Special Events in Vancouver
Connect with neighbors, meet new friends and enjoy the art, culture and natural beauty of Vancouver at special community events! These events are free and open to everyone.
Events with Community Partners
We work with community partners to support cultural events in Vancouver. Save the date to celebrate with us.
- June 15: Juneteenth Freedom Celebration with Odyssey World International | Esther Short Park
- June 22: Family Play Day with Columbia Play Project | Vancouver Waterfront Park
- Aug. 2-4: Vancouver Arts & Music Festival with Vancouver Symphony Orchestra | Esther Short Park
- Oct. 19: Día de Muertos with Vancouver Ballet Folklórico | Esther Short Park
- Nov. 29: Holiday Tree Lighting with Rotary International | Location TBD
- Dec. 26: Community Menorah Lighting with Chabad of Clark County | Location TBD
Annual Summer Events
Sunday Sounds Concert Series: July 7 – Aug. 18
The Columbia Tech Center Sunday Sounds Concerts presented by Riverview Bank, hit the stage in east Vancouver on Sundays from 6 to 8 p.m. Enjoy an exciting lineup of genre-defying crowd favorites. Food and refreshments are available to purchase from local vendors or bring a picnic to enjoy. Alcohol is not permitted in parks.
- July 7: 5 Guys Named Moe
- July 14: Dancehall Days
- July 21: Britnee Kellogg
- July 28: Andy Stokes
- Aug. 4: Precious Byrd
- Aug. 11: Prom Date Mixtape
- Aug. 18: Hit Machine
Parking is available off S.E. Cardinal Ct., in the gravel lot south of the amphitheater. Leave your car at home and take C-TRAN, Columbia Tech Center is served by the Vine on Mill Plain (Red) and Route 74.
Thursday Waterfront Concert Series: July 11 – Aug. 15
The north shore of the Columbia River is the place to be on Thursdays from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. for the Vancouver Waterfront Concert Series. Enjoy an eclectic mix of music from around the world. Bring a picnic or get something to eat at a delicious local restaurant on the waterfront. Alcohol is not permitted in parks.
- July 11: Curtis Salgado
- July 18: Aaron Meyer – Concert Rock
- July 25: Pa’lante
- Aug. 1: LaRhonda Steele
- Aug. 8: Jujuba
- Aug. 15: Sabroso
Parks Foundation of Clark County is hosting parking by donation in the lot across from Vancouver City Hall, paid street parking and commercial lots are also available. Leave your car at home and take C-TRAN Route 71 to get to the Waterfront Concerts.
Special thanks to community supporters Pepsico Ridgefield and Clark Public Utilities.
Friday Night Movies in the Parks: July 12 – Aug. 23
Start your weekend off right with the Free Friday Night Movies presented by HAPO Community Credit Union. Arrive at 7 p.m. to enjoy fun activities from our community partners before the movie begins. All movies are close captioned. Food and refreshments are available to purchase from local vendors or bring a picnic to enjoy. Alcohol is not permitted in parks.
- July 12: Shrek (PG) at Bagley Community Park
- Arrive at 6 p.m. to explore the Family Resource Night presented by Akin
- C-TRAN Option: Vine on Fourth Plain (Green)
- July 19: Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax (PG) at Nikkei Neighborhood Park
- Pre-movie activities provided by Stormwater Partners SW Washington
- Free parking is available at Image Elementary School
- July 26: School of Rock (PG-13) at Marshall Community Park
- Pre-movie activities provided by Chamber Music NW and Sound Truck NW
- C-TRAN Option: Vine on Fourth Plain (Green)
- Aug. 2: West Side Story – 1961 (PG) at Esther Short Community Park
- Pre-movie activities provided by Vancouver Arts & Music Festival
- C-TRAN Options: Vine on Fourth Plain (Green), Vine on Mill Plain (Red), Route 2, Route 25, Route 31, Route 32, Route 41, Route 60, Route 71, Route 105
- Aug. 9: Wish (PG) at Fruit Valley Neighborhood Park
- Pre-movie activities provided by Port of Vancouver
- C-TRAN Option: Route 6
- Aug. 16: Migration (PG) at David Douglas Community Park
- C-TRAN Options: Vine on Mill Plain (Red) or Route 32
- Aug. 23: Barbie (PG-13) at Columbia Tech Center Park
- C-TRAN Options: Vine on Mill Plain (Red) or Route 74
Special thanks to supporting sponsor, Lumen.
Summer Event Opportunities
Partner/Community Organization Opportunities
Are you a community organization or non-profit looking for ways to connect with the community? The City of Vancouver’s Special Events team invites you to join our summer event series! Partner and community organizations must adhere to these core principles:
- Be open to the public
- Provide services to Vancouver, Washington residents
- Not advocate for or against any political cause, party or candidate
- Be non-commercial
- Not promote any religion or religious viewpoint
- Be in alignment with the strategic plan and operating principles of the City of Vancouver
To table at City of Vancouver summer events, please complete the Partner Tabling Application and provide all the necessary materials requested in the application.
Submission Timelines
To be considered for the 2024 Special Event season, applications are due by May 31, 2024.Submitting this application does not guarantee your spot at the event(s). Only applications that are filled out completely will be considered. If approved, our Special Events staff will contact you to confirm within a month of submittal.
If you need help completing the form or have additional questions, please contact us at covspecialevents@cityofvancouver.us.
Food Vendor Opportunities
The City of Vancouver prefers to partner with local food vendors for City-sponsored and partnered events. After submitting an interest form, you will be added to a directory of food vendors that the City’s Special Events team will use to identify qualified food vendors for future events. This is not an application. Event specific applications will be sent to vendors that:
- Have submitted a food vendor interest form
- Fit the needs of the event
Complete this interest form at any time to be added to our directory. The interest form only needs to be completed once.
What to expect at City-sponsored events:
Crowds
- Free Friday Movie Nights – between 100 and 400 people on site.
- Sunday Sounds Concert Series – between 1,500 to 3,000 people on site.
Event Times/Dates
- Free Friday Movie Nights – Location varies by week – 7 p.m. until the movie ends (between 9:30 and 11 p.m. depending on movie length)
- Sunday Sounds Concert Series – Columbia Tech Center – Sundays – 6 to 8 p.m.
Number of Food Vendors
- City-sponsored and partnered events have between 3 and 6 food vendors on site, depending on expected attendance. A variety of food options is best for attendees.
Approval Process
- Complete the Food Vendor Interest Form and provide all required materials.
- Comply with all current city, county and state health department regulations.
- Be contacted and approved by City staff to coordinate dates/times of events.
Submission Timelines
The interest form and subsequent food vendor application should be completed and approved by May 15, 2024, for the summer season. The interest form will remain open after that date for future opportunities. If you need help completing the form or have additional questions, please contact us at covspecialevents@cityofvancouver.us.