From our calendar to yours comes this carefully considered agenda of cool things we are doing, wishing we could do, or conspiring to do in Vancouver from Thursday, August 7th, to Wednesday, August 13th, 2025. Please note that you can now get the Scout List – with a few extra pieces of intel included – sent to your inbox every Thursday. Sign up for your subscription here.

STARS | Every year around this time, stargazers and naturalists flee the bright lights of the city to catch the Perseid meteor shower. The shower is typically visible beginning in mid-July, but the most pronounced activity goes down in the pre-dawn hours this coming week. Things peak during the nighttime hours between Tuesday, August 12th and Wednesday the 13th, and this year we can expect to see as many as 25 meteors per hour! Pretty much any open sky free of light “noise” will do the trick. DETAILS

PREPARE | Want to up your knowledge on the subject of meteor showers between now and the aforementioned “main event”? The H.R. MacMillan Space Centre is hosting a Perseid Meteor Shower Primer Event on Friday, August 8th. Although tickets for the whole experience (including expert talks on meteors and space science and telescope viewing) are already sold out, discounted tickets including a 9:30pm screening of the new planetarium show, ‘One Sky Project: Dreams of the Stars’, as well as access to interactive booths with local space groups and the cosmic courtyard are still available – but those are going quickly too, so act fast! Fuel up with tacos from Tacosaurus while learning how to catch the meteor shower at its best when it peaks later in the week. DETAILS

SAND | KitsFest kicks off today, and lasts through the weekend. The four-day-long festival focuses on sporty things like basketball, spikeball, tennis and volleyball, as well as slower activities like sunset beach yoga, and even chess. There will also be loads of live music, painting, and dance performances. Be sure to take water, sunscreen and snacks, and expect parking to be in short supply. And when you get tired, hungry, and/or thirsty? We recommend refuelling up the street at Lucky Taco on Yew. DETAILS.

FORESTS | The 2nd International Conference on Forest Therapy is happening at UBC from August 9th–11th, bringing together researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and nature advocates to explore the science and impact of healing with nature. With Vancouver’s forests as the backdrop, the event features global speakers, field sessions, and discussions on how forest therapy is shaping health and wellness around the world. Super into this concept. DETAILS

SHOP | Skip the big-box sameness and spend your Saturday supporting real people who make real things. The Vancouver Market at the Wise Hall is bringing artists, makers, and vendors together under one roof this Saturday. Expect handcrafted jewellery, illustrations, taxidermy art, cross-stitch hoops, gothic décor, Riso prints, clay sculptures, curated clothing (thrifted and new), zines, crochet creations, beard oil, and more—each item made or selected by someone you can actually talk to. The market runs from 5–8:30pm, and includes live music by goth-rock darkwavers, Decomme, plus the option to stick around for The Dark Eighties Dance Party at 9:30pm. The bar will be open, and there’s even space to sit and draw, knit, or craft alongside others, if that’s your scene. DETAILS

PLEASANT | Also on Saturday: Pleasant Day Fest takes over Main Street for a full day of local music, food, art, and community. Spanning from 16th Avenue to King Edward, the Mount Pleasant BIA’s street party showcases the independent spirit and creative energy that defines the neighbourhood. Expect food trucks, live music across multiple stages, vendors, beer gardens, and all-ages activities. We’re especially keen to swing by The Acorn’s party set-up (founder Shira Blustein’s Cure cover band, Strawberries and Cream takes the Main Stage at Noon) — always a good time. DETAILS

AIRSHOW | Make the trek out to Abbotsford for the annual Air Show this weekend. Poke around the cockpits of old warbirds; check out CF-18s and F-35 Lightnings; and be impressed by the Snowbirds’ skills. You don’t have to be an airplane wonk going in, but you just might be after you leave. The collective size, speed, and history of the planes in this show is immense and impressive. And, hey, since you’re out in Abbotsford already, why not nip into Field House Brewing for a nice, cool beer? DETAILS

FESTIVAL | The three-day Astro Arts Festival brings mural-making, open-air exhibitions, and street-level creativity to Mount Pleasant this weekend. Set in Astro Alley (West 4th and Columbia) the festival transforms the “Astro Club” into a vibrant urban gallery, showcasing over 35 live street art pieces and six massive new murals. There will also be DJ sets, artist talks, open studios, immersive installations, and the return of 100 Amigos, a group art show curated by Pablo Zamudio, Drew Young, and Douglas Coupland, opening to the public on Friday evening (8pm-1am). Saturday night’s highlight is Snag, a live painting battle and raffle offering original works as prizes. Founded by Drew Young and Steff Love, Astro Club is now home to over 60 artists – as well as being one of the last spaces in the city for unrestricted expression. Entry is generally free, with some ticketed events and a new Patron Program for those who want to support and go deeper. DETAILS

PANEL | Go behind the scenes of HBO’s Emmy-award-winning The Last of Us with a rare in-person panel, featuring the visual effects supervisors who brought its haunting world to life. From massive infected hordes to desolate cityscapes, this live discussion breaks down the technical wizardry and storytelling choices that shaped one of television’s most visually impactful series. Hurry on this one! Spaces are filling up fast. DETAILS

NOURISH | We have arrived at that delicious point of the summer when tomatoes are at peak perfection. Take full advantage and gobble them up while you can. Get yourself over to a Farmers’ Market this week (they’re now in full swing in various neighbourhoods around Vancouver), and take along your very best reusable carry bags to fill to the brim with heirlooms, cute little cherry tomatoes, and armfuls of Romas. The window of perfection is open and it’s time to jump through! DETAILS / DETAILS / DETAILS