The Underground Donut Tour launches in Vancouver
The art and history of the doughnut are celebrated at four downtown and Gastown stops
Cartems Donuts.
IF THERE’S SUCH a thing as donut culture, it’s getting a boost in Vancouver. The Underground Donut Tour has just launched its first Canadian offering here, with a two-hour walking tour of all things doughy, cakelike, sugared, glazed, sprinkled, filled, twisted, and old fashioned.
The company started out nearly eight years ago as a passion project by Chicago doughnut fanatic Jeff Woelker. Little did he know that so many people shared his love for the deep-fried treat. Now, the tour operates in London, Dublin, Philadelphia, New York, Portland, Seattle, Boston, Miami, New Orleans, and Nashville, with additional locations in the works. Each one features tidbits (not Timbits) of neighbourhood lore, plus insights into the art and history of doughnuts.
Cartems Donuts.
The four-stop Vancouver Downtown & Gastown Donut Tour starts at Breka Bakery (812 Bute Street) and ends at Cartems Donuts (534 West Pender Street). (No, it doesn’t actually travel underground, and yes, Lee’s Donuts makes an appearance even though the walk doesn’t go as far as Granville Island.)
"Vancouver has always been on our list of cities we wanted to open,” Woelker said in a release. “It's truly one of the most beautiful cities in North America and when we saw the incredible selection and styles of donuts available, everything just clicked.”
Tours run rain or shine Fridays through Sundays.
Related Articles
Fresh arrangements bring the enduring artist’s legacy to life at the all-new VanJazz festival
Montreal-based singer-songwriter talks about the dreamy layers of sound that went into her latest album—and stripping them away for her new EP and solo tour
Audiences can expect a heartwarming set, plus a merch table filled with homegrown garlic and handmade soap
The Mohawk musician’s career trajectory has taken him from bar shows to The Launch to Nashville, but he’s always stayed grounded in his Six Nations community
The pair of Grammy Award winners honour the jazz legend’s legacy in honour of his centennial
Program features the Canadian premiere of Tawnie Olson’s Missa Brevis, kicking off her tenure as Composer-in-Residence
The New York artist draws on everything from the guitar work of legends like Joe Pass and his own father to the unmistakable voice of Tony Bennett—the inspiration of his latest album
A new series of public performances and a cross-country collaboration with La Nef and Seán Dagher mark the choir’s 35th season
Japan’s Kuniko Kato Quartet opens the lineup as part of the VNM Festival: Open Frequencies, performing the music of Steve Reich
The singer-songwriter and Latin Grammy winner has collaborated with artists from all over the world, and she will perform with Vancouver’s own Black Dog String Quartet
Former artistic director Joan Blackman, esteemed pianist Jane Coop, and newly appointed artistic director Hung-Wei Huang join forces onstage
Singer-songwriter performs tracks off her latest album, playing guitar, piano, and autoharp
Nebula Performances stages a full production of Ruggero Leoncavallo’s famous work, with Wanshuai Yu in the leading role
Meditative piece is a collaboration between interdisciplinary artist Alex Mah and violinist Ilana Waniuk
Guitarist Cole Schmidt performs at a jazz-driven music-and-dance series reborn after the June passing of Tony Wilson
For 2026–27, the choir will premiere new commissions by Canadian composers Suba Sankaran and Alex Eddington, as well as revisiting works from its inaugural year
With the new CD Artemis Sleeps, the late composer’s former roommate celebrates chamber works that range from pithy to rhapsodic to enigmatic
Singer Krystle Dos Santos and her band celebrate the record label that brought us legendary performers including Aretha Franklin and Marvin Gaye
With songs from his latest album, the swing ambassador pays tribute to another great swinger
The daughter of the Band’s legendary drummer and singer Levon Helm is a musical force to be reckoned with in her own right
The eight-piece band blends reggae and Afrobeat, exploring singer Brian Baroda’s experiences as a South Sudanese refugee
Local singer puts her own improvisational spice on classic songs in ode to Anita O’Day’s iconic performance in the acclaimed, 1959 Newport Jazz Festival documentary
Highlights of the fest include a solo concert by acclaimed Argentine tango guitarist Máximo Diego Pujol, plus performances by a slate of B.C.–based musicians
Artistic director and founder Carrie Tennant says the choir helps its young members make authentic human connections in an era when that is more challenging than ever
In his first season as the ensemble’s artistic director, violist Hung-Wei Huang is bringing back a few familiar faces and tapping into the creativity of kids from local schools
