Home Vancouver for Kids Things to do on the Family Day Long Weekend in 2024

Things to do on the Family Day Long Weekend in 2024

Family Day Snowmen

Looking for something to do on the BC Family Day Long Weekend in February in Vancouver? There are so many fun activities to choose from.

To learn about top Family Day activities that take place in the Lower Mainland, see below or see our article about What’s Happening This Weekend.

 


Family Day activities listed in this article include events in the following municipalities:

City of Vancouver | Burnaby | The North Shore | Fraser Valley | Maple Ridge | Richmond | Surrey | New Westminster | Sea to Sky Region

Click any of the above locations to jump to events in a particular region, or simply continue reading to see what’s going on throughout the Lower Mainland.


 

Fan Expo Vancouver

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Just for Laughs Vancouver

 

Family Day Activities in Vancouver

In 2024 the Family Day long weekend starts on the evening of Friday, February 16th. It then continues until Monday, February 19th.

One of the biggest events on the holiday weekend is FAN EXPO Vancouver. It’s a Comic-Con-style event featuring everything to do with comics, superheroes, anime and Hollywood celebrities at the Vancouver Convention Centre.

During the 2024 Family Day Long Weekend in Vancouver, an interesting place you can visit is Space Explorers: The Infinite. It’s an immersive 360-degree virtual reality experience where you can explore the International Space Station like an astronaut. If you like virtual reality, especially VR games, then another place you’ll want to check out is Zero Latency. The VR game centre has locations in both Vancouver and Langley.

For people who like comedy, Just For Laughs Vancouver runs from February 15th until the 24th in 2024. It features world-class comedians at various venues. Great comedy also takes place at The Improv Centre on Granville Island.

For runners, the Family Day long weekend features the Fort Langley Historic Half Marathon on Sunday, February 18th. There are concerts with the Chor Leoni Men’s Choir on February 16th and 17th, plus a concert with Early Music Vancouver on the 16th. On February 17th there is also a Brazilian Carnaval!

 

Space Explorers: The Infinite

Zero Latency

 

Typical Family Day Activities in the Lower Mainland

Depending on what you like to do, and who to do it with, you are sure to find something you’ll like from the list below of great Family Day long weekend activities and places to visit. See below for a list of events, attractions and activities in the City of Vancouver. Then, even further below, you’ll find things to do in Burnaby, the North Shore, Fraser Valley, Maple Ridge, Richmond, Surrey, New Westminster and the Sea to Sky Region.

 

Superheroes at Vancouver Fan Expo
FAN Expo Vancouver

 

Vancouver Family Day Events & Attractions

 

Family Day Events in the City of Vancouver

  • FAN EXPO Vancouver – a comic, superhero, science fiction and pop culture convention and trade show on February 17th to 19th in 2024 at the Vancouver Convention Centre. The event features a number of well-known celebrities. There are also workshops, presentations and a large vendor market where you can buy all kinds of wonderful things.
  • Just For Laughs Vancouver – the comedy festival is in town between February 15th and 24th in 2024 with over two dozen shows on the February Long Weekend.
  • Fort Langley Historic Half – 5 km, 10 km and half marathon races take place in Fort Langley on the Sunday of the long weekend.
  • Chor Leoni Concerts – the renowned Vancouver men’s choir performs its The Return Voyage concert at St. Andrew’s Wesley on February 16th and 17th.
  • Early Music Vancouver Concert – the Ensemble Mirabilia concert happens at Christ Church Cathedral on February 16th. It features classical music from Baroque Italy.
  • West End Community Centre – free family-friendly activities include a bouncy castle, craft activities, face painting and games in the gym between 11 am and 2 pm.
  • Brazilian Carnaval – there are kid-friendly activities for children and their families at Performance Works on Granville Island from 11:00 am until 5:00 pm on Saturday, February 17th. Then, from 9:00 pm until 1:00 pm that same night, there is a party for adults. Performing in the evening are Sambacouver, Brejera, Brazilian Swag, DJ Luiz Campos and Meni axé band.

