Vernon Japanese Cultural Society

🎉 Celebrating 50 Years of the Powell Street Festival! 🎉

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Powell Street Festival—a remarkable milestone celebrating Japanese Canadian arts, culture, heritage, and community.

Since 1977, the festival has brought people together to honour the history and resilience of Vancouver’s historic Japantown while showcasing the incredible contributions of Japanese Canadian artists, performers, and organizations.

If you’re in the Lower Mainland, this free, family-friendly event is well worth the visit!

📍 Oppenheimer Park & the surrounding Powell Street neighbourhood
📅 August 1 & 2
🕚 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Congratulations to the Powell Street Festival Society on 50 incredible years of celebrating and sharing Japanese Canadian culture. Here’s to many more!

❤️ Please share this post with friends and family who may be attending.

The 50th festival is almost here, it's free and open to everyone! Here's what you need to know before you go:

📍 Where: Oppenheimer Park and the surrounding neighbourhood, centred around the 400 Block of Powell St. between Dunlevy and Jackson Ave.
📅 When: August 1 & 2 11:00am - 7:00pm

Getting there:
🚌 Bus: Powell St. stop ( #4, #7, #209), Cordova St. stop ( #3, #8, #50), or E Hastings St. ( #14, #16, #20, R5)
🚃 SkyTrain: About a 20 minute walk from Main Street–Science World, Stadium–Chinatown, or Waterfront Station. Check TransLink for trip planning / advisories.
🚴 Bike: Free bike valet available on Alexander St. and Dunlevy Ave.
🚗 Car: Parking near the festival is very limited. We encourage walking, cycling, transit, or carshare when possible.

Know before you go:
We're expecting over 20,000 attendees across the weekend, so please expect crowds and food lines. Free drinking water is available on site (bring a bottle!). Gender neutral, wheelchair accessible, and baby changing portable toilets are on site. Japanese speaking MCs and ASL interpretation for opening ceremonies will be available, and our Hospitality & Security team (look for orange hachimakis) is here to help if you need anything.

Come hungry, come curious, and bring the whole family!

Obon is a time of remembrance, community, and celebration. We’re grateful to the Vernon Buddhist Temple for sharing these beautiful photos from this year’s Obon gathering. 🏮✨

🌸 Join the Vernon Buddhist Temple for their Monthly Meditation Session - Saturday, July 18th. Details below!

Please join us for our Monthly Meditation Session Saturday July 18, 2026. The Meditation will be lead by Sensei Hirano.
Meditation is from 2:30pm to 3:30pm.

WE WILL NOT BE HOLDING OUR REGULAR BUDDHIST SERVICE FOLLOWING MEDITION.

We will meet at the Vernon Japanese Cultural Society 4895 Bella Vista Rd. Vernon for the meditation . We hope to see you there. If you have an questions please contact [email protected] See less

🇨🇦 Wishing everyone a safe and happy Canada Day!

Happy Father’s Day to all the amazing dads in our community! 👔💙

Today we celebrate your love, strength, guidance, and everything you do to support and inspire those around you.

Whether you are a father, grandfather, stepfather, or father figure, your dedication helps shape families, preserve traditions, and strengthen our community.

Wishing you a wonderful day filled with love, appreciation, and time spent with family. 🌿✨

🌸 Join the Vernon Buddhist Temple for a special Obon Service on Sunday, June 28. Obon is a meaningful Japanese tradition that honours ancestors and celebrates remembrance, gratitude, and family connections. Details below. 🙏

SERVICE DAY AND TIME CHANGE:

Please join us for our monthly service SUNDAY JUNE 28 at 3:30pm. We will NOT have the regular meditation session before service . This will be our special OBON service.
The service will be lead by Sensei Hirano.
The Service is from 3:30 to 5:00pm.

We will meet at the Vernon Japanese Cultural Society 4895 Bella Vista Rd, Vernon . We hope to see you there. If you have any questions please contact [email protected]

OBON MEANING
In Jodo Shinshu we celebrate Obon as a joyful time focusing on deep gratitude, self-reflection and honouring the lives that shaped our own. We show our respect and deep gratitude for everything our ancestors have done for us by participating in traditional festivities like Obon and Bon Odori (Obon dances).

🌸 Monthly Meditation Session with the Vernon Buddhist Temple on Saturday, June 27th. Please note this will be the last scheduled meditation until September 2026. Details below!

Please join us for our Monthly Meditation Session Saturday June 27 2026. The Meditation will be lead by Sensei Hirano.
Meditation is from 2:30pm to 3:30pm. This will be the last scheduled meditation until September 2026.

WE WILL NOT BE HOLDING OUR REGULAR BUDDHIST SERVICE FOLLOWING MEDITION.

We will meet at the Vernon Japanese Cultural Society 4895 Bella Vista Rd. Vernon for the meditation . We hope to see you there. If you have an questions please contact [email protected]

✨ Ready to shake it up, Vernon? ✨

Jazzercise Vernon BC is offering FREE classes May 25–30 at the Vernon Japanese Cultural Center! 💃🕺

Thinking about trying something new, getting active, or just having fun while working out? This is the perfect chance to check it out! Plus, they’re offering a special 2-month promo for new or returning customers. 🙌

📍 Vernon Japanese Cultural Center
📅 Classes: Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday
⏰ 9am–10am

Go support another great community group using our hall and get moving! 💛

Starts Monday May 25th!

🎬🍙 Thank you again to everyone who attended and supported our Japanese Food & Film Festival! 🇯🇵🦋

We’re so grateful for the amazing turnout, the community support, the delicious food vendors, and all of the generous raffle & silent auction donors who helped make the event such a success. ❤️

On behalf of the Vernon Japanese Heritage School — arigatou gozaimasu!