TL;DR: Carnaval del Sol
Carnaval del Sol transformed Jonathan Rogers Park into a vibrant celebration of Latin American culture and community.
The Kapwa Strong initiative brought healing spaces and trauma support after the Lapu Lapu Day tragedy.
Festivalgoers experienced music, food, art, and family activities rooted in cultural pride and resilience.
Community partners helped fund mental health services and arts programming beyond Carnaval del Sol weekend.
This story is part of our Change Makers series, showcasing real impact through culture, connection, and care.
Why Carnaval del Sol Matters — and Why We Support It
A Festival That Celebrates Culture and Change
Every July, Vancouver lights up with music, colour, and community for Carnaval del Sol—the biggest Latin American festival in the Pacific Northwest. From July 11–13 at Jonathan Rogers Park, this three-day event, run by Latincouver, draws thousands. It’s a joyful mix of food trucks, salsa dancers, artisan vendors, and families soaking up the summer sun.
But Carnaval del Sol is more than a celebration. It’s a story. It’s where cultures meet, voices rise, and change begins.
A Place for Healing and Hope
In 2025, the heart of Carnaval beat even stronger. Just months before, a tragic event shook Vancouver—a vehicle crashed into the Lapu Lapu Day gathering, leaving deep wounds in the Filipino community. Lives were lost. Grief followed.
This year, Carnaval del Sol offered more than music. It became a space for healing. The Kapwa Strong initiative—born from shared grief and rooted in Filipino culture—took shape inside the festival. There were trauma-informed healing circles, message walls, and quiet places to reflect. It was a powerful reminder that change starts with connection.
Why We Tell This Story
At Eagle Vision Agency, we believe storytelling drives change. Our Change Makers series lifts up the people and events that move communities forward—one story at a time. We were proud to document this moment through photography, but the story belongs to the people who lived it.
Carnaval del Sol 2025 showed how celebration and remembrance can live side by side. That’s a story worth sharing.
View Gallery
The Spirit of Carnaval — A Closer Look at 2025
Kapwa Strong and Community Healing
Following the tragedy at Lapu Lapu Day, the community responded not with silence—but with solidarity. The Kapwa Strong Fund, led by Filipino BC and United Way BC, raised over $1.4 million to support victims and families.
At Carnaval, this initiative was woven throughout the weekend:
Healing circles led by cultural facilitators
A message wall where festivalgoers could write reflections
Trauma-informed mental health support at the Kapwa Centre
Kapwa means shared self. At Carnaval del Sol, that idea became visible—in art, in ritual, and in the way strangers became neighbours.
Culture in Every Corner
Beyond the healing spaces, the festival overflowed with life:
Latin fusion bands turned the Main Stage into a dance floor
Kids crafted masks and played in the Family Plaza
Elders gathered in shaded lounges to tell stories and reconnect
Food stalls served empanadas, tamales, and fresh fruit juices by the litre
It wasn’t just a show. It was a celebration of language, ancestry, and shared belonging.
Partners in Purpose
Organizations like Hospital Employees’ Union, T&T Supermarket, and Odlum Brown stepped up—not just as sponsors, but as supporters of community wellness. These partnerships helped fund trauma services, arts therapy, and ongoing cultural programming that will extend far beyond the festival weekend.
The Spirit of Carnaval — A Closer Look at 2025
Kapwa Strong and Community Healing
Following the tragedy at Lapu Lapu Day, the community responded not with silence—but with solidarity. The Kapwa Strong Fund, led by Filipino BC and United Way BC, raised over $1.4 million to support victims and families.
At Carnaval, this initiative was woven throughout the weekend:
Healing circles led by cultural facilitators
A message wall where festivalgoers could write reflections
Trauma-informed mental health support at the Kapwa Centre
Kapwa means shared self. At Carnaval del Sol, that idea became visible—in art, in ritual, and in the way strangers became neighbours.
Culture in Every Corner
Beyond the healing spaces, the festival overflowed with life:
Latin fusion bands turned the Main Stage into a dance floor
Kids crafted masks and played in the Family Plaza
Elders gathered in shaded lounges to tell stories and reconnect
Food stalls served empanadas, tamales, and fresh fruit juices by the litre
It wasn’t just a show. It was a celebration of language, ancestry, and shared belonging.
Partners in Purpose
Organizations like Hospital Employees’ Union, T&T Supermarket, and Odlum Brown stepped up—not just as sponsors, but as supporters of community wellness. These partnerships helped fund trauma services, arts therapy, and ongoing cultural programming that will extend far beyond the festival weekend.
Why This Story Matters in The Change Makers Series
Our Change Makers series was created to document what real impact looks like. It’s not always flashy or loud. Sometimes, it’s found in a quiet circle of chairs, a shared meal, or a child learning a traditional dance for the first time.
We were invited to photograph Carnaval del Sol—not to promote ourselves, but to preserve this moment in time. A moment when a city came together to grieve, to celebrate, and to move forward as one.
Stories like this are why we do what we do.
Join the Story — Carnaval del Sol Details
Learn More
Carnaval del Sol happens every summer. To stay updated on future festivals, visit the official Carnaval del Sol website or follow @CarnavalDelSol on Facebook.
Tickets
Opening Night: $25
Weekend: $15–25
VIP: $40–70
What’s Happening
Explore themed plazas for food, family, music, sport, and seniors. Each one brings something unique.
Don’t Miss:
Painted dancers near the Artisan Plaza
Healing circles at the Kapwa Centre
Sunset views from the Beer Garden
Let’s Keep the Story Going
Carnaval del Sol 2025 was more than a festival. It was a reminder that even in grief, there’s room for joy. Even in struggle, there’s space for music. And in every community, there are people quietly making change.
We’re grateful to have witnessed it. And we’re honoured to share it.
Need help with your marketing? Get in touch with the marketing outfitters at EV Agency. We’ll help you chart the path—and walk it with you.
It’s Vancouver’s largest Latin cultural festival, held every July and organized by Latincouver.
A community-led healing program supporting those affected by the April 2025 Lapu Lapu Day tragedy.
We spotlight real community stories that show what grassroots impact looks like. Carnaval del Sol is one of those moments.
Filipino BC, United Way BC, and the Kapwa Centre played key roles, along with institutional and sponsor support.
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