BC Cider Fest in North Vancouver

North Vancouver’s Shipyards District plays host to the BC Cider Festival in June. Attendees enjoy samplings from cideries all over the region.

The Shipyards hosts some other similar events as well. Those who love craft beer can check out Brewhalla North Vancouver in April and Vancouver’s North Shore Craft Beer Week in November (which is really two weeks!)

Last year’s BC Cider Festival happened on June 16th. That was the same weekend as ScotFestBC in Coquitlam and the Stalew 10th Anniversary Event at Fort Langley.

Note: As of early May, details about the 2025 event are to be confirmed. It might happen this year, or it might not. Exact details are to be confirmed.

BC Cider Festival at the Shipyards

If it runs again in 2025, the BC Cider Festival will celebrate its seventh year. Over 30 different cideries usually take part in the event. Most are from British Columbia but some are from the US Pacific Northwest and a few come from even further away.

Last year’s festival took place on Sunday, June 16th, from 1:00 to 5:00 pm. The event is for people who are 19 years of age and older. There is, however, an all-ages public garden section with no alcohol where children and teenagers can hang out while the adults enjoy their beverages.

Location and Admission

The BC Cider Festival happens at the Pipe Shop, located at 115 Victory Ship Way in North Vancouver. That’s the same venue that hosts Made in the 604 Markets on Fridays in the summer. Lots of other events take place there at other times of the year too.

One of the best parts of the cider festival is that there is no token system. When you pay for admission you get access to a sample of every type of cider there.

Tickets to the festival last year cost about $64 including extra fees when purchased online. Tickets may also be available at the gate, but they’ve sold out in past years ahead of time so there’s no guarantee. Admission includes a tasting glass and a notebook to write down your thoughts on the different drinks.

What to Expect

There are plenty of ciders to try at the festival. New cideries that joined the event in 2024 included Homestead Craft Cider from Agassiz, Lass Chance Beverage Co from Keremeos, BC, and Revel Cider from Guelph, Ontario. There were over 30 cideries participating.

The festival’s organizers advise those in attendance to take things slowly because with so many drinks to try it’s very easy to go too fast. The last thing you want at a cider festival is to not be able to get your money’s worth, or regret drinking too much later.

There are food trucks on-site to complement the drinks. For those who want to step outside for some fresh air or to grab a bite to eat elsewhere, there are in-and-out privileges as long as you’re wearing the wristband handed out at the beginning of the event.