In August 2018 there are numerous free events in Metro Vancouver including festivals, outdoor movies, markets, parades, fireworks and concerts.

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

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 2018. Most activities are completely free, although a few are by donation or for a nominal fee.

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

Saturday, August 18th

• Electafest 2018 – an electric vehicle event at the Roundhouse Community Centre between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm. Activities include free test drives of clean-energy vehicles and electric bicycles, plus informational talks and kids’ activities.
• Arts Alive Festival – an arts festival featuring live entertainment, art and artisan vendors in Langley from 10;00 am until 5:00 pm.
• Ribfest Langley – a community fundraising event featuring BBQ rib vendors, entertainment and family-friendly activities at McLeod Athletic Park at 5687 Johnston Townline Road in Langley from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm.
• Rotary Bathtub Race & Festival – a free family-friendly event sponsored by the Rotary Club of Tsawwassen at Diefenbaker Park and Centennial Beach. Activities include bathtub races, music with a Beatles tribute band and the showing of the  movie Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales.
• New West Pride Street Festival – an event celebrating the LGBTTQ community on Columbia Street in New Westminster between 3:00 and 8:00 pm.
• YVR Chill Out – a free community event at Larry Berg Flight Path Park by the Vancouver Airport between 11:00 am and 3:00 pm.
• Pacific National Exhibition (PNE) – free admission for present and retired members of the RCMP, ambulance service, fire departments and other first responder organizations. Show your ID and a friend gets in for free too!
• TD Concerts at the Pier – live music with the Northern Pikes at White Rock’s East Beach.
• Shipyards Summer Sessions Concerts – the March Hare party dance band entertains in the evening at Shipbuilders’ Square in North Vancouver.
• Cates Park Summer Concerts – live music from 4:00 until 7:00 pm in North Vancouver’s Cates Park at 4131 Dollarton Highway. Today features performances by Paolo Brian, Tim Redford, Ryan Fischer, Cheyenne May, Ev Natacha, Ranj Singh and Michaela Slinger.
• Saturday Farmers Markets
  • Abbotsford Country Farmers Market – between 9:00 am and 1:00 pm in downtown Abbotsford.
  • Burnaby Artisan Farmers Market – from 9:00 am until 2:00 pm outside Burnaby City Hall at 4949 Canada Way.
  • Fort Langley Village Farmers’ Market – from 10:00 am until 3:00 pm at 9025 Glover Road in the parking lot of St. Andrews Historic Church.
  • Haney Farmers Market – between 9:00 am and 2:00 pm at Memorial Peace Park in Maple Ridge.
  • Riley Park Farmers Market – from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm at Vancouver’s Riley Park at 50 East 30th Avenue across the street from Nat Bailey Stadium.
  • Squamish Farmers Market – from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm in downtown Squamish.
  • Trout Lake Farmers Market – between 9:00 am and 2:00 pm at John Hendry Park in the north parking lot.
  • West End Farmers Market – from 9:00 am until 2:00 pm at 1100 Comox Street in Vancouver’s West End.
• Movies at Holland Park – tonight’s film in Surrey is Paddington 2 with the movie and family-friendly activities running from 5:00 until around 10:30 pm.
• Family Favourites Movies – the movie Peter Rabbit costs $2.99 in the morning at select theatres in Abbotsford, Burnaby, Chilliwack, Coquitlam, Langley, Pitt Meadows, Richmond, Surrey and Vancouver.

Sunday, August 19th

• Ribfest Langley – a community fundraising event featuring BBQ rib vendors, entertainment and family-friendly activities at McLeod Athletic Park at 5687 Johnston Townline Road in Langley from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm.
• Pacific National Exhibition (PNE) – free admission for present and retired members of the RCMP, ambulance service, fire departments and other first responder organizations. Show your ID and a friend gets in for free too!
• Sunday Afternoon Salsa – salsa dancing at Robson Square between 3:00 and 7:00 pm. Admission is by donation.
• Summer Sundays – a free outdoor concert at Rocky Point Park in Port Moody with a Steely Dan tribute band at 2:00 pm.
• Sunday Farmers Markets
  • Ambleside Artisan Farmers Market – from 10:00 am until 3:00 pm at Ambleside Park in West Vancouver.
  • Kitsilano Farmers Market – between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm at the Kitsilano Community Centre in Vancouver.
  • Poirier Street Market – from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm in the Dogwood Pavilion parking lot at 624 Poirier Street in Coquitlam.
  • Steveston Farmers & Artisan Market – from 10:30 am until 3:30 pm at 4111 Moncton Street in the Steveston Community Centre parking lot.
  • Whistler Farmers Market – a large artisan market between 11:00 am and 4:00 pm in the Upper Village at the base of Blackcomb.
  • White Rock Farmers Market – from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm at 15154 Russell Avenue in the Miramar Plaza.

