Welcome to Italian Day on The Drive 2024
Italian Day on The Drive Overview
Italian Day on The Drive, Vancouver’s largest and arguably most eagerly awaited cultural street festival returns to Commercial Drive on Sunday, June 9, 2024, and will feature a record number of over 200 street participants, including 115 food vendors and trucks, as well as artisanal merchants, live entertainment, and much more, promising an unforgettable celebration of Italian heritage and community spirit, which kicks off at noon at The Drive Main Stage on 2nd Ave with the Opening Ceremony.
In the style of Italy’s vibrant streets and piazzas, tutti festeggiando la dolce vita, the Drive will come alive with attendees feasting on food and drink offered by merchants, vendors and al fresco patios throughout the 14-block festival. Paired with the banquet are cultural attractions, animating intersections and Grandview Park in piazza style, drawing attendees to live music, dancing in the streets, the love of fashion and design, as well as welcoming distractions where family fun and artisan gems are discovered. All delivered with amore!
New To The Festival
For the first time in Italian Day’s history, three beverage gardens will offer full-pour alcoholic beverages, where attendees can look forward to an exciting array of food and drink, including the Authentic Italian Table in Grandview Park, featuring delicious Italian bites paired with a selection of wines, specialty cocktails, and other refreshing beverages, brought to you by the Italian Chamber of Commerce and Lavish Liquids.
Stop by The Drive Giardino at Graveley Street to enjoy authentic Italian tapas courtesy of Chef Luke Boswell from Bar Corso, as well as delicious Italian craft cocktails, beer and wine. And be sure to visit the Greater Vancouver Beer Truck Piazza on 4th Avenue West for a selection of local beer and Italian wine on tap.
Fun for the whole famiglia!
An unforgettable celebration of Italian heritage and community spirit!
Live music and DJs
This year the festival boasts 7 stages: 3 with live music and 4 with DJs with some interchanging between DJ and fashion shows, pasta eating contests, and solo and duo performers. No question, there will be dancing in the streets!
Activities for the whole famiglia!
While at the festival be sure to check out these activities:
- RE/MAX Children’s Zone w/ games and face painting (Grandview Park)
- Pasta Eating Contests (Pastificio di Martino Stage @ 7th Ave East)
- BMO human foosball (Parker West)
- Whitecaps Interactive Game (5th Ave East)
- Jelks Carnival Games (Williams St West)
Carnival Atmosphere
Besides Carnival games, music in the air, and dancing in the streets, the street atmosphere will also include:
- Roaming stilt walkers (between 2nd Ave and 7th Ave)
- Living statues (in front of Grandview Park)
- Vancouver Street Opera performers (in Carnival style at Kitchener Street East – 2:30pm – 3:00pm; and 6th Ave East – 4:00pm – 4:30pm )
- Juggler (6th Ave West)
Phone Powering Station
Nexy, one of our street participants, will be offering services for attendees needing to juice their devices (south of 1st Ave, West Side).
Raffle Stations
This year, raffle tickets will be available online and can be purchased via our raffle booths, website, and QR codes found on Raffle posters throughout the festival. We have $14,000 of fabulous prizes to give away, plus a 50/50 jackpot, where the winner takes half, and if all tickets are sold – that could be up to $10,000!! Tickets can be purchased now and until June 28th, when draw takes place at 12:00 pm!
Seating Areas
Besides the many restaurant patios and two of the beverage gardens, seating areas can be found at:
- Grandview Park (West Side)
- Parker Piazza (East Side)
- Napier Street (East Side)
- Il Centro Grant Piazza (East Side)
- Piazza Moda (East Side)
- Pastificio Di Martino 7th Ave Piazza (East Side)
Bike Vallet
Park your bikes at 6th Ave on Commercial Drive (West side).
Participants and Map
To see all festival participants, attraction locations and more, please visit our google map here, where you can also search to find what your heart desires.
