International Women’s Day is a celebration of women’s rights and achievements. Special events happen in Metro Vancouver on and around March 8th each year.

The international theme for the day this year is “Inspire Inclusion.”

International Women’s Day Events and Celebrations in Vancouver

International Women’s Day is a time to recognize women’s accomplishments, both in recent decades and throughout history. It’s also a day to increase awareness of remaining gender inequalities.

Celebrations take place around the globe, including in the Metro Vancouver region. International Women’s Day always happens on March 8th, which, in 2024, is a Friday. There are special concerts, comedy shows and art-related events that weekend in Metro Vancouver. Continue reading below to learn about what’s happening this year.

(Also, don’t forget, arguably the best way to celebrate International Women’s Day is to honor the women in your life, and thank them for being who they are, and work harder yourself to counter still-existing gender injustices, not just on March 8th, but every day of the year.)

International Women’s Day March

One Vancouver event celebrating women is the International Women’s Day March. It takes place at šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl’e7énḵ Square outside the Vancouver Art Gallery.

In 2024, the second annual event happens on March 3rd, so on the Sunday before International Women’s Day. It’s more than just march. The event runs from noon until 4:00 pm and features live performances and speakers. There are also activities for children to enjoy.

Visit the Vancouver Women’s Day website for more information about the event.

Pacific Arts Market Events

Located at 1448 and 1450 West Broadway, the Pacific Arts Market is a woman-owned store featuring the works of local artists. It’s where you’ll find everything from paintings and photographs to jewellery and other crafts. The place also has several studios and a gallery. Special events happen at the venue throughout the year, including around International Women’s Day.

In 2024, there’s a Women’s Day Neon Paint Night on March 8th. It’s an opportunity to paint with bright colours under UV lights. The two-hour session runs from 7:00 to 9:00 pm and costs about $65 per person.

There’s also an International Women’s Day Art Fair on March 9th. It’s a showcase and sale of the works of talented artists from around the province. General admission is by donation (with a suggested amount of $10). The event runs from 1:00 to 5:00 pm.

Another special event at the Pacific Arts Market on March 9th in 2024 is Women’s Day Poetry Night. It runs from 6:00 to 8:00 pm and features live poetry, music and more. Tickets start at about $17 each.

To learn more about the venue and its events, see our article about the Pacific Arts Market.

The Improv Centre Shows

The Improv Centre is a popular theatre located at 1502 Duranleau Street at Vancouver’s Granville Island. The venue hosts several regular comedy shows each week, as well as shows with special themes from time to time.

In 2024 the theatre celebrates International Women’s Day with a couple different shows in the week after March 8th.

There’s Ladies Against Humanity on March 13th featuring an all women cast. Based on the Cards Against Humanity party game, the show includes hilarious comedians performing improvised scenes. Doors open at 6:30 pm and the performance starts at 7:30 pm. Admission costs about $25 per person.

One day later, so on March 14th, there’s International Women’s Day: Fashionably Late. It starts at 7:30 pm and also features a female cast full of comedic talent. The show runs for 90 minutes and tickets start at $14.50 each.

For more information about the shows and the venue, see our Shows at The Improv Centre article.

House of Comedy Shows

The House of Comedy is a comedy club located at 530 Columbia Street in New Westminster. There are multiple shows each week, most of which feature a local comedian and a special guest.

In 2024, the House of Comedy puts on an International Women’s Day Show on March 8th. It begins at 7:00 pm and is hosted by Janice Bannister. The show includes live comedy, music, storytelling and other forms of entertainment. Tickets start at $17 per person.

To learn more about the comedy club in general, click House of Comedy.

ART EXHIBITION AT THE KENT

It’s not specifically a Women’s Day event. It does, however, happen on March 8th this year, plus a few extra days that week too. The Hori7ons Digital Art Exhibition is an immersive and interactive digital art experience at The Kent at 534 Cambie Street (which is about halfway between BC Place Stadium and Gastown). The exhibition takes place in the evenings of March 7th to 10th.

Jazz Event at Kay Meek Centre on North Shore

The BlueShore Financial Centre for the Performing Arts is a theatre at Capilano University, in North Vancouver. It usually hosts shows in its own theatre. On March 8th, however, it has an event at the Kay Meek Centre in West Vancouver.

Capilano University and its performing arts centre host a variety of live music and theatre shows, including one on International Women’s Day in 2024. This year, the Sister Jazz Orchestra performs alongside Dee Daniels at 7:00 pm at the Kay Meek Centre. The show features wonderful music both written and performed by women. Tickets range from $29 to $55 each.

For more information about the event, visit the Capilano University website.

Friday Night Contra Dance

Festival du Bois is the largest Francophone festival in the province. Although it isn’t related to International Women’s Day, there’s a free event happening on March 8th in 2024.

The Opening Night Contra Dance runs from 7:00 to 9:30 pm. It’s a fun, family-friendly event usually attended by a couple hundred people. There’s a dance caller who leads all guests. First is an opening performance by Podorythmie. Next, everyone learns how to folk dance (with instructions in English and French). Then, everyone dances in pairs to live music performed by the Sybaritic String Band.

The festival takes place at Mackin Park in Coquitlam. It happens on the weekend of March 8th to 10th in 2024. The Contra Dance happens on the first day in the evening.

To learn more about the festival and the free event on March 8th, see our Festival du Bois article.