The Vancouver International Children’s Festival is a festival for young children. It takes place on Granville Island in late May or early June each year.

In 2025 the festival runs from May 26th until June 1st.

To learn about other things your kids might like to do, see our May Calendar, June Calendar or article about Vancouver Activities for Children. For details about the Vancouver International Children’s Festival, continue reading.

This article contains the following information about the festival:

What to Expect | Admission | Festival Schedule | Tips & Advice | Other Information

Vancouver International Children‘s Festival

The Vancouver International Children’s Festival features theatre, music, dance, circus, puppetry and storytelling performances. It’s not a huge festival. It’s a really good one, however, and fun for young children.

Admission to the Children’s Festival

Ticket prices for in-person events in 2025 are as follows.

One Show Day Pass – $13.50 for children and $23 for adults (includes activity wristband).
Four-Pack Family Pass – $62 (includes one show and activity wristbands for four family members).
Activity Wristband Only – $8 per person (purchased on-site).
Tree Baby Show – $6 for children and $23 for adults.
Pyjama Nights – $13.50 per person (special evening shows)
Club Origami – $13.50 per person
Variety Show (1.5 hours) – $27 per person.

(Note: Festival prices above are subject to change.)

Tips & Advice

Below are some tips and advice to help you make the most of your experience at the Vancouver International Children’s Festival.

TIP #1: Don’t wait until the last minute to buy tickets for the best shows as they’ll likely fill up. Some shows sell out over a month in advance!

TIP #2: If the weather is good consider combining the festival with a family cycling excursion along the False Creek Seawall. Parking can be a challenge during the event. Consider parking elsewhere. That way you can enjoy a scenic bike ride. Other options include using public transit, and/or catching one of the False Creek Ferries or Aquabus to Granville Island. Keep in mind, though, that demand for ferry rides that day might be pretty crazy.

TIP #3: While at Granville Island pop into the Public Market and explore the island with its gardens, toy stores and play areas. On the day we went a couple of years ago there were dozens of adult Canada geese and their goslings wandering around. This made for some extra fun photos of our own – so don’t forget your camera!

Festival Schedule

A variety of in-person events take place during the festival this year. Below is the 2025 schedule of events.

Monday, May 26th, 2025

I Wish I Was a Mountain – a live musical theatre show from the UK for ages 7 and over. The show takes place at Performance Works on Granville Island from 6:30 pm to 7:15 pm.

Tuesday, May 27th, 2025

Club Origami – an interactive show that includes time afterwards for free play with origami! It’s meant for kids ages 1 to 6 and is at The Nest from 10:00 to 10:40 am and from 12:30 to 1:10 pm.
Whipped Up! – in this show babies from the audience become the stars, as they’re brought up on stage and can order around Dottie, a server trying to run an old-school diner. Check it out at Carousel Studio from 10:00 to 10:30 am and 12:00 to 12:30 pm.
Kym Gouchie & Band – a musical performance by Indigenous artist Kym Gouchie aimed at kids ages 3 to 12. The performance at Granville Island Stage runs from 10:30 to 11:20 am.
Luminarium – a cool visual show put on by Cause & Effect Circus which is a local circus group. The show is at Revue Stage from 10:30 to 11:20 am.
Where Have All the Buffalo Gone? – a Métis show that takes the audience through their nation’s history from their emergence as a people through the modern day. Aimed at those 9 and up, the show is at Waterfront Theatre from 10:30 to 11:25 am and 12:30 to 1:25 pm.
I Wish I Was a Mountain – a live musical theatre show from the UK for ages 7 and over. The show takes place at Performance Works on Granville Island from 10:30 to 11:15 am and 12:30 to 1:15 pm.
Won’Ma Africa – an acrobatic show fun for those of all ages, Kalabanté Productions brings circus, dance and music from Africa to Granville Island Stage from 12:30 to 1:20 pm.
Sing the World! with Ginalina & Friends – a concert that features folk songs from over half a dozen different countries. The show takes place at Revue Stage from 12:30 to 1:15 pm and from 6:30 to 7:15 pm.

