35 things to do in Vancouver this week: August 28 to September 1

The last week of August is here so don’t let it slip away! Fill your time with our list of 35 things to do from Monday, August 28 to Friday, September 1. Creekside Summer Fest, Guns N’ Roses, PNE, and more.

Monday, August 28

Creekside Summer Fest 

• What: Featuring live entertainment, Portobello West Artisan Market, Dog Taxi Daycare & Boarding’s furry outdoor living room, a Family Bike Zone including Free Bicycle Valet, interactive art stations, food trucks, and an outdoor screening of The Secret Life of Pets.
• When: August 28
• Time: 5 to 11 pm
• Where: Olympic Village Square – 1650 Manitoba Street, Vancouver
• Admission: Free

Zumba at Canada Place

• What: Zumba at Canada Place is a fun, free event hosted on the beautiful North Point of Canada Place. Instructors from Zumba Vancouver will teach classes and provide participants the opportunity to practice Zumba in one of Vancouver’s most stunning locations. No dance experience or partner is needed for this fun fitness class.
• When: August 28
• Time: 5:30 to 6:30 pm
• Where: North Point, Canada Place
• Cost: Free

Stacked Comedy

• What: Stacked Comedy is a weekly Monday night Stand Up Comedy showcase in the heart of Kitsilano. It features a rotating cast of top Vancouver comedians as well touring headliners from across the US and Canada.
  
• When: Every Monday
• Time: 9 pm
• Where: Yagger’s Kitsilano – 2884 West Broadway, Vancouver
• Tickets: $5

OH! Finale

• What: OH! is an interactive installation that lets you affect Vancouver’s night skyline with your very own hands. As you move around our small model of Science World, you can alter the lights on the iconic building in real time. OH! will be set up on the sea wall in Olympic Village for anyone to come try out.
• When: August 28
• Time: 9 – 11 pm
• Where: 1 Athlete’s Way, Olympic Village
• Price: Free

An Evening with Louise Penny

• What: Join No. 1 New York Times bestselling author Louise Penny in conversation, as she breaks conventions of the crime novel to explore what Gandhi called ‘the court of conscience.’ Hear about her latest instalment in her award-winning Gamache Series, her fascinating career and why she left her CBC post to write her first novel.
• When: August 28
• Time: 7:30 pm
• Where: St. Andrew’s Wesley United Church – 1022 Nelson St, Vancouver
• Tickets: Online, $28. Under 30s pay $17

Quizplace Trivia – Back to School Special

• What: Test your brain power every Monday night with free Quizplace trivia at Displace Hashery. Each week features new surprises, a-ha moments, and special draws from the famous Bag of Crap. Call up your friends to take on the Back to School bonus questions.
• When: Every Monday
• Time: 9 pm in the Summer, 8 pm in the Fall and Winter
• Where: Displace Hashery – 3293 West 4th Ave Vancouver,
• Price: Free

Blues and BBQ

• What: Head to the Rusty Rail mountaintop patio on Grouse Mountain for the last Blues & BBQ night of the summer. Take in the smoky barbeque and the groove of Blues artists Harris & Debray while enjoying the spectacular sunset views and a chill vibe.
• When: August 28
• Time: 4 to 7 pm
• Where: Rusty Rail BBQ and Grill at Grouse Mountain, 6400 Nancy Greene Way, North Vancouver
• Price: Event is complimentary with a Grouse Mountain membership or admission ticket.

Tuesday, August 29

Free PNE Admission Day

• What: Since 1910, millions of guests have enjoyed shows, exhibits, sporting events, amusement rides, concerts, cultural activities and, of course, the annual summer Fair at the PNE. Get in free this morning from 11 am to 1 pm.
• When: August 29
• Time: Gates open at 11 am, and free admission runs until 1 pm
• Where: The Fair at the PNE – 2901 East Hastings Street, Vancouver
• Admission: Free

5 Startups Tell All – Innovation and Disruption for Good

• What: Hosted by RED Academy at the school’s West Broadway location, the event is set to showcase the five BC-based finalists of digital branding agency Skyrocket’s annual Brand Prize contest. Each startup will discuss how they turned their ideas into reality while remaining true to their original mission, and the process of bringing their startups to the market. You’ll also get to enjoy beer provided by Main Street Brewery while munching on a selection of appies after the panel discussion.
• When: August 29
• Time: 6 to 8:30 pm
• Where: RED Academy Vancouver – 1490 West Broadway, #200
• Price: $5 – Tickets available via Eventbrite

