The Shipyards Night Market takes place on Fridays at Shipbuilders’ Square at the bottom of Lonsdale Avenue in North Vancouver from May until September.
Visit shipyardsnightmarket.com for the event’s official website.
This article contains the following information about the Shipyards Night Market:
What’s at the Night Market? | Entertainment Schedule | Where is the Night Market? | Tips & Advice | Other Information
Friday Night Market at Shipbuilders’ Square
The Shipyards Night Market in North Vancouver celebrates its 12th anniversary this year. The event opens on Friday, May 16th and runs until Friday, September 12th.
The market typically features live music every evening, food vendors offering a variety of tasty nibbles, 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 on busy days. It’s an impressive event and people come from all over the Lower Mainland to see it.
Visit the Shipyards Night Market website for full details.
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.
At the Night Market in Shipbuilders’ Square you’ll find handmade jewellery, artisan baked goods, local art, homemade jams and jellies, handcrafted chocolates and a small selection of organic produce. You’ll also find lots of food trucks. The North Shore event attracts a lot of people. It’s a great venue for people watching, and a wonderful place to enjoy the live outdoor music.
Click shipyardsnightmarket.com for the market’s official website.
Entertainment Schedule
Last year’s entertainment schedule is below. Exact details, however, were subject to change. The entertainment lineup in 2025 will be comparable.
- May 10th, 2024 – Justine Lynn, Earla Music Project, Randy Swallow Trio & DJ Mike Madness
- May 17th, 2024 – Mitch Drew & Scott Riddell Band
- May 24th, 2024 – Tom Welsh & Bitterly Divine
- May 31st, 2024 – Pieter Jordaan & Common Ground
- June 7th, 2024 – The Mosquito Trio & Matty Miller and The Barge Boys
- June 14th, 2024 – Luc Lemans & Iconix Band
- June 21st, 2024 – Darling Skies, Susana Williams Trio & HB Wild
- June 28th, 2024 – Justin Lynn Duo & R&B Conspiracy
- July 5th, 2024 – Sarah Eské and Annika & The Earthlings
- July 12th, 2024 – Melissa Endean & Kickstart
- July 19th, 2024 – Tim Hewitt and Wyper & Parker Band
- July 26th, 2024 – Adrienne Robles Music & Dave Hartney
- August 2nd, 2024 – NSPA Drag Show & Susana Williams Band
- August 9th, 2024 – Shipyards Got Talent Competition & Iron Wave
- August 16th, 2024 – Chantal Marie & Wicked Fun Band
- August 23rd, 2024 – Dwayne & Siri and Venus & Mars
- August 30th, 2024 – Black Pontiac & HB Wild
- September 6th, 2024 – Sons Of Stanley & the Brice Tabish Band
- September 13th, 2024 – Bitterly Divine and Venus & Mars
Visit the Shipyards Night Market website for the up-to-date schedule.
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. Overlooking the market is the Pinnacle Hotel, which is a lovely place to stay.
Shipbuilders’ Square is at 138 Victory Ship Way. It’s 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.
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 Tips & Advice
Below is a list of suggestions to help you make the most 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 five-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 it can be a challenge finding a spot if it’s a sunny day.
TIP #3: If you are driving, try to get there early, before all the free parking in the area is taken. There is paid 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 lineup 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 7:00 pm closing time), enjoy dinner at one of the many local restaurants and go for a walk along the Pier.
TIP #6: Another great North Shore market is the Ambleside Artisan Farmers Market. It takes place in West Vancouver on Sundays between May and October.
Other Information
Visit the Shipyards Night Market website for more information about the market.
See our article about North Vancouver’s Shipyards to learn more about the area.
Click Free Summer Concerts for a list of other free music venues in July and August throughout the Lower Mainland.
Check out Lower Mainland Farmers Markets for a list of regular farmers markets in Metro Vancouver.
Also, check out Lower Mainland Night Markets for other summer markets on weekends in the evenings.