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Free Vancouver Events in August

Free August Events in Vancouver

In August there are usually numerous free events in Metro Vancouver including festivals, outdoor movies, markets, parades, fireworks and concerts.

There are also free attractions like Burnaby Village Museum, the Polygon Gallery and Stanley Park, as well as beaches and nature to explore.

A lot of things that don’t cost a lot happen most years in August. 2020, however, is not a typical year. Because of the coronavirus, numerous events have been cancelled. There are still free things to do in the Lower Mainland this year – just not as much as usual.

Best FREE Activities in August

The following is a list of the top free festivals and events in Vancouver and the surrounding area in August, both in 2020 and in years when there isn’t a pandemic. Most activities are completely free, although a few are by donation or for a nominal fee.

(Note: Schedules and details are subject to change.)

For a list of attractions and events that you can still enjoy, see our article about Vancouver, COVID-19 and Open Places.

For lists of other inexpensive things to do, see our articles about Vancouver on a Budget and Lower Mainland Parks and Nature.

Saturday, August 1st (2020)

  • BC Day Long Weekend – various special events take place throughout this August Long Weekend. Click BC Day for details.
  • Abbotsford Agrifair Drive-Thru Safari – it’s not free, but it is a live event that’s still happening. At just $15 per carload, it’s also quite affordable!
  • Back to the Future Drive-in Theatre – the 1985 science fiction film starring Michael J. Fox plays on the big screen outdoors in North Vancouver. Admission is by donation (with a suggested amount of $30 per carload, but you can pay more or less depending on your circumstances). All proceeds go to the Harvest Project which is a charity that gives a hand up to people in need.
  • Saturday Farmers Markets
  • Burnaby Village – the outdoor museum at Deer Lake is open to the public and offers free admission.
  • Powell Street Festival – a Japanese festival celebrating Japanese-Canadian culture near Vancouver’s Oppenheimer Park. (Note: Although the live event isn’t happening, a telethon is still taking place online today.)
  • Maple Ridge Caribbean Festival – a 2-day event with concerts and family-friendly activities in Maple Ridge between 12:00 and 8:00 pm. (CANCELLED)
  • White Rock Sea Festival – a family-friendly festival along the waterfront in White Rock. (CANCELLED)

BC Day Long Weekend

Sunday, August 2nd (2020)

Monday, August 3rd (2020)

  • BC Day – various special events take place throughout this August Long Weekend. Click BC Day for details.
  • Lower Mainland Parks – if it’s nice out, then enjoy the outdoors in one of the region’s best parks and places in nature.
  • Vancouver Beaches – especially if the weather is good, Lower Mainland beaches are also great places to visit. Just be sure though to maintain appropriate physical distancing from other people!

Tuesday, August 4th (2020)

  • Cheap Movie Night – at various Metro Vancouver cinemas (so it’s not free, but it is extra cheap).
  • Stanley Park Summer Cinema – a free movie starts just after dusk at Ceperley Meadow by Stanley Park’s Second Beach. (CANCELLED)
  • CBC Musical Nooners – live music in the plaza outside the CBC Building near the Vancouver Public Library from 12:00 until 1:00 pm. (TBC, but likely cancelled.)
  • Harmony Arts Festival – an arts festival with live music, art displays and a nightly outdoor movie in West Vancouver. (CANCELLED)

Wednesday, August 5th (2020)

  • Burnaby Village – the outdoor museum at Deer Lake is open to the public and offers free admission.
  • Main Street Farmers Market – a small to medium-sized market with about 3 dozen vendors outside Central Pacific Station from 2:00 until 6:00 pm.
  • Lower Mainland Parks – if it’s nice out, then enjoy the outdoors in one of the region’s best parks and places in nature.
  • Vancouver Beaches – especially if the weather is good, Lower Mainland beaches are also great places to visit. Just be sure though to maintain appropriate physical distancing from other people!
  • Sunset Cinema – free movies once a week in the plaza outside the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. (CANCELLED for 2020.)
  • Downtown Movie Nights – free films are shown once a week in the plaza outside the Vancouver Art Gallery. (CANCELLED for 2020.)

Thursday, August 6th (2020)

  • Farmers Markets
  • Burnaby Village – the outdoor museum at Deer Lake is open to the public and offers free admission.
  • Lower Mainland Parks – if it’s nice out, then enjoy the outdoors in one of the region’s best parks and places in nature.
  • Vancouver Beaches – especially if the weather is good, Lower Mainland beaches are also great places to visit. Just be sure though to maintain appropriate physical distancing from other people!

