The Watch & Learn Festival, presented by Vancouver Civic Theatres, is taking over Queen Elizabeth Theatre Plaza August 19 & 20. Here are five reasons to hustle downtown that weekend and get in on it…

1) Hands-on workshops | There are 7 fantastic workshops including tonic- and salve-making, indigo dying, macrame, leather work and patch embroidery ranging from $40 to $125 per person. Book your spot now and flex your crafty muscles.

2) Live Painting | 2016 Mural Fest artists Peter Ricq & Ben Knight will be on hand, each live painting an 8’x4’ canvas from 12-5PM on Saturday and Sunday. Got a blank wall that needs some love? These original pieces will be for sale at the end of the festival.

3) Local Bands | Catch any (or all) of the 6 live shows, featuring local bands like Jody Glenham, Star Captains, and Twin River — pair ’em up with a picnic lunch (more on that below)…

4) Food trucks | So many food trucks! You’ll find us eating like hobbits (hey there, second breakfast!) in an attempt to hit all the vendors on hand. Tuck into tacos, more tacos, wood-fired pizza, ice cream, pakoras and falafel all washed down with a micro brew or two. If it’s too overwhelming, you can always come back the next day, right?

5) Marketplace | If making your own indigo-dyed treasure only gets you eager for more hand-crafted goodness then we suggest checking out the 40+ local artisans at the Etsy Vancouver Marketplace. Expect everything from skincare, jewelry, and ceramics to prints, wall hangings and hand-sewn kids toys. All the goodness of Etsy without the delayed gratification of waiting for the Fed Ex guy! Seriously, where is he when you need him?

All images courtesy the Watch & Learn Festival