Home Culture in Vancouver March Holidays, Festivals and Major Events in 2020

March Holidays, Festivals and Major Events in 2020

February 26, 2019

A lot is happening in Vancouver in March 2020 including over half a dozen festivals, a major international sporting event and numerous cultural activities.

Vancouver Holidays and Major Events in March

With St. Patrick’s Day, the Persian New Year, World Rugby Sevens Series matches, cherry trees starting to bloom and Spring Break for schools all happening in the same month, March is guaranteed to be an exciting time to be in Vancouver.

What’s Happening in March 2020?

March is the month with the most festivals and major events so far this year. And in years when Easter is in March, which happens occasionally, although not in 2020, it’s arguably the busiest month prior to the summer. Below are the top things that promise to make the month special.

First Weekend in March Festivals

March begins with two major cultural festivals on the first weekend most years.

1. Vancouver International Wine Festival – a major wine festival showcasing wines from around the world. The final day of the event is on March 1st, 2020.

2. Coastal First Nations Dance Festival – one of the most culturally interesting and entertaining First Nation’s events of the year, the festival is put on by the Dancers of Damelahamid at the Museum of Anthropology most years, but at New Westminster’s Anvil Centre in 2019. The festival features both afternoon and evening performances on the first weekend in March most years and is highly recommended. (Note: in 2019, instead of taking place in early March, the main part of the festival happened on the weekend of February 20th to 24th. This is the case again in 2020, with the final day of the festival falling on March 1st.).

Mid-March Festivals and Events

The middle of March is when the city turns green, goes rugby-crazy and parties with fire.

3. CelticFest Vancouver – a small St. Patrick’s festival celebrating everything Celtic, Irish and green. In past years it included a massive St. Patrick’s Day Parade and a Celtic Village with entertainment and market vendors in downtown Vancouver. Since 2018, however, it has been scaled down to include just a few smaller events. (Details to be confirmed.)

4. World Rugby Sevens Series – the highlight of the month for rugby fans are the rugby games played in Vancouver on March 7th-8th, 2020. BC Place Stadium is the place to be that weekend!

5. Persian New Year Fire Festival – the New Year begins on March 21st, but in 2019 the Fire Festival takes place in the evening of Tuesday, March 19, at Ambleside in West Vancouver. Expect to see thousands of Iranians, a live concert and people jumping over bonfires. All are welcome. (Details to be confirmed.)

End of March Holidays and Events

The second half of March is especially fun for public school children and cherry blossom enthusiasts.

6. Spring Break – if you ask school-aged children what the best thing about March is they’ll probably say the spring break holidays which take place from March 16th to 27th in 2020. Expect to see lots of kids on the ski slopes and around town having fun with their friends and their families.

7. Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival – the city’s annual celebration of spring and the blooming of Japanese cherry trees begins officially in early April most years and continues until mid to late April. Up until a couple of years ago it started up in late March, but more recently it begins in early April. The festival takes place in April in 2020, but there might still be cherry blossoms!

8. Festival du Bois – BC’s largest francophone festival takes place at Mackin Park in Coquitlam in March each year and includes family-friendly activities, lots of live music and opportunities to practice your French. In 2020 it runs on the weekend of March 6th to 8th.

9. Vancouver International Auto Show – the best place to be in March if you love the latest models of fancy cars is at the Vancouver Convention Centre March 25th to 29th in 2020 when the place is full of Lamborghinis, BMWs, Porsches and other fast and shiny cars, not to mention lots of Toyotas, Chevrolets and Minis too.