Hosted by the Belweder North Shore Polish Association, Polish Festival Vancouver takes place at the Shipyards in North Vancouver in September.
The festival is an annual event that celebrates Polish-Canadian contributions to Canada’s rich cultural mosaic. It showcases local artists as well as vendors of different nationalities. The event features traditional Polish cuisine, music, singing, folk dancing and other activities. Admission is free.
In 2025 the festival happens on September 6th.
Visit belweder.org for the event’s official website or see its Facebook page.
This article contains the following information about Polish Festival Vancouver:
Where and When | What to Expect at the Polish Festival | Live Entertainment Schedule | Tips & Advice | Polish Festival Videos | Other Information
Polish Festival Vancouver on the North Shore
Polish Festival Vancouver is a great one-day event celebrating the cultural diversity of Vancouver’s North Shore community. It’s also an excellent way for people to enjoy the exciting flavours of Polish culture, music and food.
September has been officially declared Polish Heritage Month in BC since 2022. The festival takes place at the Shipyards in North Vancouver on the first Saturday or Sunday in September.
This year’s Polish Festival Vancouver celebrates its 11th year which is a testament to unity, a bridge between diverse cultures, and a celebration of the enduring spirit of the Polish community in Canada.
The festival features Polish music, singing and folk dancing including a special program for children and youth. Visitors of all ages and backgrounds are invited to enjoy the authentic European experience. At the event you can celebrate the richness of Polish culture, tradition and arts.
Polish Festival Vancouver is hosted by the non-profit Belweder North Shore Polish Association. One of the organization’s main goals is to promote Polish culture, language, traditions and knowledge of Polish contributions within Canada to all Canadians.
There are around 10,000 people on the North Shore with Polish heritage. While it’s not the largest ethnic community in the region, it’s still a fairly large one. Consequently, there’s plenty of wonderful Polish culture to be found.
Visit belweder.org for the event’s official website or see its Facebook page.
Where and When
Polish Festival Vancouver takes place at the Shipyards in Shipbuilders’ Square and the Pipe Shop at 115 Victory Ship Way at the bottom of Lonsdale Avenue in North Vancouver.
This year the festival is on Saturday, September 6th, so on the weekend after Labour Day. The event runs from 1:00 pm until 9:00 pm. It’s well worth checking out, especially if you like European food, music and cultural entertainment, or perhaps want to experience it for the first time.
What to Expect at the Polish Festival
At Polish Festival Vancouver you can expect to sample lots of European foods and enjoy music, singing, folk dancing and other activities. In a typical year as many as 2,000 people attend the festivities.
A number of singing and dancing groups entertain the crowd at the festival each year. This year’s artists include the Zornitza Dance Ensemble, Slovak Sound Band, Hey Ziuta, the Polonez Polish Folk Dance Group, and other artists and performers.
The Belweder North Shore Polish Association also puts on cultural displays in the Pipe Shop building. A few years ago there was a special exhibition celebrating the 550th birthday of Polish astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus. In 2025 it’s “Architecture Without Borders: A Polish-Canadian Architectural Exhibition”. At the event there are also vendors selling Polish T-shirts, jewellery, and other artisan products and souvenirs.
The Polish Festival is a family-friendly event with theatrical shows for children plus crafts, face painting, and games. Traditional Polish cuisine at the event includes pierogies, sausages, pastries and other tasty items including Polish beer.
Visit belweder.org for the event’s official website or see its Facebook page.
Live Entertainment at the Polish Festival
Performing last year and again in 2025 are the Polonez Polish Folk Dance Group, North Shore Celtic Ensemble, the band Hey Ziuta, and Parno Drom (which is a Romani/Gypsy music group). Other entertainment this year is with the Zornitza Dance Ensemble, Slovak Sound Band, Gustavo Hererra, Crimson Crescendo and other artists.
In the past the festival has opened with a blessing from Spakwus Slolem. There has also been a dance party that starts in the early evening. Details about these two activities for this year are to be confirmed. A couple of years ago the Polish singer Król Nocy was at the event.
Tips & Advice
Below are some tips and suggestions to help you make the most of your visit to Polish Festival Vancouver.
TIP #1: Go with an appetite! The Polish sausages and pierogies are delicious. There is a beer garden too.
TIP #2: There is limited free parking on the street in the area with either a one or two-hour maximum time limit. There is also pay parking at the ICBC parkade in front of Lonsdale Quay just off Rogers Avenue, at the Lonsdale Quay Public Market and at Shipyard Commons.
TIP #3: Take public transit if you can. The SeaBus is less than a five-minute walk away.
TIP #4: Explore the region either before or after visiting the Polish Festival. Shipbuilders’ Pier is nice to walk along, and the indoor public market at Lonsdale Quay is interesting. MONOVA: the Museum of North Vancouver is also an exceptional place to learn about the history of the region. The museum also hosts free walking tours with Shipyard Pals.
Visit belweder.org for the event’s official website or see its Facebook page.
Polish Festival Videos
Check out the following videos for a preview at what to expect at the Polish Festival in North Vancouver. The videos show scenes of the event from 2022 and 2023. There is lots of dancing, music and food to enjoy at the festival.
Other Information
Visit the Belweder North Shore Polish Association website for information about the organization behind the festival.
Check out any of the following for details about the area:
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