Friday, August 7th (2020)

  • Carnaval del Sol – the largest Latin festival in the Pacific Northwest usually features free live concerts and family-friendly activities at Concord Pacific Place. This year, however, it is instead offering a number of online activities as well as a few ticketed events including ones at area restaurants.
  • Bill Reid Gallery – free admission at the Bill Reid First Nation’s art gallery between 2:00 and 5:00 pm (because it’s the first Friday of the month).
  • Burnaby Village – the outdoor museum at Deer Lake is open to the public and offers free admission.
  • Squamish Wind Festival – today the event features live music and a drive-in movie.
  • KitsFest – a sports festival at Kitsilano Beach featuring numerous sports competitions and DJ music. (CANCELLED)

Saturday, August 8th (2020)

  • Carnaval del Sol – the largest Latin festival in the Pacific Northwest usually features free live concerts and family-friendly activities at Concord Pacific Place. This year, however, it is instead offering a number of online activities as well as a few ticketed events including ones at area restaurants.
  • Burnaby Village – the outdoor museum at Deer Lake is open to the public and offers free admission.
  • Saturday Farmers Markets
  • Vancouver Flea Market – an indoor flea market at 703 Terminal Avenue in Vancouver. Admission ranges from $1.50 to $3.00 depending on the day’s event, so it’s not free, but it is pretty cheap.
  • KitsFest – a sports festival at Kitsilano Beach featuring numerous sports competitions and DJ music. (CANCELLED)

Sunday, August 9th (2020)

  • Carnaval del Sol – the largest Latin festival in the Pacific Northwest usually features free live concerts and family-friendly activities at Concord Pacific Place. This year, however, it is instead offering a number of online activities as well as a few ticketed events including ones at area restaurants.
  • Burnaby Village – the outdoor museum at Deer Lake is open to the public and offers free admission.
  • Sunday Farmers Markets
  • Flea Markets
    • Vancouver Flea Market – an indoor flea market at 703 Terminal Avenue in Vancouver. Admission ranges from $1.50 to $3.00 depending on the day’s event, so it’s not free, but it is pretty cheap.
    • Cloverdale Flea Market – a giant market with primarily (but not exclusively) second-hand goods between 6:00 am and 3:00 pm in Surrey. Admission is $1.50, but free for kids ages 12 and under.
    • Abbotsford Flea Market – a large flea market at Abbotsford Exhibition Park between 6:00 am and 4:00 pm.
  • Free Jazz Vespers – with an artist from 4:00 to 5:00 pm in the salons at St. Andrews-Wesley United Church at 1018 Nelson Street in Vancouver. Admission is by donation. (TBC, but likely cancelled.)
  • KitsFest – a sports festival at Kitsilano Beach featuring numerous sports competitions and DJ music. (CANCELLED)
  • Summer Sundays – free outdoor concerts at Rocky Point Park in the afternoon. (CANCELLED)

Monday, August 10th (2020)

  • Lower Mainland Parks – if it’s nice out, then enjoy the outdoors in one of the region’s best parks and places in nature.
  • Vancouver Beaches – especially if the weather is good, Lower Mainland beaches are also great places to visit. Just be sure though to maintain appropriate physical distancing from other people!
  • Music on the Wharf – live music at Port Haney Wharf in Maple Ridge (by donation). (TBC, but likely cancelled.)

Tuesday, August 11th (2020)

  • Perseid Meteor Shower – the evenings of August 11th, 12th and 13th are supposed to be the best nights to see falling stars (assuming clear skies and that you are in an area that’s dark).
  • Cheap Movie Night – at various Metro Vancouver cinemas (so it’s not free, but it is extra cheap).
  • CBC Musical Nooners – live music in the plaza outside the CBC Building near the Vancouver Public Library from 12:00 until 1:00 pm. (TBC, but likely cancelled.)
  • Stanley Park Summer Cinema – a free movie starts just after dusk at Ceperley Meadow by Stanley Park’s Second Beach. (CANCELLED)

Wednesday, August 12th (2020)

  • Main Street Farmers Market – a small to medium-sized market with about 3 dozen vendors outside Central Pacific Station from 2:00 until 6:00 pm.
  • Perseid Meteor Shower – the evenings of August 11th, 12th and 13th are supposed to be the best nights to see falling stars (assuming clear skies and that you are in an area that’s dark).
  • Burnaby Village – the outdoor museum at Deer Lake is open to the public and offers free admission.
  • Lower Mainland Parks – if it’s nice out, then enjoy the outdoors in one of the region’s best parks and places in nature.
  • Vancouver Beaches – especially if the weather is good, Lower Mainland beaches are also great places to visit. Just be sure though to maintain appropriate physical distancing from other people!

