Vancouver’s Clean Air Festival Returns for Third Year
Community groups unite to celebrate clean air and community care
August 26, 2025 (Vancouver, BC) – On September 14 from 1-7pm, nearly two dozen community groups will present Vancouver’s third annual Clean Air Festival. Masks4EastVan, Clean Air in BC Schools, Protect Our Province BC, Clean Air 604, DoNoHarm BC, Vancouver Still Cares and others will unite at the immuno-inclusive hybrid event, which features performances, workshops and more at East Van’s Slocan Park and on livestream.
Conceived in 2023 as a community response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Clean Air Festival features robust safety protocols to ensure accessibility for immunocompromised and multiply-marginalized attendees. Headliner and Canadian folk singer-songwriter Zeo Boekbinder (they/them) praises the measures: “I treasure an opportunity to play music for people, which is my favorite thing to do, in a way that keeps everyone safe,” they said.
Nurse and 2024 Festival attendee Lauren Goldman (she/her) agrees: “The Clean Air Festival creates a rare and accessible space for people like me, who are immunocompromised, where we can show up, connect, and be part of something joyful with others.” N95-style masks are required at the event, which features DIY air cleaner building, free masks and tests, and advice from clean air experts. Programming also includes an ‘Ask a Clean Air Nerd’ webinar and Q&A the week prior, on September 7th on Zoom.
The Festival performance lineup features Boekbinder alongside Vancouver postpunk band houseguest, stage magician Travis Bernhardt, the Tiddley Cove Morris folks dancers, award-winning drag artist Mx Bukuru as emcee, and an art installation by Gem Hall and Sacha Ouellet.
A welcome ceremony will be performed by Elder Kelly White, of the Snuneymuxw and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm Nations – Festival organizers note that they support anti-colonial movements, including the current struggle against the State of Israel’s genocide of the Palestinian people.
“Everyone deserves clean air, and the Clean Air Festival is about helping make that happen through solidarity, mutual aid, and community care,” says Festival organizer Dr. Karina Zeidler (she/her). “We’re honoured to feature so many community-serving groups, advocates, and allies, doing grassroots work in the fight against fascism, ableism, patriarchy, colonialism and capitalism.”
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Clean Air Festival – Sunday, September 14, 2025, 1:00 pm – 7:00 pm PDT at Slocan Park (2750 E 29th Ave. Vancouver) and via livestream. Registration and digital access: CleanAirFestival.ca
Event summary: Enjoy a COVID-safer, immuno-inclusive event featuring music, dance, stage magic, workshops and more, outdoors and online. Have your clean air questions answered by experts, learn to build DIY air cleaners, and get free masks, tests, zines and more while supplies last. Respirator-style masks (like N95s) required and available on site.
Event access: Free and by donation, in-person and online. Respirator-style masks (e.g. N95, KN95) required and available onsite; please test before arrival, and refrain from wearing fragrances. Wheelchair accessible, with accessible all-gender restrooms on site. ASL interpretation for performances available upon reservation by 12pm August 29. Further info at CleanAirFestival.ca
About the organizers: Vancouver’s Clean Air Festival is an annual immuno-inclusive, COVID-safer event presented by a broad coalition of community groups and organizations. Learn more about this year’s presenters at CleanAirFestival.ca.
Media contact: Dr. Karina Zeidler
press@CleanAirFestival.ca ▪ CleanAirFestival.ca
The Clean Air Festival takes place on the unceded lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səl̓ilwətaɁɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) peoples, and in digital spaces hosted on the ancestral lands of the Ohlone peoples.