From Stanley Park dances to Annie and Alice, summer arts fare spans the theatrical, the multicultural, and the whimsical

Come summer in the city, it's time to party. No matter if you thrill to the Latin sizzle of flamenco, can't resist a bhangra beat, or have a thing for sumo wrestlers, these festivals will keep you satisfied.

Bard on the Beach
Whether you like your theatre light or dark, the Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival has you covered. Keen on suspense and tragedy? Othello ought to do it for you. A dedicated history buff? Check out Richard II, the first work in the festival's three-year plan to showcase the “King” series of plays. If you're a fan of madcap hilarity, catch The Comedy of Errors, or get into the girl-power-themed All's Well That Ends Well. When and where: Until September 26 at Vanier Park. The big draw: This year it's all about steamy Othello, which Bard is presenting for the first time in its two-decades-long history. Sight you won't see anywhere else this summer: Two sets of identical twins causing mayhem and confusion—unless you're a particularly unlucky summer-school teacher.

Vancouver International Flamenco Festival
Indulge in the recent record-breaking temperatures, toss back some sangria, and you're ready to immerse yourself in this 20th annual ode to stamping feet and clacking castanets. Organized by Flamenco Rosario, the event includes free gigs at Library Square, performances by local favourites at the Waterfront Theatre, master classes at the Dance Centre, and shows by renowned flamenco artists at the Cultch and Vancouver Playhouse. ¡Que calor! When and where: June 28 to July 5 at various venues. The big draw: Spain's legendary Isabel Bayón will steam up the Playhouse on July 3. Sight you won't see anywhere else this summer: Kitsilano's down-home Sunset Grill transformed into a Sevillian tablao for a finale featuring dinner, a performance, and a flamenco jam.

Canada Day on Granville Island
Granville Island's annual celebration serves up an array of patriotic fun that's as diverse as the country's citizenship. Start the day with a pancake breakfast; take part in a glass-making workshop; hang out at the MELA! Festivals intercultural pavilion—complete with bazaar, music, and dance; and wrap it all up with some free jazz from such performers as Kate Hammett-Vaughan and the Coat Cooke Trio. When and where: July 1, 7 a.m. to midnight, on Granville Island. The big draw: Axis Theatre's The Number 14 takes riders on a free Python-esque adventure aboard Vancouver's No. 14 bus, in a one-hour performance (2:30 p.m. at the Waterfront Theatre). Sight you won't see anywhere else this summer: A ferry-boat ballet, courtesy of False Creek Ferries (8 a.m.).

Dancing on the Edge
Now in its 21st year, Vancouver's contemporary-dance festival has lasted longer than most professional dancers' careers; it's worth taking a moment to appreciate the dedication of those brave enough to make a go of life at the barre. Take in a mixed Edge program, check out premieres of works by local choreographers like James Gnam (July 16 at the Scotiabank Dance Centre), or catch up on productions you missed, such as Wen Wei Dance's Three Sixty-Five (July 10 and 11 at the Vancouver Playhouse) and CoErasga's Paradis/Paradise (July 10 and 11 at the Roundhouse Community Centre). When and where: July 9 to 18 at various venues. The big draw: Montreal's master dancer and choreographer Paul-André Fortier will perform his site-specific outdoor work Solo 30x30 at Library Square at 5:15 p.m. every day until July 18, starting prefestival this Friday (June 19). Sight you won't see anywhere else this summer: Cutting-edge work inspired by everything from comic-book heroes to First Nations spirituality, performed in Stanley Park as part of Dusk Dances (July 15 to 18).

All Over the Map
Over the course of six Sundays, New Works' multicultural fest brings free dance and music from around the world to Granville Island, saving you the cost of airfare. This summer's lineup brings you the sights and sounds of Bollywood (July 12), Thailand (July 26), Africa (August 16), and Mexico (August 23), among others. When and where: Sundays at 2 p.m., July 12 to August 30, at Ron Basford Park (moved to Performance Works in case of rain). The big draw: The Chen Ling Academy promises to bring colour and artistry to the stage in its Chinese dance performance (August 30). Sight you won't see anywhere else this summer: Old folks, young folks, and everyone in between hopping to the hyperkinetic percussive stylings of SWARM (July 19).

Alice in Wonderland Festival
Even if you've never fantasized about escaping down a rabbit hole, you'd have to be mad as a hatter not to see the fun in attending the 15th annual Alice in Wonderland Festival. More than 50 performers in an all-ages cast will bring characters from Lewis Carroll's tripped-out world to life. Bring a family picnic, a flamingo (plastic, we're guessing), and a tasty treat for sharing. When and where: July 12 at Trout Lake in John Hendry Park (July 19 if the weather is bad). The big draw: Turns out descendants of Lewis Carroll and Alice Liddell—for whom the original tale was written—are Vancouver-area residents, and will be in attendance. Sight you won't see anywhere else this summer: Potentially hundreds of people in blue frocks and white petticoats, attempting to set the world record for the largest gathering of people dressed as Alice.

