The Shipyards Night Market takes place on Fridays at Shipbuilders’ Square at the bottom of Lonsdale Avenue in North Vancouver from May until September.
Market at Shipbuilders’ Square
Until it got cancelled due to COVID-19, the 2020 Shipyards Night Market was scheduled to run on Fridays between 5 and 10 pm from May 1st to September 25th. Dates and times in 2021 will likely be similar to what was originally planned for 2020.
In years when it does take place, the market features a live music concert every evening, dozens of food vendors serving a wide variety of tasty foods, a beer garden with locally crafted brews and dozens of artisan stalls.
Thousands of people turn out for the Shipyards Night Market, and even up to 10,000 or so on busy days. It’s an impressive event and folk come from all over the Lower Mainland to see it.
(Note: The photo below is of Shipbuilders’ Pier on a market day in the summer. Shipbuilders’ Square is in the distance, near the large yellow crane. That’s where most of the market takes place. There are also food trucks along the waterfront. This photo was taken a few years ago, so before Shipyard Commons was built, which explains why the large new building and the Seaside Hotel aren’t visible.)
What’s at the Night Market?
Lower Lonsdale’s Shipyards Night Market is a fairly upscale night market. Don’t expect to find ultra-cheap sunglasses or plastic trinkets here. For those kinds of things you’ll want to go to the Richmond Night Market, which is quite different, larger and great in its own way.
At the Night Market in Shipbuilders’ Square you’ll find handmade jewellery, artisan baked goods, gluten-free cookies, local art, homemade jams and jellies, handcrafted chocolates, fancy scarves and a small selection of organic produce.
The Night Market in North Vancouver is smaller than the main Richmond Night Market, but it’s still pretty big; on a sunny evening it attracts a lot of people. It’s a great place for people watching, and a wonderful place to enjoy the live outdoor music.
Where is the Night Market?
The Shipyards Night Market takes place in Shipbuilders’ Square, a five-minute stroll from the SeaBus terminal at Lonsdale Quay, which itself has its own public market open all day year-round, and in the summer until 7 pm.
Shipbuilders’ Square is at 138 Victory Ship Way, at the very bottom of Lonsdale Avenue, which is a long hilly San Francisco-style street with a number of great restaurants at the bottom, right across the street from the entrance to the market. Click North Vancouver Restaurants for ideas on where to eat in the area.
The Shipyards Night Market is also right by the Shipbuilders’ Pier which is a nice place for a stroll and views of downtown Vancouver across the water, especially on Canada Day when the fireworks take place in Burrard Inlet.
Remember to check out the new covered area that hosts a children’s water park in the summer and an outdoor skating rink in the winter just east of the pier.
Years ago the area was home to a major Canadian shipbuilding industry, which still exists close by, but on a smaller scale than in generations past. Evidence of the area’s rich shipbuilding history includes a couple of restored buildings and a giant crane in the heart of the square.
Night Market Concerts
Free concerts take place at the Shipyards Night Market on Friday evenings from 5:00 to 10:00 pm. Sometimes there is just one band, but usually there are two.
Below is the August and September concert schedule for 2019 for an idea of what to expect in 2021.
Market Concerts in August
August 2nd, 2019
- Best Night Ever – a Neo-Motown band with R&B influences and a Soul sound.
- The Escapes – a five-man, Jazz-Pop band with idols such as Amy Winehouse.
August 9th, 2019
- The Millennials – a six-man Rock band based in Vancouver.
- Charlie PS – a Rock and Blues soloist who grabs inspiration from the 70s and 80s.
August 16th, 2019
- The Unified – a Funk-Rock group based out of Vancouver.
- Rain City – a female-led, Vancouver Funk-Rock band.
August 23rd, 2019
- The Millennials – a six-man Rock band based in Vancouver.
- South Van Big Band – a 17-piece Jazz band.
August 30th, 2019
- R&B Conspiracy – a Blues band that mixes multiple styles.
- Rachel Schroeder – a singer who is passionate about vocals and sound.
Market Concerts in September
September 6th, 2019
- Whitey – a Pop band based out of Vancouver.
- Rumour Mill – an Indie duo based out of Vancouver.
September 13th, 2019
- Mostly Marley – a classic Reggae band.
- Eleven Twelves – a Rock band based out of Vancouver.
September 20th, 2019
- The Millennials – a six-man Rock band based in Vancouver.
- Scott Russell
September 27th, 2019
- The Millennials – a six-man Rock band based in Vancouver.
- The Heels
- Chelsea Charlton
Night Market Tips and Advice
Below is a list of suggestions to help you make the most out of your Shipyards Night Market experience.
TIP #1: If you can, try to take public transit, especially if coming from downtown Vancouver. The market is just a 5-minute walk to the Lonsdale Quay SeaBus terminal, which is just a 15-minute boat ride from Vancouver’s Waterfront Station. Lonsdale Quay is also home to North Vancouver’s main bus terminal with connections to all parts of the North Shore.
TIP #2: There is a fair bit of parking in the area, but if it’s a sunny day finding a spot can be challenging.
TIP #3: If you are driving, try to get there early, before all the free parking in the area gets filled up. Also, if you arrive after 6 pm, there is free parking in the ICBC parkade adjacent to the Lonsdale Quay Public Market by the corner of Carrie Cates Court and Rogers Avenue.
TIP #4: If you want to enjoy the beer garden, get there early before the line-up gets crazy. On a warm sunny day, the market is a popular place to be.
TIP #5: If you can, head to the Shipyards Night Market early. It’s pretty quiet at the start, but there is a lot to see in the Lower Lonsdale neighbourhood. Make a full evening out of your visit and explore the area. Check out the Lonsdale Quay Public Market (before its 7 pm closing time), enjoy dinner at one of the many local restaurants and go for a walk along the Pier.
Other Information
For more information on the Shipyards Night Market, check out northshoregreenmarket.com.
To learn more about the area see our article about North Vancouver’s Shipyards.
If you like outdoor concerts and happen to be around Shipbuilders’ Square in the summer on a Saturday, then also check out the Shipyards Summer Sessions Concerts which take place at the same venue on Saturday evenings in July and August from 7 to 10 pm.
Click Free Summer Concerts for a list of other free music venues in July and August throughout the Lower Mainland.
For a list of regular farmers markets in Metro Vancouver, check out Lower Mainland Farmers Markets.
Also, check out Lower Mainland Night Markets for other summer markets on weekends in the evenings.
