porsche,” “Cruise,” and “Lil Bit,” showing the range of an artist who has spent years crossing between hip-hop, pop, R&B, and country. He continued jumping through his catalogue with tracks such as “Pimp Juice,” “Grillz,” and “Move That Body.”
The biggest singalongs came near the end. “Hot In Herre” turned the Freedom Mobile Arch into a full-on party, followed by a phone-lit performance of “Dilemma.” Nelly closed with “Just a Dream,” ending the show abruptly after roughly an hour with no encore.
The short runtime may have left some fans wanting more, but the crowd still got what they came for: a greatest-hits-heavy celebration of an artist whose music has reached multiple generations.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
NELLY
All Photo Credit: Caroline Charruyer
Festivals
PNE Summer Night Concerts – The Beaches
The Beaches have a knack for making a concert feel like hanging out with your funniest friends. Their August 25 stop at the Freedom Mobile Arch, part of the PNE Summer Night Concerts, was no exception.
Before The Beaches even took the stage, they paid tribute to Dolly Parton, who sadly passed away earlier that day. A photo of Parton was displayed on the venue’s big screen, while an extra microphone stand sat onstage with a white cowboy hat resting on top. Dolly’s music played through the venue before the show, making the tribute feel like a quiet but fitting send-off from one group of musicians to another.
This was my third time seeing the Toronto rockers in the past year, with the most recent being their set at All Things Go Toronto earlier this summer. Somehow, they still manage to make every show feel fresh. The songs are catchy, the musicianship is tight, and the banter is half the fun.
Frontwoman Jordan Miller has a natural way of connecting with a crowd. She jokes about relationships, asks for stories from the audience and turns the space into something that feels more like group therapy than a standard rock show. Before “Did I Say Too Much,” Leandra joked that she invited her ex to go to Whistler while they were in Vancouver, shaking her head in shame as the crowd laughed.
The night got a fun surprise when the cast of Off Campus joined the band on stage. A nod to their song “Edge of the Earth” that went viral on social media after appearing on the show.
Of course, “Blame Brett” remained one of the biggest moments of the night. Miller’s invitation to blame the exes was met with a massive response, turning the song into a full-room singalong.
The four members are just as comfortable showing off their musical chops. Kylie Miller and Leandra Earl traded guitar work throughout the set, with the solos during “Can I Call You in the Morning?” standing out.
Three shows in, I still easily understand the appeal. The Beaches know how to write songs people want to sing, but they know how to put on a show, too. At the PNE, they delivered another fun and entertaining night.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
THE BEACHES
All Photo Credit: Caroline Charruyer