Events at Vancouver's PNE

The Pacific National Exhibition is not only home to Playland, the PNE Fair and Fright Nights, but also to dozens of concerts and other events every year.

In this article we list events happening at the PNE in different months of the year.

NOTE: Because of COVID-19, many events that normally happen at the PNE have been cancelled. Others that have gone ahead have taken modified formats. For example, the venue has hosted a number of drive-thru-style events where people have attended while remaining in their cars.

Vancouver’s PNE Events and Venues

So many Vancouver events take place at the PNE. Some of them are put on by the Pacific National Exhibition itself, like those mentioned above, but others are independent and simply rent the PNE’s facilities.

Venues at the PNE include Playland (where all the rides are), Hastings Racecourse, the Pacific Coliseum, the PNE Forum, Hastings Park and the Agrodome.

In recent years the PNE venue has hosted major events like Harvestland in the fall and the Aurora Winter Festival around December. The Vancouver Craft Beer Festival also used to take place there in early summer.

To learn about the many events that take place at the PNE and its various venues each month, including things like Monster Jam, trade shows and concerts that rent the space, see below.

If you want information specifically about summer and fall events run by the Pacific National Exhibition, then see our articles about Playland, the PNE Fair, PNE Summer Night Concerts and Fright Nights at Halloween.

Annual Events at the PNE

Below is a list of events taking place at the PNE in different months of the year. Our list doesn’t include everything. It does though include some of the best events and our favourites.

(Note: Exact details are subject to change. See official websites for exact information.)

PNE Events in FEBRUARY

February 7, 14, 21 & 28, 2021

Hastings Park Winter Farmers Market – a winter market that takes place on Sundays from 10 am until 2 pm in the parking lot by the Hastings Skatepark between November and April.

Late February

Hoobiyee – the celebration of the Nisga’a First Nation’s New Year takes place at the PNE Forum. In 2020 the free cultural event happened on the weekend of February 28th and 29th. (Not happening in 2021 because of COVID-19.)

Nisga'a Hoobiyee New Year Celebrations — Hoobiyee at the PNE Forum

PNE Events in MARCH

Hastings Park Winter Farmers Market – a winter market that takes place on Sundays from 10 am until 2 pm in the parking lot by the Hastings Skatepark between November and April.
Vancouver Comics & Toy Show – an annual event featuring close to 200 vendors selling new, used and collectible comics, toys and superhero paraphernalia at the PNE Forum. (Cancelled in 2021 due to COVID-19.)
Vancouver Mineral and Gem Show – a market-style show featuring vendors displaying and selling jewelry, crystals, rare fossils and more! There are also lectures, door prizes and demos. (Cancelled in 2021 due to COVID-19.)
Seasons Festival – a music festival at the Pacific Coliseum. (Postponed in 2021 due to COVID-19.)
Monster Jam – a monster truck show and competition at the Pacific Coliseum. (Not happening in 2021 because of the coronavirus.)

PNE Events in APRIL

April 4, 11, 18 & 25, 2021

Hastings Park Winter Farmers Market – a winter market that takes place on Sundays from 10 am until 2 pm in the parking lot by the Hastings Skatepark between November and April.

View of Playland from the Ferris Wheel — Playland

PNE Events in MAY

Weekends in May, 2021

Playland – an amusement park with over 35 rides takes place during most of June. (2021 details to be confirmed.)

PNE Events in JUNE

June 1-30, 2021

Playland – an amusement park with over 35 rides takes place during most of June. The hours vary depending on the date. (2021 details to be confirmed.)

PNE Events in JULY

July 1-31, 2020

Playland – Vancouver’s amusement park with over 30 rides takes place every day in July. It is usually open from 11 am until 7 pm on Saturdays and Sundays and from 11 am until 6 pm Monday to Friday. (2021 details to be confirmed.)

PNE Events in AUGUST

August 1-20, 2021 (but to be confirmed)

Playland – the amusement park with over 35 rides takes place during the first three or so weeks of August. It is usually open from 11 am until 7 pm every day of the week. The attraction usually runs all month, as well as in May, June and July.

August 21-31, 2021 (but to be confirmed)

Pacific National Exhibition (i.e., the PNE Fair) – an event featuring many attractions such as food trucks, rides, a dream home lottery, live performances and agricultural exhibits. The event usually continues until the Labour Day Weekend (with the last day being the holiday Monday).

PNE Events in SEPTEMBER

September 1 to 6, 2021 (but to be confirmed)

Pacific National Exhibition (i.e., the PNE Fair) – an event featuring many attractions such as food trucks, rides, a dream home lottery, live performances and agricultural exhibits.

September 11-12, 18-19 and 25-26, 2021 (but TBC)

Playland – most years the amusement park with over 35 rides takes on the last three Saturdays and Sundays in September.

PNE Events in OCTOBER

2021 (with dates and details to be confirmed)

Harvestland – typically occurring around mid-October, this festive carnival-style event is for all-ages and features a variety of games, shows and other fall-themed activities. A couple of years ago it ran from October 10th until October 20th. (This event didn’t happen in 2020. Hopefully it will again in 2021.)
Harvest Haus – a popular Oktoberfest event in mid-October that has European-style food and drinks for people ages 19+. (This event did not happen in 2020. 2021 details are to be confirmed.)
Fright Nights – featuring a variety of haunted houses and amusement rides, this Halloween event is not for the faint of heart! It usually runs for about 20 days in October. (The haunted houses did not operate in 2020. In its place the PNE hosted Slayland which featured rides and Halloween decorations, but no haunted houses. 2021 details about Fright Nights are to be confirmed.)

The following event happened in 2020. It may or may not take place again in 2021.

Slayland: Night of a Thousand Screams – a new Halloween event that was designed with the COVID-19 pandemic and health safety in mind. It took place on all Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in October of 2020, as well as on the last couple of Thursdays of the month. The event featured Halloween-themed decorations and twenty amusement rides.

Fright Nights Car-N-Evil Clown — Fright Nights at the PNE

PNE Events in NOVEMBER

Hastings Park Winter Farmers Market – a winter market that takes place on Sundays in the parking lot by the Hastings Skatepark between November and April.
Other events in November are to be confirmed.

PNE Events in DECEMBER

December 2021 (with dates and details to be confirmed)

PNE WinterLights – Christmas lights, music and magical scenes at the Pac.

December 5, 12 & 19 (and maybe 26), 2021

Hastings Park Winter Farmers Market – a winter market that takes place on Sundays in the parking lot by the Hastings Skatepark between November and April.

The following event took place a couple of years ago, in 2019, and might happen again in the future. It didn’t run in 2020 though because of COVID-19. The PNE WinterLights event (as mentioned above) happened that year instead.

Aurora Winter Festival – a family-friendly Christmas event with rides, a tubing park, market vendors, food trucks, ice skating and live entertainment. In 2019 it took place between November 22nd and December 31st. (This event did not in 2020.)

Winter Festival Ferris Wheel — Aurora Winter Festival

PNE Events in JANUARY

Early January

PNE WinterLights or Aurora Winter Festival – one of these two events will likely be happening at the PNE over the Christmas holidays (or something else that’s comparable).

January 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30, 2022

Hastings Park Winter Farmers Market – a winter market that takes place on Sundays from 10 am until 2 pm in the parking lot by the Hastings Skatepark between November and April.