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Labour Day Long Weekend in Vancouver

Labour Day Long Weekend

A lot happens in Vancouver on the September Labour Day long weekend including concerts, multicultural festivals, markets and the PNE Fair.

In 2023 Labour Day took place on Monday, September 4th. It was a great weekend to be enjoying the many events offered on that day! Most special events took place on the Saturday and Sunday of the long weekend. Events that still happened on the holiday Monday, however, included the PNE Fair, Taiwanfest and events at farms like the Abbotsford Summer Flower Festival, Chilliwack Corn Maze, and Harrison Sunflower Festival.

Click on the blue links that interest you below, or scroll further down for details about all of the various activities. Alternatively, check out our article about What’s Happening in Vancouver This Weekend.

 


Events that happened on the September long weekend in 2023 included the following:

Nikkei MatsuriThe PNE Fair | Polish Festival VancouverCharcuterie on the Pier in White RockVancouver Boat PartiesShipyards Night Market | Flower Festivals & Farm Activities | Bands on the Beach at HarrisonVictory Square Block PartyOther Events


 

September Long Weekend in the Lower Mainland in 2023

There were a number of great Labour Day weekend activities to enjoy in the final days of the summer in 2023.

Annual events that took place on the Labour Day weekend included the PNE Fair, Vancouver Polish Festival, Taiwanfest and the Nikkei Matsuri. There were also nightclub-style events with Vancouver Boat Parties and Vancouver Cruises in the waters around Vancouver. Other events that happened over that weekend were Bands on the Beach in Harrison Hot Springs and the Victory Square Block Party in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.

Charcuterie on the Pier, a new event that happened in 2023, took place in White Rock on Saturday, September 2nd.

See below for details about the above and other holiday weekend activities. Or, for even more complete lists of what to do in the Lower Mainland, see our September Calendar or Free September Events articles.

 

Charcuterie on the Pier

 


The Nikkei Matsuri


 

In Burnaby

The Nikkei Matsuri is a great Japanese-themed festival at the Nikkei Centre in Burnaby. The event features live entertainment, market vendors and cultural displays. Speaking as a couple of people who have lived in Japan for a number of years, we can attest to the authenticity of this event. It’s like a real small town Japanese festival! It’s awesome!

In 2023, the Nikkei Matsuri ran from Friday, September 1st until Sunday, September 3rd. If you like Japanese food and culture, or want to experience it for the first time, we recommend this event!

To learn more, see our article about the Nikkei Matsuri or visit nikkeimatsuri.nikkeiplace.org.

 

Nikkei Matsuri

2023 PNE Fair

 


The Pacific National Exhibition (“the PNE”)


 

In Vancouver

Without doubt, the PNE Fair is the weekend favourite for hundreds of thousands of Vancouverites. It’s arguably the best annual fair deal in Canada. Ticket prices range between $7 and $25 depending on your age and how you purchase your tickets. For what you get, that’s a terrific deal!

In 2023, the PNE ran from August 19th to September 4th, meaning it took place over the Labour Day long weekend.

To learn more about the great events offered and activities that you can enjoy at the PNE every year, see our article about the PNE Fair. For tickets and full details, visit the Pacific National Exhibition‘s website.

 

Carnival Rides at the PNE

StayVancouverHotels.com

 


Polish Festival Vancouver


 

In North Vancouver

The Polish Festival is a free event at the Shipyards in North Vancouver. In 2023 it took place on Sunday, September 3rd, from 1:00 pm until 8:00 pm.

The festival features Polish food, beer, vendors, cultural displays and more. This past year there were live performances by Król Nocy, Polonez, Parno Drom, the North Shore Celtic Ensemble and more. The festival is a great family-friendly event in a world-class location and admission is free.

To learn more about this event, see our article about the Polish Festival Vancouver. or visit the host organization’s website at belweder.org.

 

Polish Festival

 


Charcuterie on the Pier


 

In White Rock

Charcuterie on the Pier is a unique fundraising event that in 2023 happened on September 2nd. It featured a world-record-breaking charcuterie board on the White Rock Pier. Guinness World Record representatives were in attendance to judge and record the result. Guests could enjoy the food from Sheila’s Catering Company. Also at the event were three bars, live music and more. Tickets ranged from about $90 to $190.

Visit the charcuterieonthepier.com website or see our article about Charcuterie on the Pier for more information about the event,

 

Charcuterie on the Pier

 


Labour Day Boat Parties


 

In and Around the Waters of Vancouver

Vancouver Boat Parties is a popular party boat company. It ran two nightclub-style events on the Labour Day weekend this past year. Vancouver Cruises is another great company that also has an event on the September long weekend. The events with both companies are lots of fun!

 

Boat Party with Vancouver Cruises

Vancouver Cruises‘ event took place on Friday, September 1st. It was the Catching Waves Yacht Party which was on the Abitibi. It featured dancing to the tunes of Ketafere, Orchiid JuiceBLZBOPartytekCazokTyhyBraddick, and Krylk.

