18 best Vancouver food events to check out in September

September is here, which means it’s the end of summer and the beginning of fall festivities.

From beer festivals to cultural markets to immersive experiences, there’s a little something for everyone happening this month.

Here are some of the food and drink event highlights happening in Vancouver this September.

You might also like:
• Going Dutch: A FREE Netherlandic street party is coming to Vancouver this weekend
• Massive beer and music festival returns to Whistler next month
• 7 great places to find mooncakes in Vancouver for Mid-Autumn Festival

One-time only events

Dutch Street Market

Stroopwafel (studio vanDam/Shutterstock) | Sjoelbak (Edoderoo/Wikimedia Commons)

The Dutch Cultural Association of BC is presenting its first annual Dutch Street Market from September 2 to 4 on the 600 block of Granville Street. The Netherlandic cultural celebration features food vendors, live music, games, and more. It is also part of a wider series of events presented by the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association and the Asian Canadian Special Events Association.

There will also be Dutchilicious street foods served up, as well as five flavours of stroopwafels and licorice.

When: September 2 to 4, 2023
Time: Saturday and Sunday, 11 am to 7 pm; Monday, 11 am to 6 pm
Where: 600 Block Granville Street, Vancouver
Admission: Free

Vancouver Vegan Festival 2023

It’s been four years since the last Vancouver Vegan Festival, but finally, the event is set to return later this summer. Celebrating vegan food and drinks, as well as wellness, sustainability, and locality, the last time the festival took place was in 2019.

This year, the festival will happen at Kitsilano Beach Park on Saturday, September 9.

When: Saturday, September 9 from 11 am to 9 pm
Where: Kitsilano Beach Park
Tickets: Free

Light Up Chinatown!

The third annual Light Up Chinatown! is happening from September 9 to 10 at 500 Columbia Street and neighbouring streets in the historic cultural neighbourhood. Everyone is invited to enjoy a full weekend of live entertainment, a kid’s fun zone, and unique food collaborations during the Mid-Autumn Festival. Over 12,000 are expected to attend the two-day event which features delectable collaborations between some of Chinatown’s most popular dining spots.

When: September 9 and 10, 2023
Time: 11 am to 9 pm (Saturday), 11 am to 6 pm (Sunday)
Where: 500 Columbia Street and neighbouring streets in Chinatown
Cost: Free

Japan Market Fall Festival 2023

@japanmarketvancouver/Instagram

The Japan Market Fall Festival 2023 will take place at the Robson Square Ice Rink and UBC Sunroom on Saturday, September 9, and Sunday, September 10. This awesome market experience features tons of food vendors, art, crafts, and Japanese merchandise. The two-day market highlights Japanese makers, artisans, and local businesses, with the aim of supporting Japanese culture in Vancouver.

When: Saturday, September 9 from 10 am to 6 pm, and Sunday, September 10 from 10 am to 5 pm
Where: Robson Square Ice Rink and UBC Sunroom — 800 Robson Street, Vancouver
Tickets: From $4

Instagram | Facebook

Alpine Long Table Dinner by Wild Blue

Wild Blue, one of Whistler’s newest and most highly regarded restaurants, will host its first long-table dinner this month. Located in the heart of Whistler Village at 4005 Whistler Way, Wild Blue is known for its luxe, seafood-forward offerings with a focus on Pacific Northwest ingredients and techniques. The event will be held at The Range at the Whistler Golf Club, where Chef Alex Chen and Executive Chef Derek Bendig have designed a four-course menu focused on local, seasonal ingredients from the land and sea.

When: September 10 at 3 pm
Where: The Range at the Whistler Golf Club — 4025 Whistler Way, Whistler
Tickets: $250 per person

Taste of Abby Fall Food Festival 2023

Hanna McLean/Daily Hive | Tourism Abbotsford

Last fall, Abbotsford launched its very first Taste of Abby fall food festival, celebrating the Fraser Valley’s agriculture, history, food culture, and culinary cultivations. This year, the huge autumnal festival is set to return from September 15 to 24, taking place at numerous locations around Abbotsford.

The event will kick off with a night market on September 15, offering a range of vendors, including Big Red’s Poutine Truck, Lucente’s Osteria, Mia Birria, Ravens Brewing Company, Ripples Estate Winery, and more. Tickets for the night market are $35 per person and include admission and eight tokens, which can be spent at the market’s vendors.

When: September 15 to 24, 2023
Where: All around Abbotsford

Fanny Bay Oyster Bar and Copperpenny Distilling Co. Pop-Up Series

Fanny Bay Oyster Bar and Copperpenny Distilling Co. are joining forces to showcase a new Oyster Shell collaboration — No. 006 Gin — during a second-annual series of Oysters and Cocktails Pop-Ups at the North Vancouver distillery. Taking place on July 23, August 20, and September 17, the pop-up series will be showcasing premium oyster varieties and seasonally inspired “Shuckers’ Choice” selections for $21 a half dozen or $36 a dozen per person.

When: September 17
Where: 103-288 Esplanade East, North Vancouver
Tickets: Reservations available by emailing Copperpenny Distilling Co. here

La Tana x Sumibiyaki Arashi

Courtesy La Tana (Photo: Aditya Pawar)

Sunday, September 17 will see chef Phil Scarfone, culinary director of Savio Volpe, La Tana, and Pepino’s Spaghetti House, and chef Pete Ho of the soon-to-open Sumibiyaki Arashi coming together for a one-night-only event. Taking place at La Tana from 5 pm until the food runs out, there will be “casual Japanese-Italian-inspired cocktails” served alongside “gritty share plates like Ox Tongue alla HoFone, with nanban sauce, shiso, and horseradish.” Walk-ins are welcome but reservations can also be made online.

