What to do this Weekend in Vancouver

There is so much happening on the weekend of August 7-9, including Western Canada’s largest music festival, a major airshow, a maritime festival and more. In fact, there are over 20 great special events to take in this weekend, many of which are FREE!

August 7-9 Highlights (2015)

The following five major events are taking place on the weekend of August 7 to 9, 2015:

• Squamish Valley Music Festival – Western Canada’s largest outdoor music festival takes place in Squamish all three days, with Mumford & Sons, Drake and Sam Smith as the main headliner bands.
• Abbotsford International Airshow – one of the largest air shows in Canada takes place all three days of the weekend, with participation by a F-22 Raptor, CF-18 Hornet, the Canadian Forces Snowbirds and more.
• Burnaby Blues + Roots Festival – a great music festival taking place from 1 to 10 pm at Deer Lake Park in Burnaby on Saturday, August 8. Single tickets are $60.
• Richmond Maritime Festival – a maritime festival at Britannia Shipyard in Steveston Village on the Saturday and Sunday. (FREE)
• Harmony Arts Festival – an impressive arts festival taking place all day and evening with art displays, live music and outdoor evening movies in West Vancouver. (FREE)

Weekend Calendar of Events and Activities

The following is a list of the top special events and activities going on in the Lower Mainland this weekend each day. For more ideas on what to do and where to go, check out Vancouver’s Best Places’ list of summer activities, including the region’s best beaches, parks and places in nature.

Friday, August 7, 2015

• Harmony Arts Festival – an impressive arts festival taking place all day and evening with art displays, outdoor live music and the film Dirty Dancing showing outdoors at John Lawson Park in West Vancouver at 9 pm. (FREE)
• Music at the Cannery – outdoor live music with the group Rewind featuring favourites from the 50s and 60s at 6:30 pm outside the Gulf of Georgia Cannery in Steveston Village. Admission is by donation.
• Squamish Valley Music Festival – day one of Western Canada’s largest outdoor music festival, with  Sam Smith as the headliner band for Friday evening.
• 2015 Family Movies in the Plaza presents Big Hero 6 showing outside the library in North Vancouver at 120 West 14th Street. (FREE)
• Shipyard Night Market – a free summer night market in North Vancouver’s Lower Lonsdale neighborhood that features great live music in the evening. (FREE)
• Richmond’s two Night Markets offer free entertainment and lots to see for either free or just $2.75.
• North Vancouver Summer Concert Series – free outdoor concerts from 7 to 9 pm in Lynn Valley (featuring Classic Motown) and Deep Cove (Latin Dance). (FREE)
• Theatre Under the Stars – featuring the sensational musical Hairspray in Stanley Park.
• Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival – 7:30 performances of Comedy of Errors and Shakespeare’s Rebel at Vanier Park.

Saturday, August 8, 2015

• Richmond Maritime Festival – a maritime festival at Britannia Shipyard in Steveston Village from 9 am to 6 pm. (FREE)
• Harmony Arts Festival takes place all afternoon and evening in West Vancouver. The evening’s feature outdoor movie is The Sandlot at John Lawson Park starting at 9 pm. (FREE)
• Concerts at the Pier – White Rock’s free concert series featuring BC Indie-style music from 7 to 10 pm near the museum at 14970 Marine Drive. (FREE)
• Cates Park Summer Concerts – live music all afternoon starting at 2 pm at Cates Park at 4131 Dollarton Highway in North Vancouver. (FREE)
• Squamish Valley Music Festival – day two of this amazing Squamish music festival, with Drake as the evening’s main headliner band.
• Richmond has two Night Markets, the smaller of which is free and the larger one with a cost of only $2.75.
• Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival – afternoon and evening performances of King Lear and Love’s Labour’s Lost at Vanier Park.
• Theatre Under the Stars – featuring the sensational musical Oliver in Stanley Park.
• Plaza of Nations Concert and Food Truck Festival – one of a series of free weekly outdoor summer concerts at the Plaza of Nations at False Creek in Yaletown. (FREE). While you’re there, go for a stroll or cycle along the False Creek Seawall.
• Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl shows at Garry Point at 12015 7th Avenue in Richmond. (FREE)

Harmony Arts Festival Community Foundation Stage at John Lawson Park

Sunday, August 9, 2015

• Harmony Arts Festival celebrates its last day, with a Neil Diamond tribute concert at 7:30 pm and a Tina Turner impersonator at 8:45 pm. (FREE)
• Richmond Maritime Festival – day two of the maritime festival at Britannia Shipyard in Steveston Village. (FREE)
• Squamish Valley Music Festival – the last day of this amazing music event, with  Mumford & Sons as the final evening’s main headliner band.
• Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival – afternoon and evening performances of Comedy of Errors and Shakespeare’s Rebel at Vanier Park.
• Theatre Under the Stars – featuring the sensational musical Hairspray in Stanley Park.
• Richmond’s two Night Markets are either free or almost free (unless you want to buy something).

For more information on events this month, check out our August Calendar.