Harvest Haus Vancouver

Harvest Haus is a Vancouver Oktoberfest event featuring European beers, food and entertainment at the PNE. In 2022 it was on September 30th and October 1st.

Examples of other beer-themed events in 2022 included Brewhalla North Vancouver (on October 7th) and North Shore Craft Beer Week (from November 3rd to 14th).

To learn about the Lower Mainland’s various autumn beer-drinking festival opportunities, see our article about Oktoberfest in Vancouver. To learn more about Harvest Haus, continue reading.

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Click any of the above links to jump to a specific topic, or continue reading to learn all about Harvest Haus.

Harvest Haus Vancouver

Harvest Haus is one of Vancouver’s largest and most impressive Oktoberfest events. The event didn’t happen in 2018, but it was back again and even bigger than before in October 2019. It didn’t happen again in 2020 or 2021, thanks to COVID-19. Harvest Haus returned, however, in 2022.

Dates for the Oktoberfest event for adults in 2022 were September 30th and October 1st. 2023 details are to be confirmed.

Harvest Haus German Entertainers — Harvest Haus at the PNE Forum

What’s New about Harvest Haus?

In 2019 for the first time Harvest Haus was produced in partnership with the Pacific National Exhibition. That meant it had a new and even bigger venue – at the PNE grounds at 2901 East Hastings Street.

The new venue also meant that the Oktoberfest part of the festival no longer took place in a massive Festzelte tent. Instead it took place indoors inside the PNE Forum. The place looked similar to what it used to look like from the inside a couple of years ago. It was in a building now, so with sort of a beer hall feel, and not in the German-style festival canopied structure of the past.

What else was new? The event had expanded to include a family-friendly element too. Harvest Haus was the drinking party for adults, similar to what it has been in past years. Harvestland, meanwhile, was a new 10-day attraction featuring tractor rides, pumpkin-smashing opportunities, logger shows, an amusement ride, other activities and live entertainment.

In 2022 Harvest Haus was again indoors at the PNE Forum. It ran for just a couple of days though, so for a shorter period of time than usual. Also, there was no Harvestland event for families in 2022.

Harvest Haus Location

Harvest Haus used to be held under a Festzelte in the plaza outside the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, but in 2017 its venue was at 88 Pacific Boulevard near Concord Pacific Place. In 2019 it set up at Hastings Park at the PNE fairgrounds at 2901 East Hastings Street. The 2022 event was at the same location at the PNE.

When it isn’t cancelled due to global pandemics, the Harvest Haus part of the event takes place in the PNE Forum which is an older building that gets decorated to look like a beer hall.

Even though Harvest Haus was in the PNE Forum in 2022, you likely couldn’t get in via the PNE’s usual entrance at the corner of East Hastings and Renfrew (where the Forum is located). If it was identical to 2019, to get into Harvest Haus you had to enter via the park on the far side of the PNE Forum from Hastings Street.

Harvest Haus Beer Hall — Harvest Haus Festzelte Beer Hall

Harvest Haus Times & Dates

Harvest Haus took place in 2019 on select days between October 10th and October 20th. There was no event in 2020 or 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic. In 2022 Harvest Haus happened on the Friday and Saturday of September 30th and October 1st.

Harvest Haus Festival Times

The 2022 Harvest Haus event was open to the public at the following times:

(Note: Exact details were subject to change.)

Friday, September 30th – from 6:00 to 11:30 pm.
Saturday, October 1st – 11:30 am to 4:30 pm, followed by an evening event from 6:00 to 11:30 pm.

Harvest Haus Band — The band at Vancouver’s Harvest Haus

Harvest Haus Admission Prices

In 2022, Harvest Haus was originally going to be held in February, but was pushed back to the fall. The plan for February was for general admission to a specific Harvest Haus event to cost between about $35 and $65, depending on whether you wanted to stand or sit at a particular table.

There were three sections of table seating in the beer hall. As of early September in 2022, pre-sale tickets for the Friday and Saturday evening events cost $65 for Section A and $55 for Section B. Admission for the Saturday Matinee event cost about $10 less.

Section A was closest to the stage where the live entertainment took place. Section C was the farthest. At the sides of the hall there were areas for standing.

For the most up-to-date information regarding tickets, visit the Harvest Haus website.

