Celebrate Crab Park's 20th on Sunday with Bocephus King

Ah, Crab Park. The Downtown East Side's only beach. Just like a west side beach, except for the aural assault: the incredible boom and rattle of railcars that shake the whole earth; the planing of seabuses whining across the water; and the throttle and moan of seaplanes taxiing into Coal Harbour.

And the scenery's a little different. There's still ocean and the velvet green of the north shore mountains. It's just flanked on one side by gritty cement skyscrapers of the old downtown core, and on the other by the containers and enormous, scraping red cranes of the Port of Vancouver. Even the beach gravel is a coarser grain, jagged and grey.

But really, Crab Park is pretty special. Crossing the overpass at the foot of Main and Alexander and into Crab Park one is greeted by a hidden oasis of greenery and open space. It's the only beach downtown and eastside residents can really call their own. To celebrate Crab Park's twentieth birthday on July 1st, the community is throwing a party for adults and kids. Local co-op radio show BANDCOUVER has helped put together a great musical line--up, which include Bocephus King's first local show in many moons.

The event runs 1-4pm. There will be face painting and other activities for kids. Bocephus King is scheduled for 2:15, with Circus in Flames at 3:15 and Camping on Mars at 1:15.

Photo by David Evans.