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. The last couple of years, however, it has just been a one-day affair. The same is the case in 2025.

This article contains the following information about the festival:

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

Craft Beer Festival in Vancouver

Last year 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.

In 2025 the event happens at the PNE Fairgrounds on Saturday, July 12th.

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

Where and When is VCBW

The festival is 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.

In 2025 the event is on Saturday, July 12th. Last year 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. New for 2025, there is an afternoon session and an evening session. The afternoon session runs from 12:00 until 4:00 pm. The evening session, meanwhile, goes from 5:00 until 9:00 pm.

Admission Rates & Prices

There are general admission and VIP tickets available to purchase in 2025. Both ticket types increase in price as the event draws closer.

Last year 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. Things are slightly different in 2025.

This year general admission for the afternoon and evening sessions costs $30 at the early-bird prices and $55 at the regular price. VIP tickets (also known as general admission plus or GA+ in 2025) cost either $60 or $85 depending on when you get them.

The benefits of the VIP tickets is you get $30 worth of tokens and access to the expedited VIP entrance. (Note: Access to the shorter entry line can be a huge benefit. In past years they’ve had problems with processing people and some folk have had to wait over an hour to get in.)

Note: Samples of all beers were included with the admission price last year. They are not, however, in 2025. This explains why prices are less in 2025 than they were the year before. After paying to get in, you still need to pay for your beer.

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.

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.

Last year the lineup included lovelytheband, Yukon Blonde, Black Pontiac, Post Modern Connection and Lee Brown. Who is performing in 2025 is to be confirmed.

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.