• Literally Funny Mainstage

    It’s Festival Central here at the steps of the South Plaza! The Word On The Street Vancouver teams up with Global ComedyFest Vancouver to present an exciting and entertaining roster of comedy skits and musical performances.

  • Magazine Life Tent

    These panel discussions, demonstrations and performances will introduce audiences to the exciting world of Canadian magazine publishing. Free samples, subscriptions and special deals on offer!

  • Canada Writes

    Popular, bestselling and thought-provoking reads ranging from “greening” your family to creating the quintessentially Canadian guitar to our fascination with British Columbia’s wild places.

  • Authors Tent

    Listen to some of the biggest stars on the West Coast literary scene and discover fresh new voices all under one roof!

  • Poetry Tent

    Experience the power of great poetry to convey a complexity of emotions in these readings by established and emerging writers.

  • Sony Reader Lounge

    Take a break and test drive a Sony e-Reader. Located inside The Centre for Performing Arts, Homer Street.

  • Kids Tent

    Geared to children aged 5 to 11, the Kids Tent is the place to be for all that’s fun and happening in Canadian children’s literature!

  • Raise-a-Reader Corner

    Picture book authors for the youngest members of your family, plus storytelling by children’s librarians from the Lower Mainland representing the InterLINK Children’s Services Committee. Ages 0-4.

  • Cheer Tent

    Visit Canada Post and Cheerios at the Cheer Tent to write your encouraging postcard to our Canadian Olympic athletes!

  • Writing Talks

    These special events fill up quickly so early queuing is recommended. All take place inside the Library, downstairs in the Peter Kaye Room.

  • The Word On The Screen

    Presenting Margaret Atwood and more, live from Toronto. Inside the Library, Alma VanDusen Room downstairs

  • Visual Exhibits

    Located in the library, in the moat downstairs and the promenade upstairs. Take in exhibits displaying the visual component to books and magazines.

  • The Word Under The Street

    Local alternative comic book artists and 'zines. Including exhibitors, events, readings, and presentations. Inside the Library, Alice McKay Room downstairs

Literally Funny Mainstage

Presented by WestJet, Global ComedyFest headline acts will showcase a terrific roster of performers, all flying in from WestJet’s world.

click times to expand content

  • 10:45 :: Celebration of Vancouver's Young Readers

    Join the City Librarian and special guests to celebrate successful participants in this year’s Summer Reading Club. Young readers representing Reading Clubs across the city will receive recognition for their reading achievement and will be presented with a special commemorative gift.

  • 11:30 :: Dianna David
    ComedyFest Presents a WestJet World Player

    Physical entertainer Dianna David is a first-generation Canadian-born Filipino. At the tender age of five, she was already mimicking Michael Jackson’s moon-walk and has since gone on to perform for troupes, festivals and events such as the Vancouver and Surrey Children’s Festival, Dances for a Small Stage, Public Dream Society’s numerous corporate and community events, For the Luv of It professional showcases, Crimson Cabaret and so many more. She is a short-list talent for Electronic Arts’ motion capture team with her movements spotted in such games as Face Breaker, Harry Potter, Red Alert and Army of Two. Dianna captivates her audiences with a show filled with movement, storytelling, dance and humour.

  • 12:15 :: The Bobbers

    The Bobbers - queer comedy improv - are based in Vancouver BC and have been making people laugh with their unique comedy shows at festivals, events and now on their very own TV show called Tops & Bottoms on OUT TV.

  • 2:00 :: Jim Byrnes
    Six String Nation's Voyageur Performance

    Steel guitar collector, musician and columnist Alex Varty will kick off a performance by legendary bluesman Jim Byrnes playing the Voyageur, a marvelous “storied” guitar assembled from 64 pieces of Canadian history and profiled in Jowi Taylor’s new book, Six String Nation. Taylor will present the guitar and his amazing quest to bring an object “made from hockey sticks and canoe paddles and grain elevators and baseboards and boats and antlers” to as many Canadians as possible and to have it played by as many Canadians as possible. Byrnes, an actor, songwriter and Juno Award-winning musician, plays more than 150 dates a year in North America and Europe and his latest CD, My Walking Stick, is an exciting cross-pollination of gospel, blues, rockabilly and country. Don’t miss this exciting, quintessentially Canadian event!
    Jowi Taylor will appear at The Canada Writes Tent.

  • 3:00 :: Tierra Del Sol Mexican Dance Group and Mariachi Del Sol
    ComedyFest Presents Westjet World Players

    Enjoy authentic, colourful and exhiliating folk dances by the Tierro Del Sol Mexican Dance Group. The group has performed around the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island at local functions, multicultural events, humanitarian fundraisers and other special events to promote cultural appreciation and awareness. They’ll be joined by Mariachi Del Sol, one of Canada’s outstanding Mexican Music ensembles—an exciting blend of stunning vocals, Latin guitars, shimmering strings and sparkling brass. From soft romantic ballads to lively Ranchero songs, Mariachi Del Sol delivers the authentic flavour of Mexico!

  • 4:30 :: Larissa Loyva (musician)
    Kellarissa

    The delightful and talented Larissa Loyva will perform selections from her new CD, Flamingo, recorded and released by Vancouver’s own Mint Records. You may already know Larissa from her stunning vocal and songwriting contributions to previous Mint releases from P:ano and The Choir Practice. After working with these groups, defined by their strengths as ensembles, Larissa has now taken centre stage with her new solo project, Kellarissa. With her prized Candied Yam synthesizer and haunting vocals, Larissa asks eternal questions disguised as pop songs.

Copyright © 2010 The Word On The Street Site by Orchard Studios