Orpheum Tours

• What: Drop-in for a self-guided tour and learn about the Orpheum’s history and architecture, famous performers, and even some spooky stories. Afterwards, stick around for a bonus guided tour led by City of Vancouver architect, John N. Ross.
• When: August 29
• Time: 2 pm
• Where: Orpheum Theatre – 884 Granville Street, Vancouver
• Tickets: Online, $12. Children 5 and under $2 (max 3 per order)

End of Summer Carnival

• What: Head to Coquitlam Public Library – City Centre Branch for carnival-style games. Kids and adults of all ages are welcome to try and win small prizes. Drop in with no registration required.
• When: August 29
• Time: 1:30 to 3:30 pm
• Where: Coquitlam Public Library City Centre Branch, Rooms 136 and 137 – 1169 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam
• Cost: Free

The Railway Stage and Beer Café presents DRAG CLUB! 

• What: An interactive battle themed drag show. Each month the famous Karmella Barr and Dust, will specially select only the best drag performers in the city to battle it out for the title of Drag Club Winner of the month.
• When: The last Tuesday of every month
• Time: 10 pm
• Where: Railway Stage and Beer Cafe – 579 Dunsmuir Street, Vancouver
• Tickets: $5, 19+

Shut The City Down 2017

• What: Vancouver’s DJ community members are coming together to host one of the biggest parties of the year – Shut The City Down. You’ll find DJs, MCs, comedians, and artists, all in one place to celebrate Vancouver’s music culture and creativity. Expect to hear amazing EDM, hip hop, trap, R&B, bachata, merengue, dancehall, afrobeats, and much more. There will also be live performances courtesy of young talented Vancouverites, too.
• When: August 29
• Time: 8 pm
• Where: Imperial – 319 Main Street, Vancouver
• Tickets: $25, available via TicketWeb

Young Women in Business Vancouver Open House

• What: YWiB Vancouver is hosting an open house event on Tuesday, August 29 at Mobify. You’ll have a chance to meet our team, members, mentors, and speakers, and discover how you can become involved in the YWiB community.
• When: August 29
• Time: 6 to 9 pm
• Where: Mobify – #420-725 Granville Street, Vancouver
• Tickets: Online, Free

Wednesday, August 30

Starlight Theatre at Lansdowne Centre – Grease

• What: Take a drive and cuddle up, or bring a blanket and lawn chair and settle in for a screening of Grease. Parking is on a first-come first-served basis (first 200 vehicles), with movie audio will be broadcast over FM radio. And keep in mind that this is a family-friendly event, so smoking and alcohol are strictly prohibited.
• When: August 30
• Time: Dusk
• Where: Lansdowne Centre, west parking lot – 5300 No. 3 Road, Richmond
• Admission: Free

Ian Hendrickson-Smith

• What: New York City based saxophonist Ian Hendrickson-Smith is mostly noted for his remarkable tone, soulful approach and blues driven melodies. Currently Hendrickson-Smith is a member of The Roots and can be seen nightly on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. With Cory Weeds on tenor saxophone, Miles Black on piano, Jodi Proznick on bass, and Jesse Cahill on drums.
• When: August 30
• Time: 8 pm
• Where: Frankie’s Jazz Club – 755 Beatty Street, Vancouver
• Reservations: Online

Summer West Fest

• What: West Richmond’s biggest event of the year with old-style games, food and entertainment for the whole family. Enjoy local entertainment, potato sack races, pie eating contests, a corn roast, a BBQ concession and bouncy castles. A highlight for this year will be the unveiling of the “Celebrate the Past with the Future” Community Art Project. Then enjoy the feature film Sing projected onto a giant screen in the field.
• When: August 30
• Time: 5:30 to 10:30 pm
• Where: West Richmond Community Centre – 9180 No. 1 Rd, Richmond
• Admission: Free

Hands-On Scientist Series: Tenacious Turtles with Andrea Gielens

• What: ​​​Delve into the secret lives of park wildlife as local scientists share presentations and hands-on research techniques.
  
