The Vancouver Craft Beer and Music Festival takes place in July at the PNE fairgrounds. The event features bands, food trucks and lots of craft breweries.

In the past the festival has been a two-day event. Last year, however, it was just a one-day affair. The same was the case in 2024. This year, the event happened on July 6th. Other events on the same weekend this year were the Carnaval del Sol Latin festival and Taiwanese Canadian Cultural Festival.

TIP: If you like beer, then also check out the Brewhalla Beer & Music Festivals series of events. The next ones happen in New Westminster in August and Chilliwack in early October.

To learn more about the Vancouver Craft Beer and Music Festival, continue reading.

This article contains the following information about the festival:

Where and When is VCBW | Admission Rates & Prices | What to Expect | Video | Other Information

2024 Craft Beer Festival in Vancouver

In 2024 the Vancouver Craft Beer Week (VCBW) event took place on Saturday, July 6th (so on the weekend after Canada Day). Early-bird tickets started at $65 this year. There were more than 75 beer vendors at the event. Performers included lovelytheband, Yukon Blonde and more.

Vancouver Craft Beer Festival Stage — Main Stage at the Beer Festival in 2022

Where and When is VCBW

In 2024 the festival was just a one-day outdoor event at Vancouver’s PNE fairgrounds. The venue’s address is 2901 East Hastings Street which isn’t far from the Trans-Canada Highway.

This year the event was on Saturday, July 6th. Things kicked off at 3:00 pm and wound down by 7:00 pm. However, VIP ticket holders could get in one hour earlier than everyone else.

Admission Rates & Prices

There were general admission and VIP tickets available to purchase in 2024. Both ticket types increased in price as the event drew closer.

Regular tickets ranged from $65 to $95 per person. VIP admission started at $85 and went as high as $125 each. VIP guests could arrive at the event an hour earlier and there were VIP-only lines at the various booths.

What to Expect at the Beer Festival

Expect to be in craft beer heaven at the event! At the Vancouver Craft Beer Festival there are rows upon rows of stalls offering craft beer samples. Breweries come from across North America, but primarily from the Lower Mainland, other parts of BC and even the West Coast of the US most years.

The festival is also host to numerous food trucks selling everything from fish and chips to burgers and ethnic foods. There are also stages set up around the venue with live music.

The atmosphere at the festival is fun and the crowd is of all ages, but primarily young and male with the average age of participants probably close to around 30.

Samples of all beers were included with the admission price in 2024.

Craft Beer Festival PNE Venue — VCBW at the PNE Grounds

Craft Beers and Ciders

This isn’t any rinky-dink beer festival. VCBW is the largest craft beer festival in the Pacific Northwest and it attracts the largest selection of premium craft beer and cider available within BC. Guests at the event can try several of the more than 150 beers and ciders that are showcased. House of Funk, Studio, Deep Cove, Stanley Park, 33 Acres and about 70 other incredible breweries participate most years.

Festival Food Trucks and Chefs

VCBW puts together an incredible list of the best food trucks from around the city making a stop at the main event. If that isn’t enough, organizers also connect with some of the region’s top chefs and others to do chef-driven pop-ups. Be sure to bring your appetite to the event!

Bedouin SoundClash on Sunsetter Stage — Bedouin Soundclash in 2022

The Music Festival

In addition to beer samples and food vendors, at the weekend beer festival there is also live music. Feaster, the producers of VCBW, puts together an incredible list of live talent each year.

The 2024 lineup included lovelytheband, Yukon Blonde, Black Pontiac, Post Modern Connection and Lee Brown.

Vancouver Craft Beer Festival Video

To give you an idea of what the beer festival looks like, check out the following video. It shows scenes of the festival from 2022. As you’ll see, it’s a big event with lots of beer vendors and people having a great time.