Harmony Arts Festival
The North Shore's 10-day summer bash is filled with reasons for Vancouverites to venture across the Lions Gate. Considering the art exhibitions, outdoor film screenings, concerts of all musical genres, and plethora of kid-friendly activities, you might want to pack a few changes of clothes and stay a while. Performers include the Paperboys, Jim Byrnes, and Sinfonia. When and where: July 13 to August 9 at various West Vancouver venues. The big draw: Did I mention everything's free? Sight you won't see anywhere else this summer: Rock veteran Bill Henderson, of Chilliwack fame, getting his groove on with the help of daughters Camille and Saffron.

Theatre Under the Stars
Audiences just love a plucky heroine, and this year TUTS serves up two feisty female leads. There's the spunky redheaded orphan in Annie, directed by Glynis Leyshon, and the Charleston-stepping flapper in Thoroughly Modern Millie, with Broadway triple threat Diana Kaarina in the title role. One will have you singing about tomorrow, and the other foxtrotting your way home. When and where: July 14 to August 22 at Malkin Bowl in Stanley Park. The big draw: Teaching your teenage kids that Jay-Z did not, in fact, write “It's a Hard Knock Life”. Sight you won't see anywhere else this summer: Tap-dancing stenographers sporting the cutest fashions of 1922.

desiFEST
A cross-country affair, this celebration of contemporary South Asian music and dance takes place in Toronto, Montreal, and Ottawa, and launched in Vancouver last year, when it drew crowds of 5,000. This summer looks set to be quite the sequel, with more than 100 artists from around the globe on-site performing everything from Indo-jazz fusion to bhangra and hip-hop. When and where: July 25, 12 p.m. to 10 p.m., at the Plaza of Nations. The big draw: International hip-hop star Blitzkrieg, whose debut album, The Rhyme Book, earned him two U.K. Asian Music Award nominations. Sight you won't see anywhere else this summer: Mountains and mountains of samosas. Mmmm.

Illuminares Lantern Festival
After a hiatus last year, Vancouver's popular lantern fest is back to transform Trout Lake into a fantastical landscape filled with thousands of flickering paper lanterns of all shapes and sizes, just as night falls. Rounding out the festivities will be circus performers, along with processional bands. When and where: July 25, 7 to 11 p.m., at John Hendry Park.The big draw: Fire sculptures. 'Nuff said. Sight you won't see anywhere else this summer: Children encouraged to play with fire, for a change.

Vancouver Early Music Festival
If you're reeling from the onslaught of overproduced auto-tuned schlock invading your radio space, Early Music Vancouver's annual summer celebration of all things old might be just what the doctor ordered. Three nights of baroque lute music, an exploration of the music of Henry Purcell and his 17th-century contemporaries, and a celebration of Franz Joseph Haydn will make you feel like you've taken a much-needed step back in time. When and where: July 26 to August 20 at various venues. The big draw: In recognition of Purcell's 350th-anniversary year, Alexander Weimann will lead a group of musicians from across Canada and the U.K. in the composer's masque opera, The Faerie Queen (August 6 at the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts). Sight you won't see anywhere else this summer: Lute groupies.

Pride in Art
Now here's a festival that knows how to pick a theme. Last year's was “Gender Twist”; this summer it's “Faerie Tales: Telling Our Stories”, which 27 visual artists have explored for a juried art exhibition. Other events include performances by an all-female Japanese percussion ensemble (Jodaiko Taiko Drummers, August 1), readings of books seized by Canada Customs (Queerotica, August 6), and a theatrical treatise about Madonna (Madonna in My Mind, August 12 and 13). When and where: July 28 to August 15 at the Roundhouse Community Arts and Recreation Centre. The big draw: The opening-night Art Party includes preview performances in “a gay carnival atmosphere”. Top that. Sight you won't see anywhere else this summer: In a new-music evening (Transgressions, August 10), Rachel Kiyo Iwaasa will perform De Profundis, a half-hour piece for speaking pianist based on text written by Oscar Wilde; Mark McGregor will tackle Steam, a work by Barry Trax for alto flute and electroacoustics; and cellist Cris Derksen will premiere two multimedia pieces.

Powell Street Festival
The world's largest Japanese-Canadian festival has been diverted by city construction to the Drive area's Woodland Park this year, but it promises to be as big as ever. If the visual arts, film, dance, martial arts, and music ranging from pop to contemporary classical aren't enough to lure you, the promise of mouth-watering food might just seal the deal. When and where: Free festival event August 1 and 2 at Woodland Park; art exhibition August 1 to 15 at the Helen Pitt Gallery. The big draw: Two words: sumo wrestling. Sight you won't see anywhere else this summer: A musical mashup of traditional Japanese drumming and First Nations performance, when Sawagi Taiko joins Tiqilap.

MusicFest Vancouver
It's got a new name, but the fete formerly known as Festival Vancouver is still intent on bringing topnotch classical, world-music, and jazz performers to the city. This year's focus on the music and musicians of Germany features such luminaries as the Leipzig String Quartet (August 3 at Christ Church Cathedral) and jazz organist Barbara Dennerlein (August 4 at the VAG and August 5 at the Norman Rothstein Centre). When and where: August 2 to 16 at various venues. The big draw: Breaking with the tradition of launching with an opera gala, this year's festival kicks off with the cabaret stylings of renowned German-born chanteuse Ute Lemper (August 3). Perhaps Pirate Jenny will make an appearance? Sight you won't see anywhere else this summer: A steel-pan virtuoso serenading peonies, when Liam Teague performs at VanDusen Botanical Garden (August 12).