 

FAN EXPO Vancouver 2024

 

Family Day Attractions & Activities in the City of Vancouver

  • Chinese Canadian Museum – the museum has a family-friendly activity where you can build your own LEGO family and learn about your family tree in Chinese on Monday, February 19th. The cost for this is free with general admission. On the same day, the museum also has a tour of Chinese Society buildings in Chinatown where you can learn about clan societies. The cost for the tour is $15.
  • Vancouver Mysteries – the games company offers outdoor adventures for folk to play in the streets of downtown Vancouver. You can choose between a secret mission game, crime-solving game, ghost-busting and a superheroes game. (TIP: Use the promo code BESTPLACES10 to save 10% on adventures any day of the year. On the Family Day Long Weekend, however, you can save over 25% for adults and 50% for children.) For details about the deal between February 16th and 19th in 2024, click Family Day With Vancouver Mysteries.
  • FlyOver Canada – the multisensory theatre at Canada Place has a number of different shows in February in 2024 including ones about the Canadian Rockies, Hawaii and the Western United States.
  • Space Explorers: The Infinite – an amazing space-themed virtual reality attraction at the Rocky Mountaineer Train Station in Vancouver.
  • Forbidden Vancouver Walking Tours – guided walking tours in Vancouver take place on all three days of the long weekend in 2024. Tours include the Lost Souls of Gastown and Hidden History & Sweet Treats.
  • LunarFest – free family-friendly activities happen all weekend at Granville Island.
  • Invictus Games Event – to celebrate “1 Year to Go” for the Invictus Games, a special event happens on Monday, February 19th, at the Seaforth Armoury on Burrard Street. Attendees get to try different sports including wheelchair basketball and wheelchair curling. Admission is free.

In addition to the above, further below is a list of attractions with free admission in the City of Vancouver on the long weekend, followed by lists of things to do elsewhere in the Lower Mainland.

 

Fort Langley Historic Half

 


VANCOUVER WINE FESTIVAL

It’s not during the Family Day Long Weekend, and it doesn’t include kid-friendly events. An amazing festival that also happens this month, however, is the Vancouver International Wine Festival. Running from February 24th to March 3rd in 2024, it starts the week after the February long weekend. It’s the largest event of its kind in North America!


 

Vancouver International Wine Festival

 

Places with Free Admission

The following places in the City of Vancouver normally charge for admission, but not on one or two days on the Family Day long weekend.

  • Vancouver Maritime Museum – admission to the museum at Vanier Park is by donation on Family Day. In 2024, on February 19th, there are also a few special activities including storytelling sessions and opportunities to meet members of the Coast Guard.
  • Bill Reid Gallery – an exceptional collection of Indigenous and West Coast art at 639 Hornby Street in downtown Vancouver. In 2024, on Sunday, February 18th, there is a tour of the XIÁM exhibition with Jordanna George at 2:00 pm. Admission is free.
  • Queen Elizabeth Theatre – the same as it did last year, Vancouver Civic Theatres hosts a Family Day Open House in 2024 on Saturday, February 17th. The free event runs from 10:00 am until 1:00 pm. It features art, crafts, live music and other activities at the theatre. For details, visit the Vancouver Civic Theatres website.

In addition to the above, in 2024 admission to VanDusen Garden is 25% off every day of the long weekend when you use the promo code FAMILYDAY.

 

Family Day in Burnaby

A variety of activities take place at municipal venues throughout Burnaby on the holiday Monday each year. Things to do with the family in 2024 include the following:

  • Special family-friendly activities take place at a number of Burnaby rec centres this year. Regular admission rates apply in most cases. At Edmonds Community Centre, however, there is free family basketball, and at the Bill Copeland Sports Centre there is a Family Day Toonie Skate.
  • Burnaby Village Museum – the museum offers free family-friendly activities with a South Asian theme on the Family Day Monday in 2024.

To learn more about the above activities, see the City of Burnaby‘s website.

 

Fireworks at Grouse Mountain
Family Day Fireworks at Grouse Mountain

 

Family Day on The North Shore

Things to do on the Family Day long weekend in North Vancouver and West Vancouver include the following:

  • Love Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge the attraction is decorated with a Valentine’s Day theme from February 2nd until the 25th in 2024. The place looks so amazing at night. It’s a perfect place for dates, but also for families.
  • Fireworks at Cypress – the ski hill in West Vancouver has family-friendly activities all weekend including fireworks on the Sunday.
  • Free Admission at MONOVA – the Museum of North Vancouver celebrates the opening of a new community exhibit on February 19th this year. Admission to the museum is free.
  • Grouse Mountain – a limited number of runs are open for skiing, but there are other special activities happening on the long weekend in 2024. Fireworks displays happen on both the Saturday and Sunday, and discounts on admission are also available. The fireworks are pretty good and last for about 5 minutes. They are short, but sweet.

