Powell Street Festival Telethon

Coming August 1, 2020. Summer means festival time, and here’s a Canadian festival that you’ll want to discover..virtually! Yes, the border between our two countries is still closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but it’s still possible to experience the largest Japanese Canadian festival in Canada and the longest running community arts celebration in Vancouver. This year, the Powell Street Festival (PSF), in its 44th year, has taken on an innovative, new form – a live, online Telethon! To celebrate Japanese Canadian arts and culture and give back to communities and people in need. a program filled with live and pre-recorded presentations has been developed to benefit people in the Downtown Eastside (DTES). Hightlights include taiko drumming from the rooftop of the Vancouver Japanese Language School, a Giving Ceremony to honor the connection to the Powell Street neighborhood, a physical-distance-respecting Paueru Mashup dance, and performances from several local Japanese Canadian artists. For parents and kids ages 5-7, in the week leading up to the Telethon, there will be an at-home Japanese-themed summer camp plan with bilingual resources for kids. On August 1st, from 2pm to 7pm, tune in to the Telethon via their website to experience the spirit of the festival right from your home. Be sure to make a donation too, as the money raised during the Telethon will support the PowellStFest Community Kitchen, a new meal program that provides training, jobs, and food to the unhoused and precariously housed in the DTES. Enjoy art, culture and community in a socially responsible way while supporting an important cause with the Powell Street Festival Telethon!