35 things to do in Vancouver this week: October 2 to 6

Start your new month with our checklist of 35 things to do this week. Concerts, Oktoberfest, and more – get out and have some fun!

For more things happening around town, check out our events section.

Monday, October 2

Jon Bellion

• What: The 20-year-old singer-songwriter, rapper, and producer will be taking to the stage with guests on the third leg of his ‘The Human Condition’ tour. The ‘Human’ singer got his start in music by making a series of mixtapes featuring his original songs – all recorded in his parents’ basement. He soared to success after sharing his music with fans and went on to co-write songs for artists like Jason Derulo, Eminem, and Rihanna.
• When: October 2
• Time: 8 pm
• Where: Vogue Theatre – 918 Granville Street
• Tickets: $35 via Live Nation

VIFF Live

• What: A live performance series presented by the Vancouver International Film Festival. VIFF Live creates unique immersive experiences that pair live bands with films. Acts include Brasstronaut, The Zolas and HUMANS throughout the festival.
• When: October 2 to 4
• Time: 8 pm
• Where: Fortune Sound Club – 147 E Pender St, Vancouver
• Tickets: Online, $15.00

An Evening with Feist 2017

• What: Canadian singer-songwriter Feist is hitting up Vancouver a show at Commodore Ballroom on October 2. You can expect to hear songs like ‘Any Party’, ‘Baby Be Simple’, ‘The Wild’, ‘Lost Dreams’, ‘Young Up’, and more during Feist’s October concerts.
• When: October 2
• Time: 7 pm
• Where: Commodore Ballroom –  868 Granville Street, Vancouver
• Tickets: Starting at $49.50, available online

Duncan Shields at Vancouver Poetry Slam

• What: Duncan Shields is a two-time Vancouver Haiku Champion, a two-time Vancouver Nerd Slam Champion, two-time Ghost Story Slam and the winner of the 2010 IWPS Haiku Championship in Charlotte, North Carolina. His poems are as funny as they are insightful.
• When: October 2
• Time: 7 pm
• Where: Cafe Deux Soleils – 2096 Commercial Drive, Vancouver
• Tickets: At the door, $6-$10

Kwantlen Improv

• What: Kwantlen Improv is a Drop-In Workshop series in Surrey where you can learn improv games, communication techniques, make new friends and have fun.
  
• When: Every Monday (no classes on holidays)
• Time: 5 to 6:50 pm
• Where: Kwantlen Polytechnic University – 12666 72nd Avenue, Surrey
• Price: Free for current Kwantlen students, $5 for alumni, and $10 for members of the public.

Ginny Wilkie: Poppy Fields and Forests

• What: The Poppy Fields and Trees Series by Richmond artist Ginny Wilkie is a series of paintings that represents the simple beauty in nature in the form of vibrant colors and touchable, tactile textures. Galleria exhibitions are presented by Richmond Art Gallery, and is for all ages.
• When: Now to October 2
• Time: Daily from 8:15 am to 5 pm
• Where: City Hall – 6911 No. 3 Rd, Richmond
• Admission: Free

The Power of Story Conference

• What: A day of inspiration, connection, motivation and transformation. Keynote speakers Silken Laumann, Lindsay Marino, Nasir Andrews and James Picard will be sharing insights and personal stories at this one of a kind conference!
• When: October 2
• Time: 9 am to 4 pm
• Where: Goldcorp Stage at the BMO Theatre Centre – 162 West 1st Avenue, Vancouver
• Tickets: Online, $259-$349

Tuesday, October 3

Movies in the Morgue: Zodiac

• What: Head to Vancouver Police Museum for a screening of ZODIAC. Sit in the revamped True Crime exhibit as you take in the true story of San Franciso’s most notorious serial killer.
• When: October 3
• Time: 7 pm
• Where: Vancouver Police Museum – 240 East Cordova Street, Vancouver
• Tickets: Online, $10

2017 Vancouver Christmas Cantata

• What: The Gracias Christmas Cantata is a show-stopping musical experience that has amazed audiences all across America. Through three beautiful music-filled stages, and one eternal message of hope, The Gracias Christmas Cantata will infuse your heart with the true meaning of Christmas.
• When: October 3
• Where: Queen Elizabeth Theater – 650 Hamilton Street, Vancouver
• Tickets: Online, Free

Dirty Little Secrets

• What: The one-year anniversary of Dirty Little Secrets. Watch a cast of Vancouver’s top improvisors in a night of exploring the audience’s anonymous secrets on the XY stage on Davie Street. 
  
