Ready for this summer's ultimate street party?
Picture this: It’s a warm summer evening in New Westminster, the sun casting a golden glow as it dips towards the horizon. You’re surrounded by the lively sounds of music, the laughter of friends, and the aroma of delicious street food wafting through the air. This is Uptown Live, the city’s much-loved street party, returning on Saturday, July 27 to transform 6th Street (between 6th and 5th Avenues) into a vibrant festival scene.
Returning for its 13th edition, this diverse, free, family-friendly event regularly attracts more than 45,000 revellers to New West’s vibrant Uptown neighbourhood.
After consulting with local businesses and community members, the Uptown Business Association (UBA) decided to shift the event’s schedule. Instead of starting at noon and continuing into the evening, they found a preference for a shorter but more dynamic event. As a result, all the fun and attractions from previous years will be packed into an electrifying five-and-a-half hours, running from 4:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
“This is going to give it more of that party atmosphere,” says Erin Jeffery, a board member of the UBA. “We feel confident that this year is going to be the best Uptown Live festival ever!”
Uptown Live has always, first and foremost, been about music. And this year, the event’s three stages — the Douglas College Main Stage, the Starlight Casino DJ Stage, and the Plaza Stage — will host an incredible array of live music, dance performances, and more. Vancouver’s Juno-nominated DJ A-Slam (along with street dancers Battlezone) will be spinning four distinct sets: Afrobeat, Taylor Swift (Swifties, rejoices!), Latin music, and favourites of the 2000s. Meanwhile, the Plaza and Main stage line-ups offer something for every taste, from singer-songwriters and samba to jazz and much more.
Headlining the Main Stage are the world-renowned The Funk Hunters. This electrifying DJ/producer duo, made up of longtime friends Nick Middleton and Duncan Smith, has toured the world, captivating crowds at the likes of Coachella and Burning Man. And their in-demand remix artistry has led to them working with international superstars such as Selena Gomez, Imagine Dragons, and U2 (whose “Love is Bigger” remix hit number one on the Billboard Dance Club Chart). “We consider ourselves incredibly lucky to have been able to get them,” says Jeffery. “Their DJ sets are just incredible — visual, danceable, just a really wonderful way to end an evening.”
But Uptown Live is about much more than music. New West’s own Steel & Oak Brewing Co. will be the featured beer at the outdoor bar, while an alcohol-free Family Zone, presented by Key West Ford, will ensure attendees of all ages can take part in the fun. Plus, twelve food trucks will be on site to satisfy every craving (from Mexican and Korean cuisine to mini donuts and shaved ice), and interactive community exhibits and local artisan vendors are sure to entertain and fascinate while showcasing the diverse array of talents that call New West home.
“There was a brief period when New West was being called the ‘Brooklyn of Vancouver,’” says Jeffery, laughing, “but we're very much our own thing, with our own unique flavour. We at the UBA are really passionate about the Uptown area and New West as a whole. Uptown Live is the largest street festival in New West, and we relish the opportunity for people from across the Lower Mainland to come out and discover the fabulous things to be found here.”
Discover more about Uptown Live, including the complete line-up of this year’s attractions, at uptownlive.ca.
