The Powell Street Festival, which began in 1977 to honour the early Japanese settlers and reinvigorate the Japanese Canadian community, takes place every BC Day long weekend in the historic Japanese neighbourhood, Paueru Gai (Powell Street), in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. Through traditional and contemporary music, dance, traditional practices, interdisciplinary arts and cultural activities, the festival provides an accessible, diverse, innovative, and challenging Japanese Canadian voice.
Curator Emiko Morita says, “This project aims to connect the festival’s core values and traits to tangible facts and lived memory so that it might serve as a meaningful resource for future generations. I am honoured and humbled to share some reflections, images, facts, and legends to offer insight into the foundational qualities, quiet strengths, and shared values that have sustained the festival and made it a vital force in our community.”
Exhibition highlights include Macro Maki, the popular giant sushi costumes, Otsukare,an installation of volunteer hachimaki (headbands) spanning a 21-foot length (8’x21’), and rare archival footage. The exhibition dates are March 26 to September 5, 2026.
Sorry, no records were found. Please adjust your search criteria and try again.
Sorry, unable to load the Maps API.