Thursday, August 13th (2020)

  • Perseid Meteor Shower – the evenings of August 11th, 12th and 13th are supposed to be the best nights to see falling stars (assuming clear skies and that you are in an area that’s dark).
  • Burnaby Village – the outdoor museum at Deer Lake is open to the public and offers free admission.
  • Farmers Markets
  • Lower Mainland Parks – if it’s nice out, then enjoy the outdoors in one of the region’s best parks and places in nature.
  • Vancouver Beaches – especially if the weather is good, Lower Mainland beaches are also great places to visit. Just be sure though to maintain appropriate physical distancing from other people!

Friday, August 14th (2020)

  • Squamish Wind Festival – today the event features live music and a drive-in movie.
  • Burnaby Village – the outdoor museum at Deer Lake is open to the public and offers free admission.
  • Lower Mainland Parks – if it’s nice out, then enjoy the outdoors in one of the region’s best parks and places in nature.
  • Vancouver Beaches – especially if the weather is good, Lower Mainland beaches are also great places to visit. Just be sure though to maintain appropriate physical distancing from other people!
  • Sounds of Summer Music Series – free live music at a park in Surrey. (TBC, but likely cancelled.)

Saturday, August 15th (2020)

Sunday, August 16th (2020)

  • Burnaby Village – the outdoor museum at Deer Lake is open to the public and offers free admission.
  • Sunday Farmers Markets
  • Flea Markets
    • Vancouver Flea Market – an indoor flea market at 703 Terminal Avenue in Vancouver. Admission ranges from $1.50 to $3.00 depending on the day’s event, so it’s not free, but it is pretty cheap.
    • Cloverdale Flea Market – a giant market with primarily (but not exclusively) second-hand goods between 6:00 am and 3:00 pm in Surrey. Admission is $1.50, but free for kids ages 12 and under.
    • Abbotsford Flea Market – a large flea market at Abbotsford Exhibition Park between 6:00 am and 4:00 pm.
  • Free Jazz Vespers – with an artist from 4:00 to 5:00 pm in the salons at St. Andrews-Wesley United Church at 1018 Nelson Street in Vancouver. Admission is by donation. (TBC, but likely cancelled.)
  • Summer Sundays – free outdoor concerts at Rocky Point Park in the afternoon. (CANCELLED)

Monday, August 17th (2020)

  • Lower Mainland Parks – if it’s nice out, then enjoy the outdoors in one of the region’s best parks and places in nature.
  • Vancouver Beaches – especially if the weather is good, Lower Mainland beaches are also great places to visit. Just be sure though to maintain appropriate physical distancing from other people!

Tuesday, August 18th (2020)

  • Stanley Park Summer Cinema – a free movie starts just after dusk at Ceperley Meadow by Stanley Park’s Second Beach. (CANCELLED)
  • Cheap Movie Night – at various Metro Vancouver cinemas (so it’s not free, but it is extra cheap).

Wednesday, August 19th (2020)

  • Main Street Farmers Market – a small to medium-sized market with about 3 dozen vendors outside Central Pacific Station from 2:00 until 6:00 pm.
  • Burnaby Village – the outdoor museum at Deer Lake is open to the public and offers free admission.
  • Lower Mainland Parks – if it’s nice out, then enjoy the outdoors in one of the region’s best parks and places in nature.
  • Vancouver Beaches – especially if the weather is good, Lower Mainland beaches are also great places to visit. Just be sure though to maintain appropriate physical distancing from other people!

Thursday, August 20th (2020)

  • Farmers Markets
  • Burnaby Village – the outdoor museum at Deer Lake is open to the public and offers free admission.
  • Beaty Nocturnal – admission to UBC’s Beaty Biodiversity Museum is by donation tonight between 5:00 and 8:30 pm. (CANCELLED)

Friday, August 21st (2020)

  • Squamish Wind Festival – today the event features live music and a drive-in movie.
  • Burnaby Village – the outdoor museum at Deer Lake is open to the public and offers free admission.
  • Lower Mainland Parks – if it’s nice out, then enjoy the outdoors in one of the region’s best parks and places in nature.
  • Vancouver Beaches – especially if the weather is good, Lower Mainland beaches are also great places to visit. Just be sure though to maintain appropriate physical distancing from other people!