• When: August 30
• Time: 6 to 8 pm
• Where: Kanaka Creek Regional Park
• Registration: Online, $8 per adult, $4.25 per child/youth/adult 65+

OVERFLOW #002: Mega Ran/Sammus, Together We Are Robots, Freaky DNA, UNICODE

• What: Try something new at the next instalment of this innovative concert series featuring musicians who make original music using obsolete videogame/computer sound hardware. In attendance will be Mega Ran (from Phoenix, Arizona), Sammus (from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) and Together We Are Robots (Calgary, Alberta) as well as local musicians Freaky DNA and UNICODE.
• When: August 30
• Time: 7:30 to 11:30 pm
• Where: Fox Cabaret – 2321 Main Street, Vancouver
• Tickets: Online, $15 or $20 at the door.

Sunset Cinema: Women In Film and TV + Crazy 8s

• What: Women In Film and TV + Crazy8s present a collection of short films from VIWIFF archives. Preshow activities include The Carnival Band and Argentine Tango Community of Vancouver.
• When: August 30
• Time: Pre-show at 7 pm, Film at 9 pm
• Where: Queen Elizabeth Plaza –  650 Hamilton Street, Vancouver
• Admission: Free

City Centre’s Concerts in the Park Series

• What: Enjoy a free night of fun activities and entertainment by local artists at Richmond’s Garden City Park.
• When: August 30
• Time: 6:30 to 8 pm
• Where: Garden City Community Park – 6620 Garden City Road, Richmond
• Cost: Free

Thursday, August 31

After Hours at Vancouver Aquarium

• What: Plan to end your summer on a high note at Vancouver Aquarium’s long-awaited After Hours soirée. The Aquarium is gearing up to host its biggest bash of the summer and it’s strictly adults-only, all night. This means you can take a stroll through the Aquarium’s galleries, come nose to snout with majestic sea lions at the new Steller’s Bay exhibit, or see a puppet show for adults, all with a drink in your hand. You can indulge in summer barbecue fare in the outdoor courtyard and pair your food with a cool beer, wine, or the special cocktail of the night – ‘Sea Lion-aid’.
• When: August 31
• Time: 6:30 to 10 pm
  Where: 845 Avison Way, Stanley Park
  Price: $23 for members and $31 for non-members – Tickets available online

Wacky Olympics and Youth BBQ

• What: Get your little ones going for gold at these fun-filled and energetic event stations. This event is for preschoolers (ages 5 and under), and parent participation is required. Afterwards, youth (ages 13 to 18) are invited to celebrate the end of summer at a free BBQ.
• When: August 31
• Time: 3:30 to 7 pm
• Where: Thompson Community Centre – 5151 Granville Ave, Richmond
• Admission: Free

Tuesdays with Morrie – Gateway Theatre

Image: Chung Ying Theatre Company

• What: Tuesdays with Morrie is one half of two plays from Hong Kong that are part of Gateway Theatre’s Pacific Festival. This production is the Cantonese translation of the Off Broadway play, specifically tailored to resonate with Chinese audiences. The relationship between a career-driven journalist and his declining former college professor is at the forefront of the show. The play will be performed in Cantonese with Chinese and English subtitles.
• When: August 31 to September 2
• Where: Gateway Theatre – 6500 Gilbert Road, Richmond
• Tickets: At Gateway Theatre; $62

Five For Fighting with String Quartet

• What: Five for Fighting burst on the scene some 15 years ago with his Grammy Award-nominated hit “Superman (It’s Not Easy),” and has been a mainstay on mainstream radio ever since. In his career, Ondrasik has sold over 2.5 million albums including 2004’s Battle for Everything, which spawned the 2X platinum 100 Years. He has also written tunes for everyone from Josh Groban to The Backstreet Boys.
• When: August 31
• Time: Doors 7 pm / Show 8 pm
• Where: Rio Theatre – 1660 East Broadway, Vancouver
• Tickets: On Ticketmaster, $40

Almost a Stepmom and Fifty Shades of Dave

Almost a Stepmom and Fifty Shades of Dave / Facebook

• What: A double-bill preview of Vancouver Fringe shows Almost a Stepmom and Fifty Shades of Dave. The former is a darkly comic tale about the ups and downs of becoming a stepmother. The latter is a tastefully risqué parody of The Vinyl Cafe with three original stories that thrust Stuart McLean’s classic Canadian couple, Dave and Morley, into situations you’ve never heard on the CBC.
• When: August 31
• Time: 7 pm
• Where: Havana Restaurant – 1212 Commercial Drive, Vancouver
• Tickets: Tickets just $10 at the door, free for Fringe Volunteers.

