Summer? I hardly know ‘er! But I do know that there’s a bevy of brilliant arts events happening all month. Get your fill of comedy, classical music, art, acting, and more. 

Here are some of the best June Vancouver arts events to keep you cool and cultured.

Camp What’s-It-Called: To July 20 @ The Improv Centre 

Catch this summer camp comedy show as summer begins in earnest.

Michel(le): To June 8 @ Studio 16

Joey Lespérance performs a Francophone love story for his trans sister.

Prevailing Landscapes: To June 22 @ Gordon Smith Gallery of Canadian Art 

Contemporary Canadian art that looks long (and wide) at landscapes.

Velvet Terrorism: Pussy Riot’s Russia: To June 9 @ The Polygon Gallery 

The punk protest exhibition wraps up this month. 

Vancouver Greek Film Festival: To June 27 @ The Cinematheque 

The third-annual Hellenic cinema celebration includes a Yorgos Lanthimos spotlight. 

Queer Arts Festival: To June 30 @ Various venues

Queer visual art, animation, video dance, music, and more runs this month. 

Guys & Dolls: To June 30 @ Stanley Industrial Stage 

Sit down, you’re rocking the boat—and blocking the view!

Who Will Sing Folk Songs?: To July 3 @ The Cinematheque 

A series showcasing works that take singing seriously.

les grande dames: To July 25 @ Craft Council of BC Gallery 

Debra Sloan’s sculpture work argues powerfully against misogyny. 

No Mama, No Cry: June 7 to 8 @ BEZ Arts Hub

Shayna Jones premieres a story of matrilineal strength and shame. 

Summertide Cabaret: June 7 to 8 @ Woodland Park 

Rumble Theatre presents a unique outdoor storytelling night.

Icons: June 7 to 15 @ Performance Works 

The Vancouver Men’s Chorus pays homage to trailblazing musicians and divas.

Painting for the After-Culture: June 7 to 16 @ Fingerprint Gallery 

Case Mackeen’s graffiti-inspired canvases make spray paint timeless. 

Sun Moon Stars: June 7 to September 8 @ Contemporary Art Gallery

Vancouver-born artist Rochelle Goldberg marries saints and pin-ups through sculpture.

View from Below: June 7 to September 8 @ Contemporary Art Gallery

Bring it to the runway: photographer Zoe Leonard examines 90s fashion shows.

Are You Garbage? Thru the Roof tour: June 8 to 9 @ Biltmore Cabaret 

Podcasters Kevin Ryan and H. Foley throw out their trashy comedy game show, live! 

Teddy Bear Picnic & Children’s Concert: June 8 to 9 @ Town Centre Park in the Amphitheatre 

Two free family-friendly outdoor shows run as part of Festival Coquitlam.

Italian Day on the Drive: June 9 @ Commercial Drive 

Little Italy hosts the annual community party to celebrate Italian history, culture, and food.

Pro Nova Ensemble: June 9 @ Brentwood Presbyterian Church 

Long-running local string quartet play with saxophonist Julia Nolan. 

Mid Main Art Fair: June 9 @ Heritage Hall 

Vancouver visual artists show off and sell their wares at the 12th-annual market.

Jimbo’s Drag Circus World Tour: June 11 @ Vogue Theatre

Victoria’s drag clown Jimbo might have made it big, but she’s still wonderfully weird.

Bard on the Beach: June 11 to September 21 @ Sen̓áḵw Vanier Park 

Twelfth Night and Hamlet headline the 35th annual Shakespeare festival.

Festival d’été: June 12 to 22 @ Various venues 

The 35th-annual Francophone festival covers comedy, music, kids’ events, and more.

Barbu: June 12 to 23 @ Historic Theatre 

Québec’s Cirque Alfonse fuses retro circus dramatics with an electro-trad soundtrack. 

Medicine: June 12 to 23 @ Vancity Culture Lab 

A dark, absurdist meditation on the mistreatment of mental illnesses. 

Museum of Anthropology re-opening: June 13 @ Museum of Anthropology 

MOA returns with two new exhibitions, To Be Seen, To Be Heard: First Nations in Public Spaces, 1900–1965 and in Pursuit of Venus [infected].

Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance: June 13 @ The Centre in Vancouver for Performing Arts 

Dance, then, wherever you may be; “I am the lord of Riverdance,” said he.

The Path Forward: June 13 @ Orpheum Theatre 

Indigenous artists and musicians join the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra for a free concert and fashion show.

Dancing on the Edge Festival: June 13 to 22 @ Various venues 

Dance gluttons, rejoice: the Canadian movement feast is back.

C/4: Canadian Choral Composition Competition: June 14 @ St. Andrew’s-Wesley United Church

Chor Leoni presents an evening charting how new music gets made.

Pining for CapeTown fundraiser: June 14 @ Private location in Burnaby 

A house show, showcasing Xhosa songs, to raise money for South African youth music programs.

ScotFest BC: June 14 to 15 @ Town Centre Park

The 92nd-annual BC Highland Games also includes food, traditional dance, and music from Ashley MacIsaac.

Paul Brodie’s Bicycle Show: June 15 to 16 @ August Studios

Four decades of Paul Brodie’s one-of-a-kind bikes are on display.

Kevin James Thornton: June 16 @ Biltmore Cabaret 

The comedian reflects on growing up gay in a religious community in his Kevin on Earth tour.

Body Positivity, Diversity and Inclusivity Life Drawing Annual Show: June 16 @ Maplewood Farm

Original life drawings for sale, celebrating human beauty in all its shapes. 

Double Feature: June 17 to January 5 @ Contemporary Art Gallery 

Inuvialuk artist Kablusiak pokes fun at the peculiarities of “high art”.

Sexy Unique Podcast live: June 18 @ Biltmore Cabaret 

Reality TV experts recap the tragicomic lives of America’s Bravo celebs. 

Ring of Fire: June 20 to August 11 @ Granville Island Stage 

A jukebox musical telling the tale of the Man in Black—country legend Johnny Cash.

Marc Maron: All In: June 21 @ Vogue Theatre 

The long-running comedian and podcaster gets deep in relatively intimate environs.

Pêyakotêwisiwin: June 21 @ The Cinematheque 

For National Indigenous People’s Day, catch work from local filmmaker Jules Arita Koostachin (WaaPaKe).

Mary Ancheta Quartet: June 21 @ West Vancouver Memorial Library 

Genre-bending four-piece gets ready to Level Up.

Vancouver International Jazz Festival: June 21 to 30 @ Various venues

Soak up more than 50 free events bringing music from dozens of performers. 

Lamia Yared: June 22 @ Civic Plaza, North Vancouver 

A singer and oud player paying homage to Mediterranean music heritage. 

Terminal City Brass Band: June 22 @ Lynn Valley Village 

Everything from trad jazz to funk is up for grabs from this brass ensemble. 

Concord Pacific Dragon Boat Festival: June 22 to 23 @ False Creek 

Powerful athleticism and cultural celebration meet. 

Regina Carter and Kenny Barron: June 25 @ BlueShore Financial Centre for the Performing Arts 

Jazz masters in concert together.

Marois Vocal Project: An Homage to Dave Brubeck: June 28 @ BlueShore Financial Centre for the Performing Arts 

Vocal jazz reproducing classic saxophone and brass tones.