17 best Vancouver food events to check out in October

One-time-only events

Seafood Extravaganza with Mark Singson at Bao Bei

Join chef Mark Singson for a special, one-night only dinner at Bao Bei on October 31. This “Seafood Extravaganza” will highlight Singson’s unqiue approach to the Pacific Northwest’s “ocean bounty” as well as some (very) late summer produce. Reservations must be made in advance and will include a welcome cocktail and goody bag from Leavenly Goods.

When: Monday, October 31 at various times
Where: Bao Bei Chinese Brasserie, 163 Keefer Street, Vancouver
Reservations: $125 per person

Sawubona Food Fest

Taking place at the Moberly Arts Centre and hosted by the African Friendship Society, this one-day event is a chance to try authentic food from West, Central, East, and Southern Africa. This food event is taking place on the second day of the Africa with the Masters Festival, which will feature several cultural events and displays.

When: Saturday, October 1 from noon to 3 pm
Where: Moberly Arts and Cultural Centre — 7646 Prince Albert Street, Vancouver
Tickets: Online

Joy of Feeding

This outdoor food festival and fundraiser is taking place at the UBC Farm and will highlight dishes from 12 local chefs from some of Vancouver’s best restaurants. The chefs, which include two chef teams, will be preparing their favourite “family recipes” featuring produce right from the UBC Farm. Proceeds will be going to support the food literacy and sustainability programs at the Centre for Sustainable Food Systems at UBC Farm and Chefs’ Table Society’s future Culinary Centre.

When: Sunday, October 2 from noon to 3 pm
Where: UBC Farm — 3461 Ross Drive, Vancouver
Tickets: From $90 ($45 for UBC students)

Bowen Apple Harvest Festival

 

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Jump on a quick ferry ride over to Bowen Island, where the first inaugural Apple Harvest Festival, hosted by Bowen Cider House, will be taking place. Saturday, October 1 will mark the cidery’s official opening party, with guided orchard tours, cider pressing, an apple pie contest, and more, while Sunday, October 2 will also include a traditional Danish pancake breakfast.

Harvest Haus Oktoberfest

Vancouver’s take on the traditional German beer festival comes in the form of Harvest Haus, a fun-filled weekend that takes place on September 30 and October 1. Harvest Haus, which takes place at the PNE Forum, combines modern cuisine with some traditional and “authentic European harvest traditions,” according to the event’s website.

There will be bratwurst, lederhosen, and lots and lots of beer.

You can expect to dine on platters of freshly-made pretzels with an accompaniment of grainy mustard and sauerkraut as well as roast chicken, and fine chocolate for dessert.

When: Friday, September 30 from 6 to 11:30; Saturday, October 1 from 11:30 am to 4:30 pm and 6 to 11:30 pm
Where: PNE Forum — 2901 Hastings Street E, Vancouver
Tickets: Available online

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The Hoppy Horror Beer Show

Not only is this Vancouver festival taking place just before All Hallow’s Eve – on Friday, October 21 to be exact – but it’s also going to be highlighting a huge range of local breweries, meaderies, and cideries.

Expect to see representation from Camp Beer Co., Field House Brewing Co., Perennial Artisan Ales, Humblebee Meadery, and more, with selections of fresh hop beers, barrel-aged beers, and candy-inspired beers. There will also be Hollywood Monster Burlesque performed by Go Go Dancers and The Geekenders, all to the soundtrack of “groovy ’60s surf rock.”

When: Friday, October 21 from 7 to 10:30 pm
Where: Croatian Cultural Centre — 3250 Commercial Drive, Vancouver
Tickets: From $93.68

Cafe Olli at Ubuntu Canteen

 

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This pop-up dinner event will see Daniel Green, the co-owner of Portland’s Cafe Olli, serving up a curated menu at Ubuntu Canteen. Dishes include a dry-aged kanpachi with dachi gelee, yuzu koshu, and trout roe, as well as charcoal-grilled pork, seasonal soft serve, and more.

When: Saturday, October 8 from 6 to 10 pm
Where: Ubuntu Canteen — 4194 Fraser Street, Vancouver
Tickets: $100 per person

2022 UBC Apple Festival

If you’re a fan of the Fuji, gaga over Royal Gala, or lover of the Pink Lady, we have the perfect fall event you need to put into your calendar. Entering its 31st year, the huge apple celebration gives attendees a chance to learn about the diversity of apples as well as taste a number of rare and peculiar varieties. There will also be live entertainment, an apple and apple tree sale, and a food fair onsite.

