What's Happening This Weekend

Wondering what to do in Vancouver this weekend? Lots of events are happening in the Lower Mainland and many attractions are operating.

See below for a list of what’s happening this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Or, for a list of free movies and concerts happening in the Lower Mainland this summer, see our articles about Free Summer Movies or Free Vancouver Concerts.

This Weekend in Vancouver

Highlights of the weekend of August 19th to 21st include a Hidden Histories Tour in Fort Langley, the Monstercat Compound block party and music festival in Vancouver, and Polynesian Dance Night with Maple Ridge Happenings in Maple Ridge.

Other awesome things this weekend are the Richmond Maritime Festival, Candlelight: A Tribute to Adele in Kerrisdale, and From Broadway to the Big Screen in Abbotsford. There is also the PNE Fair and its Summer Night Concert with The B-52s and Blue Rodeo, plus fireworks night with the Vancouver Canadians and various other events.

Friday, August 19, 2022

Maple Ridge Happenings – the City of Maple Ridge hosts Polynesian Dance Night at Memorial Peace Park.
Forbidden Vancouver Walking Tours – guided tours in downtown Vancouver. Today features the Lost Souls of Gastown and Forbidden Vancouver tours.
Historical Chinatown Tours – walking tours in Vancouver’s Chinatown with Judy Lam Maxwell.
Bard on the Beach – Shakespearean theatre at Vanier Park. Today’s shows are A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Romeo and Juliet.
Improv Centre TheatreSports – live comedy theatre at Granville Island.
Theatre Under the Stars – outdoor theatre in Stanley Park. Tonight’s show is the musical We Will Rock You which features music from the band Queen.
Playland – Vancouver’s amusement park at the PNE.
Foxtrail Scavenger Hunts – scavenger hunt-style adventures around Vancouver for teams of 2 to 6 players.
Guided Tours at the FRDC – tours can be booked for this morning at New Westminster’s Fraser River Discovery Centre (because it’s Friday).
Kaleidoscope Arts Festival – a free community event at Coquitlam’s Town Centre Park.
DOXA Outdoor Summer Screenings – a free screening of Dear Jackie outside the Central Branch of the Vancouver Public Library.
Vancouver Maritime Museum – the family-friendly museum at Vanier Park. Use the promo code BESTVANCOUVER and save 25%!
Vancouver Mysteries Games – play an outdoor adventure game in downtown Vancouver. Use promo code BESTPLACES and save 10% on games with 3 or more people.
Art Downtown – local artists display their art today from 11 am to 5 pm in downtown Vancouver (assuming good weather).
WildPlay Element Park – ropes courses and ziplines at the outdoor adventure facility in Maple Ridge.

SAVE 10% ON ATTRACTIONS

For a limited time, if you want to save 10% on the price of admission to some of Vancouver’s top attractions, use the promo code VANBEST10 when purchasing your tickets online thru Tiqets.com. The promo code is only good though if you buy your tickets through our Tiqets.com link. This offer is valid on purchases made up until August 31st 2022 (but good for visits after that date if purchased in advance)!

Attraction where you can save include Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden, Hop-On/Hop-Off Bus Tours, the Museum of Vancouver, Vancouver Art Gallery, VanDusen Botanical Garden, the Vancouver Maritime Museum, Vancouver Police Museum, Bloedel Conservatory, Britannia Mine, Capilano Bridge, Grouse Mountain and the Sea to Sky Gondola.

To learn more about Tiqets.com see our article about Tiqets.com and Vancouver Attractions.

Saturday, August 20, 2022

Monstercat Compound – a block party with music, video games and art in Vancouver. Admission is free!
Hidden Histories Tours – a 1-day summer edition of Fort Langley National Historic Site’s popular historical walking tours take place tonight (for adults ages 18+).
Pacific National Exhibition (PNE) – Vancouver’s annual summer fair.
- Today’s PNE Summer Night Concert features The B-52s.
Richmond Maritime Festival – a free festival at Britannia Shipyard in Steveston Village.
Steveston Dragon Boat Festival – dragon boat races in Steveston Village.
Candlelight: A Tribute to Adele – a multi-sensory musical experience in Kerrisdale where you can enjoy the music of Adele under the glow of candlelight.
Improv Centre TheatreSports – live comedy theatre at Granville Island.
Kaleidoscope Arts Festival – a free community event at Coquitlam’s Blue Mountain Park.
Denman Street Car Free Day – a massive pedestrian-only street party in Vancouver’s West End. (POSTPONED)
Arts Alive Festival – live entertainment and family-friendly activities in downtown Langley.
Chilliwack Flight Fest – a community event at the Chilliwack Airport.
Vancouver Maritime Museum – the family-friendly museum at Vanier Park. Use the promo code BESTVANCOUVER and save 25%!
Bard on the Beach – Shakespearean theatre at Vanier Park. Today’s shows are A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Romeo and Juliet.
Theatre Under the Stars – tonight’s show in Stanley Park is the Broadway musical Something Rotten.
Saturday Farmers Markets – in Abbotsford, Burnaby, Fort Langley, Lonsdale Quay, Maple Ridge, Riley Park, Squamish, Trout Lake and the West End.