Waterfront Cinema at Canada Place – The Sound of Music

• What: A large inflatable screen will pop up at Canada Place, creating the perfect environment to take in The Sound of Music under the stars with the North Shore mountains in the background. To give your night two thumbs up, do yourself a favour and bring a lawn chair (or you’ll be sitting on the hard ground) and blankets (it gets cold). And keep in mind that this is a family-friend event – smoking or alcohol is not permitted.
• When: August 31
• Start: Dusk
• Where: North Point of Canada Place
• Admission: Free

AIBC Architectural Walking Tours

• What: Enjoy stunning architectural perspectives of three Victoria and six Vancouver neighbourhoods at the Architectural Institute of British Columbia (AIBC). Experience Vancouver sites including a vibrant Chinatown, historical Gastown, trendy Yaletown, contemporary Downtown, lively West End and diverse Strathcona.
• When: Until August 31
• Time: Thursday to Monday, 10 am to 1 pm
• Where: Inside the AIBC – 100-440 Cambie Street, Vancouver
• Tickets: Online, $10

Friday, September 1

Le Burger Week Vancouver

• What: Le Burger Week invites the public to head into participating restaurants (or order via Skip The Dishes, if the establishment offers it) and vote online for their favourite burger. Each restaurant will be offering a special “burger price” for participants to get in on so they can try them all. This year there are nine venues taking part in Le Burger Week Vancouver: Bellaggio Cafe, Mamie Taylor’s, ShuRaku Sake Bar + Bistro, The Pie Hole, East Side Craft House, Charqui, Relish Gourmet Burgers, Vera’s On The Drive, and Fable Diner.
• When: September 1 to 7
• Where: Multiple venues in Vancouver

Endless Summer at Republic

• What: Republic will be transformed into the ultimate summer setting with flowers, a photo booth, and all the surf season decorations that you could imagine. Dress in your best summer style attire and dance to hip-hop and house music as local DJs spin tracks each night. You can get VIP table service if you really want to party VIP style, too. But either way, be sure to try the Endless Summer Fishbowl created by Tommy Grier. At $12.50, it’s got enough booze to last you the rest of the summer.
• When: September 1 to 4
• Where: Republic – 958 Granville Street, Vancouver
• Cover: Free before 11 with guest list – Register online

Green Room Theatre Presents: Welcome to Smalltown

• What: How do we fit in? Where do we find love? What do we do when an ancient deity gets trapped inside the body of a sarcastic 13 year-old boy? Join the curious citizens of Smalltown as they seek to answer these very questions. Written by and starring eight Surrey youth, Welcome to Smalltown is an all-ages dramatic comedy that offers the audience a rare glimpse into the everyday exploits of their peculiar rural community.
• When: September 1 to 3
• Where: Coast Capital Playhouse – 1532 Johnston Road, White Rock
• Tickets: Online, $12-$17. 50 per cent of the proceeds will be donated to Canuck Place Children’s Hospice.

Rhythm City Mess Around 2017

• What: The swing dance festival features workshops, the spectacular cabaret, live music, seminars, and more.
• When: September 1 to 5
• Where: Russian Hall – 600 Campbell Avenue, Vancouver
• Tickets: Online

Guns N’ Roses

• What: They may be a little early for November Rain but Don’t Cry, we can still welcome Guns’n’Roses to the jungle Pacific Northwest when they stop by our very own Paradise City this Friday. Yes, Axl, Slash, and co. will take the Nighttrain and Get in the Ring when they visit BC Place as part of their Not in this Lifetime Tour.
• When: September 1
• Time: Doors 6:30 pm / Show 7:30 pm
• Where: BC Place – 777 Pacific Boulevard, Vancouver
• Tickets: From $35 via Live Nation

North Vancouver’s Shipyards Night Market

• What: Gathering some of Vancouver’s best food vendors, this free event will feature a full farmers and artisan marketplace along with local food trucks and live entertainment weekly. Shipyard Plaza in North Vancouver will be transformed into a vibrant night market every Friday night.
• When: Every Friday to September 29
• Time: 5 to 10 pm
• Where: Shipbuilders’ Square – 138 Victory Ship Way, North Vancouver
• Admission: Free

Richmond World Festival

• What: Featuring performances by over 75 artists on nine stages, including headliners Tokyo Police Club, Dragonette, and Verbal Jint. There will also be a digital carnival, an artisan marketplace, and over 50 food trucks to enjoy.
• When: September 1 to 2
• Time: 4 to 11 pm (Friday) and 11 am to 11 pm (Saturday)
• Where: Minoru Park, Richmond
• Admission: Free