When: October 15 and 16, from 11 am to 4 pm
Where: UBC Botanical Garden — 6804 SW Marine Drive, Vancouver
Tickets: $7 for early bird admission, purchase online. Early bird pricing is in effect until September 21, and children who are seven years and under can enter for free with a paying adult.

Brewhalla Beer and Music Festival – North Vancouver

 

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Continuing its series of beer and music festivals through the fall, Brewhalla is bringing the brews to North Van this month. Guests will get to try out beer from local breweries including Electric Bicycle, East Van Brewing Company, Container Brewing, and more, plus performances by local talent and some great food, too.

When: Friday, October 7 from 5 to 10 pm
Where: North Vancouver Shipyards — 125 Victory Ship Way, North Vancouver
Tickets: From $60

Brewhalla Beer and Music Festival – Cloverdale

On October 29, Brewhalla will be going down at Cloverdale’s The Agriplex fairgrounds, which will make it the fourth event this year. Even though the weather will be cooler and this event will be indoors, the festival – which happens to take place the weekend before Halloween – is bound to be a boozy good time.

Tickets include admission to the festival, a 4 oz tasting glass, three drink tokens and access to more than 65 craft beers, ciders, wines, seltzers and meads.

When: Saturday, October 29 from noon to 6 pm
Where: The Agriplex — 17798 62 Avenue, Surrey
Tickets: From $54.61

The Black Lagoon pop-up at The Butcher and Bullock

Scary pop-up bar The Black Lagoon will be haunting nine cities across North America this October, and Vancouver is one of three Canadian cities getting terrorized. Inspired by goth-metal and cult horror, industry veterans Erin Hayes and Kelsey Ramage took over a space in Toronto in 2021 for this concept and the “creepy-as-hell experience” really resonated with patrons.

The occult and bizarre antics don’t stop there though, we’re told the beverage program at the pop-up will feature blood red, dark black, and orange sips and served in custom glassware to fit the occasion. The Black Lagoon will debut in October and run through Halloween. The Vancouver event will take place at The Butcher and Bullock’s downtown location.

When: October 11 to 31
Where: The Butcher and Bullock — 911 W Pender Street, Vancouver

Recurring events

Oktoberfest at Parallel 49

From Saturday, September 17 to Sunday, October 2, Parallel 49’s impressive 120-seat beer garden will be transformed into a lively Oktoberfest biergarten, with tasty German treats, live entertainment, and more. In addition to Parallel 49’s regular beer lineup, the brewery will have four feature Oktoberfest beers: a German Pilsner, Hefeweizen, Schwarzbier, and Festbier. These will also be served in classic dimpled beer steins, adding to the Oktoberfest vibes.

The event will also feature an Oktoberfest-themed food menu, with dishes like Bavarian pretzels with mustard, Bratkartoffen (crispy potatoes with onion, caraway seed mayo and dill), fully loaded currywurst, and schnitzel sandos on offer, to name a few.

When: Until Sunday, October 2
Where: Parallel 49 Brewing — 1950 Triumph Street, Vancouver

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Wunderbar at Bells & Whistles

It may be odd that Oktoberfest happens in September, but if it means we get to indulge in German-style fare and beer sooner, then so be it. Bells & Whistle’s special Oktoberfest-style menu, called their Wunderbar, returned last Saturday and will be on offer at their Fraser Street location until October 3. Expect pretzels, currywurst, schnitzel, and German beers.

When: Until Monday, October 3
Where: Bells & Whistles — 3296 Fraser St, Vancouver

Vancouver Croissant Crawl

Ten different bakeries, cafes, and patisseries will be participating in this year’s crawl, including Nelson the Seagull, Bel Café, Cadeaux Bakery, Davie Village Bakery, and Viva Café and Bakery.

The Croissant Crawl will take place from October 1 to 7, during which time all the participating vendors will create a special, limited-edition flavour. The tour is self-directed, meaning you can try out all these places on your own time during the entire week.

When: October 1 to 7
Where: Participating bakeries and cafes around the city

Richmond Night Market 2022

The Richmond Night Market is the largest night market in North America and this year’s theme is Summer Magic Rainbow. The popular annual event draws crowds ready to check out the rows on rows of vibrant cuisine. In fact, there are over 500 different international food items this year.

When: Now until October 10, 2022, from 7 pm to midnight (Friday), 6 pm to midnight (Saturday), and 7 to 11 pm (Sunday and Holidays)
Where: The corner of Number 3 and River Road (one block from the Bridgeport Canada Line station), Richmond