When: September 17 from 5 pm onwards
Where: La Tana, 635 Commercial Drive
Tickets: Walk-ins and reservations welcome

Field to Fist

Courtesy Field House Brewing (Photo: Shea Milne)

On Saturday, September 23, Field House Brewing will be holding a Field to Fist event to celebrate the upcoming fall harvest. Guests will have the chance to join the brewery on an “adventure through our Farm + BRRL-ROOM, where Farm, Food, Beers, and Barrels unite in harmony.” The four hour event will include a guided farm tour, curated snacks, a tour of the BRRL-Room plus sampling, and a wrap-up in the tasting room with pizza and beer.

When: Saturday, September 23 from 12 pm
Where: Field House Brewing, 2281 W Railway Street, Abbotsford
Tickets: $50 per person

Burdock and Co. 10 Year Anniversary Dinner

 

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To celebrate 10 years of Main Street restaurant Burdock & Co., Chef and Owner Andrea Carlson is hosting a 10 course tasting menu experience. Taking place on September 23, the dinner event will celebrate her “love for the land” and organic, seasonal approach to cooking. Dishes at this event will be inspired by years past and present and will cost $250 per person.

When: September 23 at 6:30 pm
Where: 2702 Main Street, Vancouver
Tickets: $250 per person via Tock

Recurring events

BOGO Burger deal at Cavu Kitchen Bar

In honour of National Cheeseburger Day, Cavu Kitchen Bar is holding a week-long BOGO deal you’re not going to want to miss. From September 18 to 22, the restaurant will be offering guests the chance to buy one cheeseburger and get the second for half off. You’ll have the chance to choose from four of their most iconic burgers, including the Le Big Mac n Cheese, Super Smash Burger, Cavu Burger, and the Cavucado Burger.

When: September 18 to 22
Where: 5911 Minoru Boulevard, Richmond

Whistler Village Beer Festival 2023

The Whistler Village Beer Festival (WVBF) returns to the heart of the resort from September 11 to 17 for a massive celebration of everything craft beverages.

The Main Event at Whistler Olympic Plaza on Saturday, September 16, will showcase over 100 varieties of cider, beer, canned cocktails, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages. And the extravaganza also includes great concerts you won’t want to miss.

When: September 11 to 17, 2023; Main Event on September 16, 2023
Time: Various times. Main Event from noon to 6 pm
Where: Various locations throughout Whistler Village; Main Event at Whistler Olympic Plaza
Tickets: Various prices, purchase online

Le Burger Week 2023

Start flippin’ those patties! Le Burger Week is coming back next month, and restaurants across Canada will have the chance to create special burger masterpieces for all to enjoy. From September 1 to 14, the 12th annual burger celebration is kicking off in cities across the country, unveiling new and exciting creations from the heartiest of meals to plant-forward burgs’.

When: September 1 to 14, 2023
Time: Various hours of operation
Where: Various restaurants across Metro Vancouver. A full list will be released online closer to the event.

Richmond Night Market

Richmond night market | Shutterstock/Sen Yang

North America’s largest night market kicked off in late April and will continue running until October. This year’s theme is Summer Wonderland, with over 600 items from a whopping 110 booths and food trucks.

When: April 28 to October 9, 2023; Friday to Sunday
Where: 8351 River Road, Richmond

North Vancouver’s Shipyards Night Market

North Vancouver’s Shipyards Night Market (SYNM) kicked off its 10th anniversary on Friday, May 12 in Lower Lonsdale. The popular free event takes place every Friday from 3 to 10 pm and features a beer garden, live music, market vendors, and food trucks.

When: Every Friday until September 15, 2023
Time: 3 to 10 pm
Where: The Shipyards — 125 Victory Ship Way, North Vancouver
Cost: Free

Heart of Vancouver Public Market

Arina P Habich/Shutterstock | Cambie Village/Facebook

The grand opening of the Heart of Vancouver Public Market took place in March at the outdoor plaza at West 17th Avenue at Cambie Street but will return for one day each month. Visitors can shop for locally grown veggies and handmade goods, and enjoy live entertainment. Heart of Vancouver Public Market will showcase a few dozen vendors offering jams and jellies, kimchi, fresh flowers and seedlings, dog expertise, farm fresh eggs, Indigenous jewellery, and more.

When: September 9, October 21, November 18, and December 9, 2023
Time: 10 am to 3 pm
Where: West 17th Avenue at Cambie Street, Vancouver
Cost: Free

Negroni Week 2023 — Vancouver

Negroni (Courtesy Tutto)

If you find it hard to resist the iconic Italian cocktail that is the Negroni, it’s about to be a boozy week for you because Negroni Week is fast approaching.

This year, the event starts on September 18 and wraps up on September 24, which means bars around the world will be celebrating the classic cocktail while raising money for some charities. There are 35+ Vancouver bars and restaurants participating in this year’s celebratory week, meaning you’ll have ample opportunity to grab a quality Negroni no matter where you are in the city.

When: September 18 to 24, 2023
Where: Participating venues around Vancouver