Monday, August 20th

• Zumba at Canada Place – early evening Zumba lessons and dancing at Canada Place.

Tuesday, August 21st

• Pacific National Exhibition – general admission to the PNE is free today from 11:00 am until 1:00 pm. Later in the day regular rates apply.
• Stanley Park Cinema – the 1997 film Titanic shows at Second Beach starting at dusk.
• Stanley Park Drum Circle – if a sunny day, informal drumming happens at Third Beach in the evening.
• Cheap Movie Night – at various movie theatres throughout Metro Vancouver (so although not free, it is less expensive than usual).

Wednesday, August 22nd

• Pacific National Exhibition – amusement ride passes are buy-1-get-1-free today for folk arriving at the PNE between 11:00 am and 1:00 pm (so at least it’s free for one person).
• Sounds of Summer Music Series – live music with the Folk and Roots band Wheat in the Barley at Stewart Farm near Crescent Beach between 6:30 and 8:00 pm.
• Trout Lake Summer Concert Series – live music with the band Sweet Pan Caribbean in the evening at Trout Lake Community Centre at 3360 Victoria Drive.
• Drive-in Movie at Lansdowne Centre – the movie Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 shows at dusk in the mall parking lot at 5300 No. 3 Road in Richmond.
• Family Favourites Movies – the movie Peter Rabbit costs $2.99 in the morning at select theatres in Abbotsford, Burnaby, Chilliwack, Coquitlam, Langley, Pitt Meadows, Richmond, Surrey and Vancouver.
• Wednesday Farmers Markets
  • 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.
  • Whistler Farmers Market – a large market in the Upper Village at Whistler from 2:00 until 7:00 pm.

Thursday, August 23rd

• Pacific National Exhibition – general admission and Ferris Wheel rides are free today at the PNE for seniors ages 65+.
• Free Movies
  • Burnaby Outdoor Movie Series – the animated film Cars shows outdoors at around 8:30 pm by the Bob Prittie Library at 6100 Willingdon Avenue near Metrotown.
  • Waterfront Cinema – the superhero action movie Black Panther shows for free at dusk at the end of the promenade deck at Canada Place.
• Thursday Farmers Markets – in New Westminster, on Granville Island and in Vancouver in the Queen Elizabeth Theatre Plaza.
  

Friday, August 24th

• Outdoor Movie Nights in Cloverdale – the movie Coco shows at Katzie Elementary School at 6887 194A Street in Surrey at dusk.
• Summer Cinema at the Olympic Oval – free popcorn, drinks and the film American Graffiti happen at the Richmond Olympic Oval’s ROX Theatre at 7:30 pm. Spaces are limited.
• Live & Local Concerts Series – live music in North Vancouver with the Latin dance band Mazacote in Edgemont Village and the Adam Woodall Band at Lynn Valley Village.
• Shipyard Night Market – a beer garden, food trucks, market vendors and live music from 5:00 until 10:00 pm at North Vancouver’s Shipyards. Extra artist displays take place in the plaza by the Polygon Gallery.

Saturday, August 25th

• Flight Fest – an airshow with free admission at the Chilliwack Airport.
• Steveston Dragon Boat Festival – dragon boat racing and live entertainment in Richmond’s Steveston Village.
• Shipyards Summer Sessions Concerts – Hitsville USA plays a mix of favourites from the Temptations, Smokey Robinson and the Supremes at Shipbuilders’ Square in North Vancouver.

• Savour Summer Festival – a free barbeque and craft beer party with live music by the bands Kutapira and Dr. Strangelove at Vancouver’s River District from 4:00 until 8:00 pm. The event is hosted by Romer’s Burger Bar BBQ who will be serving up with free burger sliders and samples of craft beer (for folk ages 19+).