Saturday, August 22nd (2020)

Sunday, August 23rd (2020)

  • Burnaby Village – the outdoor museum at Deer Lake is open to the public and offers free admission.
  • Sunday Farmers Markets
  • Flea Markets
    • Vancouver Flea Market – an indoor flea market at 703 Terminal Avenue in Vancouver. Admission ranges from $1.50 to $3.00 depending on the day’s event, so it’s not free, but it is pretty cheap.
    • Cloverdale Flea Market – a giant market with primarily (but not exclusively) second-hand goods between 6:00 am and 3:00 pm in Surrey. Admission is $1.50, but free for kids ages 12 and under.
    • Abbotsford Flea Market – a large flea market at Abbotsford Exhibition Park between 6:00 am and 4:00 pm.
  • Free Jazz Vespers – with an artist from 4:00 to 5:00 pm in the salons at St. Andrews-Wesley United Church at 1018 Nelson Street in Vancouver. Admission is by donation. (TBC, but likely cancelled.)
  • Summer Sundays – free outdoor concerts at Rocky Point Park in the afternoon. (CANCELLED)

Monday, August 24th (2020)

  • Music on the Wharf – live music at Port Haney Wharf in Maple Ridge (by donation). (TBC, but likely cancelled.)
  • Lower Mainland Parks – if it’s nice out, then enjoy the outdoors in one of the region’s best parks and places in nature.
  • Vancouver Beaches – especially if the weather is good, Lower Mainland beaches are also great places to visit. Just be sure though to maintain appropriate physical distancing from other people!

Tuesday, August 25th (2020)

  • Cheap Movie Night – at various Metro Vancouver cinemas (so it’s not free, but it is extra cheap).
  • Lower Mainland Parks – if it’s nice out, then enjoy the outdoors in one of the region’s best parks and places in nature.
  • Vancouver Beaches – especially if the weather is good, Lower Mainland beaches are also great places to visit. Just be sure though to maintain appropriate physical distancing from other people!

Wednesday, August 26th (2020)

  • Main Street Farmers Market – a small to medium-sized market with about 3 dozen vendors outside Central Pacific Station from 2:00 until 6:00 pm.
  • Burnaby Village – the outdoor museum at Deer Lake is open to the public and offers free admission.
  • Lower Mainland Parks – if it’s nice out, then enjoy the outdoors in one of the region’s best parks and places in nature.
  • Vancouver Beaches – especially if the weather is good, Lower Mainland beaches are also great places to visit. Just be sure though to maintain appropriate physical distancing from other people!

Thursday, August 27th (2020)

  • Burnaby Village – the outdoor museum at Deer Lake is open to the public and offers free admission.
  • Farmers Markets
  • Lower Mainland Parks – if it’s nice out, then enjoy the outdoors in one of the region’s best parks and places in nature.
  • Vancouver Beaches – especially if the weather is good, Lower Mainland beaches are also great places to visit. Just be sure though to maintain appropriate physical distancing from other people!

Friday, August 28th (2020)

  • Burnaby Village – the outdoor museum at Deer Lake is open to the public and offers free admission.
  • Roedde House – admission to the historic home near Robson Street is by donation (because today is the last Friday of the month). (TBC)
  • Lower Mainland Parks – if it’s nice out, then enjoy the outdoors in one of the region’s best parks and places in nature.
  • Vancouver Beaches – especially if the weather is good, Lower Mainland beaches are also great places to visit. Just be sure though to maintain appropriate physical distancing from other people!

Labour Day Weekend Activities

Saturday, August 29th (2020)

Sunday, August 30th (2020)

  • Burnaby Village – the outdoor museum at Deer Lake is open to the public and offers free admission.
  • Sunday Farmers Markets
  • Flea Markets
    • Vancouver Flea Market – an indoor flea market at 703 Terminal Avenue in Vancouver. Admission ranges from $1.50 to $3.00 depending on the day’s event, so it’s not free, but it is pretty cheap.
    • Cloverdale Flea Market – a giant market with primarily (but not exclusively) second-hand goods between 6:00 am and 3:00 pm in Surrey. Admission is $1.50, but free for kids ages 12 and under.
    • Abbotsford Flea Market – a large flea market at Abbotsford Exhibition Park between 6:00 am and 4:00 pm.
  • Summer Sundays – free outdoor concerts at Rocky Point Park in the afternoon. (CANCELLED)
  • Free Jazz Vespers – with an artist from 4:00 to 5:00 pm in the salons at St. Andrews-Wesley United Church at 1018 Nelson Street in Vancouver. Admission is by donation. (TBC, but likely cancelled.)

Monday, August 31st (2020)

  • Lower Mainland Parks – if it’s nice out, then enjoy the outdoors in one of the region’s best parks and places in nature.
  • Vancouver Beaches – especially if the weather is good, Lower Mainland beaches are also great places to visit. Just be sure though to maintain appropriate physical distancing from other people!

Other Information

For more, check out Vancouver’s Best Places for Summer Activities.

For other ideas on things to do this month, including things that aren’t free, check out our August Events Calendar.

For other free activities, see Vancouver’s Best Beaches and the Lower Mainland’s best Parks and Places in Nature.

For other affordable things to do, see Vancouver on a Budget.

To see what’s happening next month, check out the September Calendar of Events.

 

 

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