Featured Tours & Adventure Activities

Hidden Histories Tours – a 1-day summer edition of Fort Langley National Historic Site’s popular historical walking tours take place tonight (for adults ages 18+).
WildPlay Element Park – ropes courses and ziplines at the outdoor adventure facility in Maple Ridge.
Forbidden Vancouver Walking Tours – today features the Lost Souls of Gastown, Forbidden Vancouver and Dark Secrets of Stanley Park tours.
Guided Tours at the FRDC – tours can be booked for this morning at New Westminster’s Fraser River Discovery Centre.
Historical Chinatown Tours – walking tours in Vancouver’s Chinatown with Judy Lam Maxwell.
Foxtrail Scavenger Hunts – scavenger hunt-style adventures around Vancouver for teams of 2 to 6 players.
Vancouver Mysteries Games – play an outdoor adventure game in downtown Vancouver. Use promo code BESTPLACES and save 10% on games with 3 or more people.

Other Activities

Camping Opportunities – there are lots of great campgrounds in the Lower Mainland (providing you can find a spot).
Lower Mainland Beaches – beaches at Ambleside, Crescent Beach, White Rock, Stanley Park, Kitsilano, Belcarra Park and elsewhere are especially popular this time of year.
Lower Mainland Parks – if good weather, various parks and places in nature are “best places” to be!
Vancouver Golf Courses – check out our list of top places to hit a ball around outdoors in the fresh air.

Sunday, August 21, 2022

Richmond Maritime Festival – a free festival at Britannia Shipyard in Steveston Village.
Pacific National Exhibition (PNE) – Vancouver’s annual summer fair.
- Today’s PNE Summer Night Concert features Blue Rodeo.
From Broadway to the Big Screen – a String Quintet with Piano Mini Concert at the Mennonite Heritage Museum in Abbotsford.
Chilliwack Flight Fest – a community event at the Chilliwack Airport.
Bard on the Beach – Shakespearean theatre at Vanier Park. Today’s shows are A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Romeo and Juliet.
Theatre Under the Stars – outdoor theatre in Stanley Park. Tonight’s show is the musical We Will Rock You which features music from the band Queen.
Vancouver Maritime Museum – the family-friendly museum at Vanier Park. Use the promo code BESTVANCOUVER and save 25%!
Kaleidoscope Arts Festival – a free community event at Coquitlam’s Victoria Park.
Port Coquitlam Car Show – a car show featuring hundreds of cars in downtown Port Coquitlam. Admission for the public is free.
Summer Sundays – free live music at Rocky Point Park in Port Moody.
Corn Mazes – farms with family-friendly activities including mazes to get lost in at various venues throughout the Lower Mainland.

Featured Tours & Adventure Activities

Vancouver Mysteries Games – play an outdoor adventure game in downtown Vancouver. Use promo code BESTPLACES and save 10% on games with 3 or more people.
Foxtrail Scavenger Hunts – scavenger hunt-style adventures around Vancouver for teams of 2 to 6 players.
Guided Tours at the FRDC – tours can be booked for this morning at New Westminster’s Fraser River Discovery Centre (because it’s Sunday).
Forbidden Vancouver Walking Tours – guided tours in downtown Vancouver. Today’s tours are the Dark Secrets of Stanley Park, Lost Souls of Gastown and Really Gay History Tour.
Tours with Shipyard Pals – walking tours take place around the Shipyards District in North Vancouver.
Historical Chinatown Tours – walking tours in Vancouver’s Chinatown with Judy Lam Maxwell.
WildPlay Element Park – ropes courses and ziplines at the outdoor adventure facility in Maple Ridge.

Sunday Markets

Sunday Farmers Markets – at Ambleside, Clayton Heights, Coquitlam, Kitsilano, Steveston Village, Whistler and White Rock.
Vancouver Flea Market – at 703 Terminal Avenue.
Cloverdale Flea Market – a massive market at the Cloverdale Fairgrounds in Surrey.
Abbotsford Flea Market – a giant flea market at Abbotsford Exhibition Park.

UPCOMING EVENTS

In case you were interested, events taking place on the weekend of August 26th to 28th include the PNE Fair and its Summer Night Concerts, Candlelight: A Tribute to Taylor Swift, a scaled-down version of Italian Day on the Drive, and fireworks night with the Vancouver Canadians.

Also happening both this weekend and next are Bard on the Beach, Theatre Under the Stars and various other shows and events. There are also tours with Forbidden Vancouver, Shipyard Pals, Historical Chinatown Tours, and the Fraser River Discovery Centre, plus outdoor adventures in downtown Vancouver with Vancouver Mysteries and Foxtrail. There is also the space exhibit at Stargazer, ropes course adventures at WildPlay Element Park and various other activities.