 

Love Lights at Capilano Bridge

 


BOAT PARTY ON FEBRUARY 17TH

February 16th to 19th might be the Family Day Long Weekend, but it’s also the weekend right after Valentine’s Day. On Saturday, February 17th, there is a Valentine’s Day Dinner Boat Cruise with Vancouver Boat Parties. This will be a popular event, not for families, but for young adults, couples and their friends. Book your tickets while you can! In addition to dinner and beautiful views of the Vancouver skyline, there is DJ music and dancing.


 

Valentine's Day Dinner Boat Cruise

 

Family Day Events in the Fraser Valley

The following events happen on the February long weekend in 2024:

  • Fort Langley Historic Half Marathon – running races between 5 km and 21 km in length in Fort Langley. This event happens on February 18th in 2024.
  • Fort Langley – special family-friendly activities take place at the Fort Langley National Historic Site on the holiday Monday this year. Regular admission rates apply. As always, however, children and youth under the age of 18 enter for free.
  • Sasquatch Mountain – the resort isn’t open for skiing on the long weekend, but there are other things to enjoy, including live music, snowshoeing and aerial park adventures.

 

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Fort Langley Historic Half

 

Family Day Activities in Maple Ridge

One of the most fun, family-friendly attractions in the Lower Mainland is WildPlay in Maple Ridge. The outdoor centre has ropes courses, ziplines, axe-throwing opportunities and other activities. WildPlay is closed for a few weeks at the beginning of the year, but starts back up again on February 17th in 2024 (so just in time for the Family Day Long Weekend)!

TIP: If you use the promo code VBP15 you can save 15% on the adventures any day of the year!

 

Save 15% with WildPlay

 

Family Day Events in Richmond

  • Richmond Children’s Art Festival – activities and performances both indoors and outdoors at the Richmond Cultural Centre take place on the holiday Monday in 2024. General admission is free. Creativity Classes cost $10 (which is actually less than last year).
  • A variety of activities usually take place in Richmond on the long weekend. There’s swimming, skating, gym sports, scavenger hunts and other activities at the following places most years.
    • Cambie Community Centre – at 12800 Cambie Road
    • City Centre Community Centre – at 5900 Minoru Boulevard
    • Hamilton Community Centre – at 5140 Smith Drive
    • South Arm Community Centre – at 8880 Williams Road
    • Steveston Community Centre – at 4111 Moncton Street
    • Thompson Community Centre – at 5151 Granville Avenue
    • Minoru Centre for Active Living – at 7191 Granville Avenue
    • Minoru Arenas – at 7551 Minoru Gate
    • Britannia Heritage Shipyards – at 5180 Westwater Drive
    • Richmond Nature Park – at 11851 Westminster Highway

To learn more, see the City of Richmond‘s website.

 

Improv Centre

 

Family Day Events in Surrey

  • Family Day in Surrey – free family-friendly activities take place at various venues including recreation centres, Darts Hill Garden Park and other venues.
  • Museum of Surrey – the museum offers free admission year-round, including when Family Day activities take place on February 17th in 2024. There are lots of extra free activities happening on the Saturday too this year.

 

Family Day Events in New Westminster

 


ADVENTURE GAMES

Vancouver Mysteries' Family Day GamesFor folks wanting to play something fun, Vancouver Mysteries also offers outdoor adventure games that take place in downtown Vancouver. They are so much fun! They have secret agent, superhero, detective and ghost-hunting themes.

(TIP: Normally if you use the promo code BESTPLACES you’ll save 10% when booking a game online. During the Family Day long weekend, however, between February 16th and 19th in 2024, you can save 20% off adult tickets and 50% off kids’ tickets.)

To learn more, visit the vancouvermysteries.com website.


 

Family Day in the Sea to Sky Region

  • Britannia Mine – the museum offers 50% off admission for residents of British Columbia during the long weekend most years, and that is the case again in 2024. If you attend over the Family Day long weekend, you have to show your BC ID to get in for half price. (NOTE: Tickets for the holiday Monday sell out fast!)
  • Sea to Sky Gondola – the attraction offers free tubing on the long weekend in 2024, along with a scavenger hunt, music and more.
  • Whistler Blackcomb – expect at least 200 ski trails to be open on the long weekend. There’s also an outdoor Fire & Ice show on the Sunday evening. Plus, admission is free on Family Day at the Audain Art Museum and on the Saturday at the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre.

 

Other Great Places for Families

 

Other Information

Other articles that might be of interest include the following:

 

 

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