Wednesday, May 28th, 2025

Club Origami – an interactive show that includes time afterwards for free play with origami! It’s meant for kids ages 1 to 6 and is at The Nest from 10:00 to 10:40 am and from 12:30 to 1:10 pm.
Whipped Up! – in this show babies from the audience become the stars, as they’re brought up on stage and can order around Dottie, a server trying to run an old-school diner. Check it out at Carousel Studio from 10:00 to 10:30 am and 12:00 to 12:30 pm.
Won’Ma Africa – an acrobatic show fun for those of all ages, Kalabanté Productions brings circus, dance and music from Africa to Granville Island Stage from 10:30 to 11:20 am.
Where Have All the Buffalo Gone? – a Métis show that takes the audience through their nation’s history from their emergence as a people through the modern day. Aimed at those 9 and up, the show is at Waterfront Theatre from 10:30 to 11:25 am and 12:30 to 1:25 pm.
Kym Gouchie & Band – a musical performance by Indigenous artist Kym Gouchie aimed at kids ages 3 to 12. The performance at Granville Island Stage runs from 12:30 to 1:20 pm.
Luminarium – a cool visual show put on by Cause & Effect Circus which is a local circus group. The show is at Revue Stage from 10:30 to 11:20 am and from 12:30 to 1:20 pm.
Sing the World! with Ginalina & Friends – a concert that features folk songs from over half a dozen different countries. The show takes place at Revue Stage from 12:30 to 1:15 pm and from 6:30 to 7:15 pm.

Thursday, May 29th, 2025

Whipped Up! – in this show babies from the audience become the stars, as they’re brought up on stage and can order around Dottie, a server trying to run an old-school diner. Check it out at Carousel Studio from 10:00 to 10:30 am and 12:00 to 12:30 pm.
Won’Ma Africa – an acrobatic show fun for those of all ages, Kalabanté Productions brings circus, dance and music from Africa to Granville Island Stage from 10:30 to 11:20 am and from 12:30 to 1:20 pm.
Where Have All the Buffalo Gone? – a Métis show that takes the audience through their nation’s history from their emergence as a people through the modern day. Aimed at those 9 and up, the show is at Waterfront Theatre from 10:30 to 11:25 am and 12:30 to 1:25 pm.
Liwanda Africa! – a cultural journey through many different parts of Africa featuring song, dance and traditional folk tales. It happens at Performance Works from 10:30 to 11:20 am and from 12:30 to 1:20 pm.
Sing the World! with Ginalina & Friends – a concert that features folk songs from over half a dozen different countries. The show takes place at Revue Stage from 10:30 to 11:15 am and 12:30 to 1:15 pm.

Friday, May 30th, 2025

Club Origami – an interactive show that includes time afterwards for free play with origami! It’s meant for kids ages 1 to 6 and is at The Nest from 10:00 to 10:40 am and from 12:30 to 1:10 pm.
Whipped Up! – in this show babies from the audience become the stars, as they’re brought up on stage and can order around Dottie, a server trying to run an old-school diner. Check it out at Carousel Studio from 10:00 to 10:30 am and 12:00 to 12:30 pm.
Kym Gouchie & Band – a musical performance by Indigenous artist Kym Gouchie aimed at kids ages 3 to 12. The performance at Granville Island Stage runs from 10:30 to 11:20 am.
Where Have All the Buffalo Gone? – a Métis show that takes the audience through their nation’s history from their emergence as a people through the modern day. Aimed at those 9 and up, the show is at Waterfront Theatre from 10:30 to 11:25 am and 12:30 to 1:25 pm.
Liwanda Africa! – a cultural journey through many different parts of Africa featuring song, dance and traditional folk tales. It happens at Performance Works from 10:30 to 11:20 am.
Sing the World! with Ginalina & Friends – a concert that features folk songs from over half a dozen different countries. The show takes place at Revue Stage from 10:30 to 11:15 am.
Won’Ma Africa – an acrobatic show fun for those of all ages, Kalabanté Productions brings circus, dance and music from Africa to Granville Island Stage from 12:30 to 1:20 pm.
I Wish I Was a Mountain – a live musical theatre show from the UK for ages 7 and over. The show takes place at Performance Works on Granville Island from 10:30 to 11:15 am and 12:30 to 1:15 pm.
Luminarium – a cool visual show put on by Cause & Effect Circus which is a local circus group. The show is at Revue Stage from 12:30 to 1:20 pm and 6:30 to 7:20 pm.
The Libravian – an Irish show heavy on physical comedy at Performance Works from 6:30 to 7:15 pm.

