Mood Swing (July 10, 2025)
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Promotional poster for Gastown's Sunday Set Open Air Atelier live art battles this Sunday, July 13
Welcome back to Mood Swing, your one-stop shop for fun and affordable local events to impress your group chat with. Summer is in full swing here in Vancouver but if you’re tired of the chaos of Kits beach or traffic on the Sea to Sky, here are some ideas of things to do in the city to make the most of our most fleeting season!
This week we have something for everyone — from live shows, a free street festival, outdoor movies and even an art show that features a certain iconic cartoon squid. Read on to find out more and don’t forget to subscribe to the Mood Swing newsletter to get the list straight to your inbox every Thursday.
GASTOWN LIVE ART BATTLE ☆ Part of Gastown’s Sunday Set car-free series, Water Street is turning into an open-air art battle and street festival this Sunday, featuring live painting by eight local artists, live music and an artisan market. The event is part of a pilot to test making Gastown more pedestrian-friendly, so be sure to show up if you want a more walkable city! If you can’t make it this week, check out the lineup of future events taking over Water Street every Sunday until August 31. Future installments include flower markets, live DJs and more art battles.
SUNDAY, JULY 13 11AM - 4PM ☆ WATER ST ☆ FREE!
GREEN AUTO FEST ☆ You can already find awesome live shows almost every week at Green Auto, an artist-focused DIY venue tucked away in an East Van alleyway. But this week, they’re featuring killer lineups of all-local bands every day. Take this chance to find your new favourite local artists, because who can afford tickets to mainstream acts anymore? Lock in your weekend plans, catch an early gig with a pre-show BBQ on a Sunday or have a weeknight dance party. My personal recommendation is to check out the Wednesday show so you can enjoy gay pop perfection from Devours.
SATURDAY, JULY 12 - SUNDAY, JULY 20 ☆ GREEN AUTO, 1822 PANDORA ST ☆ TICKETS ($15)
DECKCHAIR CINEMA ☆ The Polygon Gallery has kicked off their yearly summer Deckchair Cinema series with a sci-fi twist! Every Thursday throughout the summer, you can catch a new sci-fi flick right by the water outside the Gallery. Entry is by donation and includes popcorn, pre-show live performances and access to the Gallery’s summer exhibition. Check out this week’s film, the 2024 acclaimed Canadian indie darling Universal Language, and find the full lineup on their website. Next week’s showing is Alfonso Cuarón’s 2013 award-winning hit Gravity, which is a great one to watch if you want to feel stressed out while watching Sandra Bullock get knocked around in space.
THURSDAY, JULY 10 ☆ THE POLYGON GALLERY, NORTH VANCOUVER ☆ ENTRY BY DONATION
SQUIDWARD ART SHOW ☆ Yes, you read that right. This weekend, James Black Gallery is hosting The Artist is Squid, the first-ever solo exhibition from Vancouver artist Thalia Lemon, known for her intricate acrylic paintings that reimagine the iconic Spongebob Squarepants character in classical works of art. Think Squid with a Pearl Earring, The Squid Scream, The Squid Lisa and more. As we all get a bit older, and perhaps start to see ourselves more in the cynical squid than the whimsical sponge, why not indulge in this bold and brash show that definitely does not belong in the trash.
THURSDAY, JULY 10 - SUNDAY, JULY 13 ☆ JAMES BLACK GALLERY, 144 E 6 AVE ☆ FREE!
MEET CUTIES COMEDY SHOW ☆ If you love to laugh, cringe and yearn in equal measure, check out this comedy show where four local comedians go on live improvised blind dates with members of the audience. If you’re brave (or tired enough of dating apps), sign up to go on stage for a chance at your own meet-cute and make sure to bring a single friend to take advantage of their BOGO tickets! Fun fact: when I went to this show a few months ago my friend was selected for a date and the comedian slid into her DMs to ask her out after. Did it work out? … No! But still!
FRIDAY, JULY 11 8PM ☆ CHILL X STUDIO, 2270 MANITOBA ST ☆ TICKETS ($21 - BUY ONE GET ONE FREE!)