• When: October 3
• Time: 8 pm
• Where: XYYVR – 1216 Bute Street, Vancouver
• Tickets: Online, $10

posAbilities’ 13th Annual INCLUSION Art Show & Sale

• What: Held during Community Inclusion month in BC, the art show features creations from hundreds of artists with diverse abilities who are working independently or in studios supported by Community Living organizations across Metro Vancouver. Meet artists during the show, discover each person’s unique perspective, creative process, and how individual challenges are transcended through art.
• When: October 3 and 4
• Time: 5 to 8 pm (Tuesday), 11 am to 6 pm (Wednesday)
• Where: Heritage Hall – 3102 Main Street, Vancouver
• Admission: By Donation

Opera & Beer

• What: An evening of live opera, musical entertainment, and a silent auction in support of City Opera Vancouver’s annual productions.
• When: October 3
• Time: 6 to 10 pm
• Where: Tap & Barrel – 1 Athletes Way, Olympic Village, Vancouver
• Tickets: Online, $75

Book Launch with William Deverell and Dietrich Kalteis

• What: Celebrate the launches of William Deverell and Dietrich Kalteis latest titles: Whipped: An Arthur Beauchamp Novel and Zero Avenue: A Crime Novel.
• When: Tuesday October 03
• Time: 6:30 to 9 pm
• Where: Book Warehouse – 4118 Main Street, Vancouver
• Admission: Free

The Blue Cabin Project: A Talk with Artist Jeremy Borsos

• What: The Blue Cabin, the former home of artists Al Neil and Carole Itter, inhabited the western boundary of Cates Park since 1932. Artist Jeremy Borsos will give a short presentation on their experience with the Blue Cabin remediation – from taking the cabin apart board by board, to their discovery of a series of 1927 cultural posters hidden under its floorboards. The talk will touch upon the cabin’s broader history and its significance to the area. It will be followed by a short Q&A period.
• When: October 3
• Time: 7 pm
• Where: Seymour Art Gallery – 4360 Gallant Ave, North Vancouver
• Price: Free

Wednesday, October 4

The Piano Guys

• What: The Piano Guys have performed everywhere from The Tonight Show with Jay Leno to The Today Show, as well being featured in The New York Times, Fast Company, People Magazine, among other publications. With more than 800 million YouTube views, The Piano Guys’ videos are on fire.
• When: October 4
• Time: 7:30 pm
• Where: Queen Elizabeth Theatre – 630 Hamilton Street
• Price: $39.50, $59.50, $79.50, $99.50 – Tickets available via Ticketmaster 

Main Street Station Farmers’ Market

• What: See, taste, and indulge at this bustling weekday market. With vendors lined up on the east side of Thornton Park on the sidewalk along Station Street, the Main Street Station Farmers’ Market is within ideal reach on foot for bus and SkyTrain users.
• Where: 1100 Station Street, Vancouver
• When: Wednesdays from 2 to 6 pm, to October 4, 2017

WANTED: Cowboy Noir Album Release – Cabaret, Dinner & Dance

• What: Jeff Gladstone will preview his second full length album, the first with The Bad Ideas, in a three-act cabaret dinner and dance. WANTED: Cowboy Noir is a blend of country, blues and swing, weaving tales of lost love and lost minds.
• When: October 4
• Time: 6:30 pm
• Where: The Emerald Supper Club – 555 Gore Ave, Vancouver
• Tickets: Online, $10-$65

