The Shipyards Night Market takes place on Fridays at Shipbuilders’ Square at the bottom of Lonsdale Avenue in North Vancouver from May until September.
The Shipyards Night Market in North Vancouver runs from May 12th to September 15th in 2023.
Night Market at Shipbuilders’ Square
The Shipyards Night Market runs between 3:00 and 10:00 pm on Fridays from May 12th until September 15th in 2023. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the event.
The market features a live music concert every evening, food vendors serving a wide variety of tasty foods, a beer garden with locally crafted brews and dozens of artisan stalls.
This year, at the same time as the Shipyards Night Market, there is an additional artisan market run by Made in the 604 Markets on the same days in July and August. It takes place indoors at the Pipe Shop which is right in the centre of the Shipyards. Made in the 604 Markets is a great company that also hosts markets at Heritage Hall in Vancouver sometimes.
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 normally find handmade jewellery, artisan baked goods, local art, homemade jams and jellies, handcrafted chocolates 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 7:00 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 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 6:00 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 7:00 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 about the market, visit the Shipyards Night Market website.
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 7:00 to 10:00 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.