General Admission to Previous Events

General admission to Harvest Haus in past years has been about $35 each evening, but $25 for afternoon sittings and the Grand Opening. In 2019 general admission ranged between about $26 and $32 depending on which session you attended. It was cheapest on the Opening Night and at the Saturday afternoon sessions. Every other evening it cost more.

For the price of admission you got access to the beer hall venue and all the food vendors, beer stalls, live entertainment and festive atmosphere. Food and drinks all cost extra, plus there was the requirement that people drink out of official Harvest Haus beer steins which helped enhance the experience. The mugs cost around $3 to rent (plus a deposit). Details may be similar in future years.

Harvest Haus Men at the Bar — Harvest Haus VIP Bar

VIP Admission to Previous Events

In previous years VIP tickets have also been available. In the past they used to cost about $50 in the evenings and $40 in the afternoons. The extra $15 (above the regular general admission price) included a free souvenir beer stein, premium seating and a couple of other perks.

In 2019 VIP tickets cost about $42 for the Opening Night event on the Thursday as well as at the Saturday afternoon sessions. VIP admission on the other evenings cost about $52.

Benefits of VIP admission in 2019 included getting access to a raised Bavarian-themed long table seating area, a guaranteed table seat and access to the VIP Bar. You also saved yourself having to pay $3 to rent a beer stein.

Beer Stein in Harvest Haus Festzelte — A Harvest Haus Souvenir Beer Stein

What to Expect at Harvest Haus

The Oktoberfest-themed Harvest Haus event takes place indoors at the PNE Forum. The Forum is decorated up nicely with colourful banners. It looks a lot like a real German beer hall.

The atmosphere inside the hall is always fun and festive, especially as each evening progresses and the place fills up. There are occasional mini skits by entertainers with German accents dressed in lederhosen and other traditional clothing. There is also a band playing lively music and lots of people with their friends having fun.

The Oktoberfest beer-drinking event attracts a crowd of mixed ages, but predominantly in the 25 to 45-age range from what we’ve seen in the past. Everyone from age 19+ to senior citizens generally have a great time!

During a few of the sittings in past years there have been special events, like on the first Friday when they’ve had “Duelling Arts”, the first Saturday afternoon when they’ve had “Stein Games,” and the second Saturday afternoon when they’ve had a “Lippensynchron Battle.”

In 2019 there was the “Grand Opening” on October 10th, “Sweethart Nacht” on the 11th, “Stein Games” on October 12th and “Zanymode Mystery Guest Night” on the 18th. On the last day of Harvest Haus, on October 19th, there was also a “Lippensynchron Battle” in the afternoon and the “Grand Finale” in the evening. The events in 2022 were a bit different, especially because it ran for just the one weekend.

Oktoberfest Food & Drinks

Food prices at Harvest Haus in past years have ranged from between $2 and $14. Menu items at the food stalls have included things like pork hocks, bratwurst and sauerkraut on a bun, soups and German pizza. All have been delicious. There are usually pretzels, strudels and various other baked goods too.

Beers and ciders cost around $10 to $12 each. Drinks on tap at the bar typically include Erdinger Weissbrau, Radeberger and Hacker-Pschorr from Germany, as well as Heineken, Newcastle Brown Ale (UK), Lagunitas (US) and Parallel 49 (from Vancouver).

For those who don’t like beer there is apple cider and Jägermeister too (the latter of which is a German digestif alcohol made with herbs and spices and having a sweet licorice flavour). Some people like it, but not everyone.

The details mentioned above are from 2019. The 2022 event may or may not have been similar.

Harvest Haus Bar — The bar at Vancouver’s Harvest Haus

Tips and Suggestions

Below is some advice and extra information to help you make the most out of your Harvest Haus experience.

TIP #1: This has been a popular event in the past. It’s good to reserve your tickets in advance as many of the sittings sell out.

TIP #2: This is the kind of event that is the most fun when you go with a large group of friends. As they say, “the more the merrier!”

TIP #3: Wearing traditional lederhosen and dirndl dresses is not required, and most people don’t. If you’re German and you do though, you’ll have more fun and still fit right in. Souvenir clothing is also available for sale at the venue most years.

TIP #4: There are usually no in-and-out privileges at Harvest Haus. Once inside the venue you can’t exit the event grounds, go back to your car, get something, and then get back in.