Shadbolt Shorts – Short Film Series

• What: A monthly series showcasing local filmakers. Each screening is followed by an informal talkback with the artist. This month features work by Joel Ashton McCarthy.
• When: October 4
• Time: 8 pm
• Where: Shadbolt Centre for the Arts – 6450 Deer Lake Avenue, Burnaby
• Tickets: Online

A Conversation with Measha Brueggergosman

• What: A conversation, reading, and Q&A with world-renowned opera singer Measha Brueggergosman to celebrate the launch of her book Something is Always on Fire.
• When: October 4
• Time: 7:30 pm
• Where: Performance Works – 1218 Cartwright Street, Vancouver
• Tickets: Online, $15-$26

Volunteer Futures Symposium 2017 – World Of Opportunity

• What: Join BC Association For Charitable Gaming and Volunteer BC for their annual training event for volunteers, non-profits and charities.The symposium features keynote addresses, workshops and sessions with opportunities to network with colleagues and volunteers from across BC.
• When: Wednesday, October 4 and Thursday, October 5
• Time: 8 am to 4 pm
• Where: Executive Airport Plaza Hotel – 7311 Westminster Hwy, Richmond
• Tickets: Online, $200

Hyperlink

• What: Two storytellers debate the human condition and the (im)possibilities of connection in our era of unprecedented technological progress. TJ Dawe and Itai Erdal, performing as themselves and performing themselves, argue, debate, and intertwine their personal experience on everything from internet scams, to love, to hate crimes, to like-farming, in order to get the bottom of what it means to live a life online.
• When: October 4 to 14
• Time: Various Times
• Where: Firehall Arts Centre – 280 East Cordova, Vancouver
• Tickets: Online

Thursday, October 5

Vancouver TheatreSports League – Improv Wars

• What: Drawing on the rich characters, locations, and themes of the Star Wars films, Vancouver TheatreSports’ improvised parody highlights the parallels between the skills of an improviser and those of a Jedi to determine who is truly Master of the Farce. To paraphrase Yoda – “Laugh. Or do not. There is no titter.”
• When: Every Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Opens October 5
• Time: 7:30 pm
• Where: The Improv Centre – 1502 Duranleau Street, Vancouver
• Tickets:Online, $10.75-$24.25

Stanley Park Water Supply Tunnel Community Open House

• What: ​Metro Vancouver is planning to tunnel deep under Stanley Park to build the Stanley Park Water Supply Tunnel. Drop by the Community Open House to learn more about the project and share your comments with the project team.
• When: Thursday, October 5
• Time: 4 to 8 pm.
• Where: The big tent in Chilco Plaza (near Chilco Street and Alberni Street) next to the Stanley Park Nature House.
• Price: Free

Nick Offerman’s Full Bush Tour

• What: Comedian, actor, and woodworker Nick Offerman is hitting up Vancouver this fall. The comic is best know for his role as ‘Ron Swanson’ on NBC’s hit comedy Parks & Recreation. He also starred in the Netflix special American Ham in 2014, and most recently toured with his wife Megan Mullally for their show Summer of 69: No Apostrophe.
• When: October 5
• Time: 9 pm
• Where: Orpheum – 601 Smithe Street
• Tickets: Starting at $39.50 – Tickets available via Live Nation

Main Squeeze

• What: Main Squeeze is a weekly Mt. Pleasant dance party and hangout in the Projection Room of the Fox Cabaret. Featuring house party jams and new classics.
• When: Every Thursday
• Time: 8 pm
• Where: The Fox Cabaret – 2321 Main Street, Vancouver
• Tickets: No Cover

Diwali at the Vancouver Central Library

• What: Celebrate the sights and sounds of Diwali at an exciting music and dance performance. This event will feature colourful, fast-paced Indian dance performances to celebrate the 14^th Annual Diwali Fest.
• When: October 5
• Time: 12:30 to 1:30 pm
• Where: Central Library, 350 W Georgia St, Vancouver
• Price: Free

