KHATSAHLANO 2023

The West 4th Avenue Khatsahlano Street Party is Vancouver’s largest free music and arts Festival! Created with love in 2011 by the members of the Kitsilano West 4th Avenue Business Association, Khatsahlano, features multiple stages showcasing more than 50 of Vancouver’s top musical performers as well as the eclectic work of local artisans and street performers. This 10-block street fair, spanning from Burrard to MacDonald Street also features a wide variety of food options, bustling patios, giveaways, special activities, and licensed beer gardens!

The name of Khatsahlano Street Party pays tribute to the First Nations that inhabited this area for over three thousand years. Chief August Jack Khatsahlano was a Squamish medicine man and was instrumental in the recording of his people’s and area’s history and traditions. His talks with J.S. Matthew, the first City Archivist of Vancouver, are transcribed in “Conversations with Khatsahlano”, 1932-1954, and are now available to read online. The Vancouver neighbourhood which is now known as Kitsilano was once a village named Seankw. The name Kitsilano is an anglicization of Khatsahlano’s name and was appropriated for this use by the Canadian Pacific Railway when it developed the neighbourhood known by that name.

The main concept of the festival is to convey and preserve the true spirit of West 4th – a laid-back atmosphere that inspires one to be creative. Acknowledging its vibrant past and praising the character of the area, Khatsahlano Street Party also echoes the hippie paradise of the 60s, when the street was home to head shops, vegetarian restaurants and record stores. Back then this inexpensive area to live in (with close proximity to the beach) attracted free spirits for the lifestyle it offered.

In 2023, they celebrated Khatsahlano Street Party for the 11th time. The first music and art festival that took place on West 4th was organized with Woodstock in mind and was tied to its 40th anniversary in 2007. Since the first one, every West 4th street festival commences with the First Nations blessing to honour the man who gave his name to the area and our event.

Find out more at khatsahlano.ca

With all this in mind, we created a line of merchandise for the event. The style gives a nod to the Woodstock inspired poster completed by legendary Canadian poster artist, Bob Masse (the Art Nouveau inspired ‘Khatsahlano’ font was done by him), while keeping with the more modern aesthetic Khatsahlano has today. These pieces were used to market the sister event put on by Shop West 4th and Zulu Records, Music in the Plaza - a weekly summer concert series that hosts live music from artists that played in Khatsahlano. They included posters, sidewalk signs, social media graphics, and an outdoor tent. The designs also were also used for the 2023 Khatsahlano Street Banners, a photo wall, and merchandise including tshirts, tote bags, posters and temporary tattoos.

I also was the social media manager for Khatsahlano 2023, creating an Instagram and TikTok strategy to help market the event, artisans, local shops and artists who were playing.

Designs were done in collaboration with Shop West 4th, MRG Events, and Elen Lane. Photography by Kim Bellavance Photographe & Matt Taylor Photography