• Saturday Farmers Markets
  • Abbotsford Country Farmers Market – between 9:00 am and 1:00 pm in downtown Abbotsford.
  • Burnaby Artisan Farmers Market – from 9:00 am until 2:00 pm outside Burnaby City Hall at 4949 Canada Way.
  • Fort Langley Village Farmers’ Market – from 10:00 am until 3:00 pm at 9025 Glover Road in the parking lot of St. Andrews Historic Church.
  • Haney Farmers Market – between 9:00 am and 2:00 pm at Memorial Peace Park in Maple Ridge.
  • Riley Park Farmers Market – from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm at Vancouver’s Riley Park at 50 East 30th Avenue across the street from Nat Bailey Stadium.
  • Squamish Farmers Market – from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm in downtown Squamish.
  • Trout Lake Farmers Market – between 9:00 am and 2:00 pm at John Hendry Park in the north parking lot.
  • West End Farmers Market – from 9:00 am until 2:00 pm at 1100 Comox Street.
• Movies at Holland Park – tonight’s film in Surrey is Wonder with the film and family-friendly activities running from 5:00 until around 10:30 pm.
• Avengers: Infinity War – the action movie shows at dusk at Confederation Park in Burnaby.
• Family Favourites Movies – the movie Paddington 2 costs $2.99 in the morning at select theatres in Abbotsford, Burnaby, Chilliwack, Coquitlam, Langley, Pitt Meadows, Richmond, Surrey and Vancouver.

Sunday, August 26th

• Deep Cove Daze – live music, food trucks, an artisan market and family-friendly activities at Deep Cove in North Vancouver.
• Philippine Pinoy Fiesta – a free Filipino parade and festival at Memorial South Park in Vancouver.
• Sunday Afternoon Salsa – salsa dancing at Robson Square between 3:00 and 7:00 pm. Admission is by donation.
• Summer Sundays – a free outdoor concert with Brickhouse at Rocky Point Park in Port Moody at 2:00 pm.
• Sunday Farmers Markets
  • Ambleside Artisan Farmers Market – from 10:00 am until 3:00 pm at Ambleside Park in West Vancouver.
  • Kitsilano Farmers Market – between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm at the Kitsilano Community Centre in Vancouver.
  • Poirier Street Market – from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm in the Dogwood Pavilion parking lot at 624 Poirier Street in Coquitlam.
  • Steveston Farmers & Artisan Market – from 10:30 am until 3:30 pm at 4111 Moncton Street in the Steveston Community Centre parking lot.
  • Whistler Farmers Market – between 11:00 am and 4:00 pm in the Upper Village at the base of Blackcomb.
  • White Rock Farmers Market – from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm at 15154 Russell Avenue in the Miramar Plaza.
  • Ladner Village Market – a giant market in downtown Ladner between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm.
• Richmond Night Market – at 8351 River Road in Richmond.

Monday, August 27th

• Music on the Wharf – live music on Maple Ridge’s Port Haney Wharf with the Argyle Embardo starting at 7:00 pm (by donation).
• Solo: A Star Wars Movie – shows outdoors at Wesbrook Village at UBC.
• Zumba at Canada Place – early evening Zumba lessons and dancing at Canada Place.

Tuesday, August 28th

• Pacific National Exhibition – general admission to the PNE is free for everyone arriving today between 11:00 am and 1:00 pm.
• Stanley Park Drum Circle – if a sunny day, informal drumming happens at Third Beach in the evening.
• Fraserfest Vancouver – a family-friendly event at Fishermen’s Wharf at 1505 West 1st Avenue between 11:00 am and 4:00 pm.
• Cheap Movie Night – at various movie theatres throughout Metro Vancouver (so although not free, it is less expensive than usual).

Wednesday, August 29th

• Pacific National Exhibition – amusement ride passes are buy-1-get-1-free today for folk arriving at the PNE between 11:00 am and 1:00 pm (so at least it’s free for one person).
• Trout Lake Summer Concert Series – live music with the VOC Sweet Soul Gospel Choir in the evening at Trout Lake Community Centre at 3360 Victoria Drive.
• Drive-in Movie at Lansdowne Centre – the movie Black Panther shows at dusk in the mall parking lot at 5300 No. 3 Road.
• Wednesday Farmers Markets
  • 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.
  • Whistler Farmers Market – a large market in the Upper Village at Whistler from 2:00 until 7:00 pm.

Thursday, August 30th

• Waterfront Cinema – the movie Jurassic World shows for free at dusk at the end of the promenade deck at Canada Place.
• Thursday Farmers Markets – in New Westminster, on Granville Island and in Vancouver in the Queen Elizabeth Theatre Plaza.
  

Friday, August 31st

• Richmond World Festival – a large free multicultural festival from 4:00 until 10:00 pm at Richmond’s Minoru Park. Tonight’s headliner band is Lights.
• Burnaby Outdoor Movie Series – Coco shows outdoors at around 8:30 pm by the Bob Prittie Library at 6100 Willingdon Avenue near Metrotown.
• Shipyard Night Market – a beer garden, food trucks, market vendors and live music from 5:00 until 10:00 pm at North Vancouver’s Shipyards.

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

For other ideas on things to do in August, check out the 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.