 

Vancouver Cruises Summer Party Cruise

 

Boat Parties with Vancouver Boat Parties

On Saturday, September 2nd, on the Burrard Queen vessel, there was the Labour Day Weekend Boat Party which featured dancing and music with DJ Thunder and DJ EM. The event is lots of fun and typically sells out (so book your tickets while you can if you plan to  attend during a forthcoming Labour Day long weekend!)

On the next day there was the Labour Day Bollywood X Punjabi Party. It was also a nightclub-style event on the Burrard Queen with Vancouver Boat Parties, but with a South Asian theme on Sunday, September 3rd.

To learn more about these events see our article about Vancouver Boat Parties or visit the vancouverboatparties.com website.

 

Vancouver Labour Day Boat Party

 


Shipyards Night Market


 

In North Vancouver

The Shipyards District is an area in North Vancouver that stretches from Lonsdale Quay (by the SeaBus terminal) to the Burrard Drydock (which is also known as Shipbuilders’ Pier). It’s an interesting place to visit any time of the year, but especially on weekends and in the summer. The Labour Day weekend is no exception.

The biggest and most significant event on the Labour Day weekend in North Vancouver is the Shipyard Night Market. It features artisan vendors, a beer garden and live music on the Friday. It’s an amazing event and admission is free.

The bands that performed at the night market on Friday, September 1st in 2023 were the Venus & Mars Duo and Las Divas (both of which are great).

 

Shipyards Night Market

 


Flowers Festivals & Farm Activities


 

In the Fraser Valley

A number of great farm and flower-themed activities happen in the Fraser Valley on the Labour Day long weekend. They include the Abbotsford Summer Flower Festival, Chilliwack Corn Maze at Greendale Acres, and Harrison Sunflower Festival.

 

Abbotsford Summer Flower Festival

The Abbotsford Summer Flower Festival is an opportunity to see lots of beautiful sunflowers and other summer flowers at Lakeland Flowers in Abbotsford. The last day of the season in 2023 was September 4th which was the Monday of the September long weekend.

To learn more about this event, click Abbotsford Summer Flower Festival.

 

Chilliwack Corn Maze

Greendale Acres is a farm that’s home to the famous Chilliwack Corn Maze. The venue has a terrific corn maze as well as sunflowers, a pumpkin patch and lots of kid-friendly activities.

To learn more about this place, see our article about the Chilliwack Corn Maze.

 

Harrison Sunflower Festival

The Chilliwack Sunflower Festival used to be a large flower festival in Chilliwack. It moved to Agassiz in 2023 and is now called the Harrison Sunflower Festival. We think its new venue is even better than its previous location! If you like flower festivals, this is a great one. It’s also just minutes away from Harrison Hot Springs where the Bands on the Beach event also happens on the Labour Day weekend.

To learn about this activity, see our article about the Harrison Sunflower Festival or visit the harrisonsunflowerfest.com website.

 

Harrison Sunflower Festival

 


Bands on the Beach


 

At Harrison Hot Springs

The beautiful resort town of Harrison Hot Springs hosts its annual Bands on the Beach event which features free live music by the lake. Bring your lawn chair and listen to the concerts on the beach in the afternoon on both the Saturday and Sunday.

The music on the Labour Day long weekend, which in 2023 was September 2nd and 3rd, usually includes everything from Indie to Country to Bluegrass.

TIP #1: While at Harrison Hot Springs, make the most out of your trip and check out some of the area’s attractions. Highlights include the beach at nearby Sasquatch Provincial Park, the Harrison Water Park, and boat rides with Shoreline Tours. You’ll also want to drop by the Harrison Sunflower Festival which is beautiful.

TIP #2: Arrive well before noon to improve your chances of finding convenient parking.

TIP #3: Don’t forget your swimsuit!

See our article about Bands on the Beach for more information.

 

Bands on the Beach on Labour Day Weekend
Bands on the Beach with Todd Richard

 


Taiwanfest


 

In Vancouver

Taiwanfest is a multicultural festival in downtown Vancouver. It takes place on the Saturday, Sunday and Monday of the September long weekend. The festival features a number of events including a street party on Granville Street.

 

Fully Charged LIVE

 


Victory Square Block Party


 

In Vancouver

The Victory Square Block Party is a family-friendly event with live music. The event is held outdoors at 200 West Hastings Street in downtown Vancouver. It’s free to attend.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event didn’t happen in 2020 or in 2021. The Victory Square Block Party returned in 2022 and happened again in 2023. It took place on Sunday, September 3rd this past year.

For more information about the free event, click Victory Square Block Party.

 

Free Events in September

 


Other Events


 

Many of Vancouver’s regular weekly summer events also occur over the September long weekend. See below for more details.

 

Burnaby, Ambleside and Lonsdale Farmers Markets

 

Other Things to do in September

Looking for other things to do in September in the Lower Mainland on different days and weekends? Then check out Vancouver’s Best Places’ September Calendar of Events. Or, if you just want to find a beautiful place to hang out, check out Vancouver’s best places in parks and nature.

Happy End of Summer Holidays!

 

 

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