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
In 2019 the Shipyards Night Market runs on Fridays between 5 and 10 pm from May 3rd to September 27th.
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.
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 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 Shipyard 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.
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.
For a sample of what to expect, below is the list of bands scheduled to perform in the summer of 2018. (Note: Details are subject to change.)
Market Concerts in June
June 1, 2018
- Dino Di Nicolo – the Vancouver-based singer, songwriter and bass guitar player performs from 5:00 until 7:00 pm.
- 5 Star Motel – the Trailer-Park-style Rock group plays from 7:00 until 10:00 pm. Band members include Ryan Matches on bass and vocals, Ian Powell on percussion and Mike Norris, Paul Reichelt and Craig Wilson all on guitar and vocals.
June 8, 2018
- GD/BC – a Folk and Rock Grateful Dead tribute band.
June 15, 2018
- Buddy and the Scarecrow – the evening’s opening band plays a mix of R&B, Rock, Reggae, Soul and contemporary favourites from 5:00 until 7:00 pm.
- Platform Soul – the “funkytown-groovilicious” band plays 1970’s tunes from 7:00 until 10:00 pm.
June 22, 2018
- Scott Riddell – the 5-member North Vancouver-based Rock band is scheduled to perform from 5:00 until 8:00 pm.
- TBA – the evening’s headliner band plays from 8:00 until 10:00 pm.
June 29, 2018
- Free Empire – the opening band for the night performs from 5:00 until 7:00 pm.
- Mostly Marley – the evening’s headliner band plays Reggae tunes from 7:00 until 10:00 pm.
Market Concerts in July
July 6, 2018
- Slamming Jack – the 5-man group is the evening’s headliner band.
July 13, 2018
- Provincial Champion – the Alternative Rock band plays from 5:00 until 7:00 pm.
- Trilojay – Jay Leonard Juatco, Jay Esplana and Jason Nickel entertain from 7:00 until 10:00 pm.
- Note: Today is one of the Shipyard Night Market’s four Expanded Artists Nights special event evenings. Don’t forget to check out all the extra art and artisan stalls in the plaza by the Polygon Gallery!
July 20, 2018
- Dino – the Vancouver-based guitar player performs from 5:00 until 7:00 pm.
- The Heels – the North Vancouver-based Country music trio play from 7:00 until 10:00 pm.
July 27, 2018
- Trilojay – Jay Leonard Juatco, Jay Esplana and Jason Nickel are scheduled to perform from 5:00 until 7:00 pm.
- Red Eye Empire – the Reggae, Rock, Ska and Dub band plays from 7:00 until 10:00 pm.
- Note: Today is one of the Shipyard Night Market’s four Expanded Artists Nights special event evenings. Don’t forget to check out all the extra art and artisan stalls in the plaza by the Polygon Gallery!
Market Concerts in August
August 3, 2018
- TBA – the opening band for the night performs from 5:00 until 7:00 pm.
- Funkdelicious – the evening’s headliner band plays from 7:00 until 10:00 pm.
August 10, 2018
- TBA – the opening band for the night performs from 5:00 until 7:00 pm.
- Wichita Trip – the 5-person Country, Rock and Soul band plays from 7:00 until 10:00 pm.
- Note: Today is one of the Shipyard Night Market’s four Expanded Artists Nights special event evenings. Don’t forget to check out all the extra art and artisan stalls in the plaza by the Polygon Gallery!
August 17, 2018
- Gonch Messiah – the evening’s headliner Funk band.
August 24, 2018
- Werewolves – the evening’s headliner cover band.
- Note: Today is one of the Shipyard Night Market’s four Expanded Artists Nights special event evenings. Don’t forget to check out all the extra art and artisan stalls in the plaza by the Polygon Gallery!
August 31, 2018
- R & B Conspiracy – a popular Vancouver-based R&B, Blues and Soul band.
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.
There is a fair bit of parking in the area, but if it’s a sunny day finding a spot can be challenging.
TIP #2: 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 #3: 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 #4: 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.
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.