Saturday, May 31st, 2025

Club Origami – an interactive show that includes time afterwards for free play with origami! It’s meant for kids ages 1 to 6 and is at The Nest from 10:00 to 10:40 am and from 12:30 to 1:10 pm.
Whipped Up! – in this show babies from the audience become the stars, as they’re brought up on stage and can order around Dottie, a server trying to run an old-school diner. Check it out at Carousel Studio from 10:00 to 10:30 am and 12:00 to 12:30 pm.
Won’Ma Africa – an acrobatic show fun for those of all ages, Kalabanté Productions brings circus, dance and music from Africa to Granville Island Stage from 10:30 to 11:20 am and 1:00 to 1:50 pm.
Sing the World! with Ginalina & Friends – a concert that features folk songs from over half a dozen different countries. The show takes place at Revue Stage from 10:30 to 11:15 am.
The Libravian – an Irish show heavy on physical comedy at Performance Works from 11:30 am to 12:15 pm.
Luminarium – a cool visual show put on by Cause & Effect Circus which is a local circus group. The show is at Revue Stage from 1:30 to 2:20 pm and 4:00 to 4:50 pm.
I Wish I Was a Mountain – a live musical theatre show from the UK for ages 7 and over. The show takes place at Performance Works on Granville Island from 2:30 to 3:15 pm.
Variety Show – a combination of various 2025 performers at the Granville Island Stage from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm.

Sunday, June 1st, 2025

Club Origami – an interactive show that includes time afterwards for free play with origami! It’s meant for kids ages 1 to 6 and is at The Nest from 10:00 to 10:40 am and from 12:30 to 1:10 pm.
Whipped Up! – in this show babies from the audience become the stars, as they’re brought up on stage and can order around Dottie, a server trying to run an old-school diner. Check it out at Carousel Studio from 10:00 to 10:30 am and 12:00 to 12:30 pm.
Sing the World! with Ginalina & Friends – a concert that features folk songs from over half a dozen different countries. The show takes place at Revue Stage from 11:00 to 11:50 am and from 1:30 to 2:20 pm.
Won’Ma Africa – an acrobatic show fun for those of all ages, Kalabanté Productions brings circus, dance and music from Africa to Granville Island Stage from 10:30 to 11:20 am and 1:00 to 1:50 pm.
I Wish I Was a Mountain – a live musical theatre show from the UK for ages 7 and over. The show takes place at Performance Works on Granville Island from 11:30 am to 12:15 pm.
Luminarium – a cool visual show put on by Cause & Effect Circus which is a local circus group. The show is at Revue Stage from 2:30 to 3:20 pm.
The Libravian – an Irish show heavy on physical comedy at Performance Works from 2:30 to 3:15 pm.

What to Expect

Thousands of children and their families participate in a wide variety of fun activities.

There are indoor theatre shows, various forms of outdoor entertainment, and activity tents with everything from paper folding to scavenger hunts. There are also venues where you can try out circus tricks or get your face painted. The main shows cost extra. The activities, though, are free with the price of admission.

The festival draws large crowds, especially when the weather is good. As many as 30,000 people attend the event during its week-long run, including school groups on weekdays.

Other Information

For more information, see the Vancouver Children’s Festival website. And for information about a similar event in Surrey, check out Surrey Sparks Stages.

Check out Vancouver’s Best Places for Children for other ideas on what to do with your kids.

Other articles that might be of interest include the following:

To learn about a similar event a couple of hours north of Vancouver, click Whistler Children’s Festival.