Downtown Farmers’ Market

• What: A very urban market indeed, the pedestrian-friendly Hamilton Street welcomes vendors and farmers Thursday mornings and afternoons for a terrific food and shopping experience, right at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre.
• Where: Queen Elizabeth Theatre – 608-688 Hamilton Street, Vancouver
• When: Thursdays 11 am to 3 pm, until October 5, 2017

Harvest Haus 

• What: BC’s largest Volksfest is returning this autumn for a fourth year of Harvest celebrations. Experience true Harvest Haus traditions at all of seven sittings, including thirst-quenching keg tapping, stein-clinking, foot-stomping, PROST-ing good times.
• When: October 5 to 14
• Where: 88 Pacific Boulevard
• Prices: for Competitions and Team Registrations, for all tickets

Friday, October 6

Fright Nights at Playland

• What: Fright Nights are returning to Playland this October, bringing hauntings, horror, and hair-raising rides to Vancouver for another year. This year, there will be eight haunted houses for you to explore (if you dare). And you’ll also be able to brave 20 rides – five more than last year.
• When: Select dates between Friday, October 6 and Tuesday, October 31
• Time: 7 pm to midnight or 1 am depending on the day
• Where: Playland at the PNE – 2901 East Hastings Street, Vancouver
• Tickets: Online or at the gate. Also available at Lower Mainland 7-Eleven Stores starting October 4. $25-$105 depending on the date. Online discount available.

Chris Hadfield’s Canada 150 Tour

• What: The shows will be a celebration of the nation through a series of stories, songs, images, and ideas by Chris Hadfield. As an astronaut who is proud to call Canada home, Hadfield has a unique perspective seeing the world from a different point of view.
• When: October 6 and 7
• Time: 8 pm
• Where: Orpheum Theatre – 601 Smithe St, Vancouver
• Tickets: Online at Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, $19-$95

Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde

• What: The Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde 25th Anniversary Tour hits Vancouver with Fatlip & Slimkid3 (formerly of The Pharcyde) performing the complete album with guests The X Presidents & Mark Woodyard.
• When: October 6
• Time: 7 to 11 pm
• Where: Fortune Sound Club – 147 East Pender Street, Vancouver
• Tickets: Online, $17

North Shore Craft Beer Week

• What: North Shore Craft Beer Week will feature seven days of festivities in venues across the area with events ranging from cask nights and guided tours, to live music, Brewmaster’s Dinners, and, of course, beers. This year’s participating North Vancouver craft breweries include: Beere Brewing Co, Black Kettle Brewing Company, Bridge Brewing Co, Deep Cove Brewers and Distillers, and Hearthstone Brewery.
• When: October 6 to 13
• Where: Various locations

Vancouver Giants versus Tri-City Americans

• What: Vancouver Giants faces off with the Tri-City Americans in Western Hockey League action at Langley Events Centre.
• When: October 6
• Time: 7:30 pm
• Where: Langley Events Centre – 7888 200 Street, Langley
• Tickets: Online

UNIQLO Vancouver store opening

• What: The new UNIQLO store will offer the brand’s full range of core items for men, women, kids, and babies. Expect UNIQLO staples like ultra light down jackets, affordable cashmere, and their line of HEATTECH innerwear.
• When: Friday, October 6
• Time: 10 am
• Where: Metropolis at Metrotown – 4700 Kingsway, Burnaby

Oktoberfest at Vancouver Alpen Club

• What: The Vancouver Alpen Club is hosting its annual Oktoberfest party throughout October, and everyone’s invited. This year, the club is working with three German breweries, Hofbraeuhaus Muenchen, Krombacher and Erdinger, to make sure your steins are kept filled. As well, there’ll be schnitzel, bratwurst, roasted pork hock, sauerkraut and authentic German potato salad, for sale, along with veggie and gluten-free options too. There will be also be performances by Schuhplattler dance group, the Alpen Plattlers, original German music, and traditional games.
• When: October 6 through October 21, Fridays and Saturdays
• Time: 8 pm to 1 am
• Where: Vancouver Alpen Club – 4875 Victoria Drive, Vancouver
• Tickets: Online at Vancouver Alpen Club, $35 regular, $75 VIP