30 things to do in Vancouver in October

Oct 1 2016, 6:52 am

Whether you’re looking to soak up some culture, explore a new part of the city, or find a fun Halloween party to hit up, we have you covered with our list of the best 30 things to do in Vancouver for the month of October.

Food and Drink

Urban Foraging Plant Walk

  • What: From under park benches to cracks in the sidewalks via boulevards around the park, we can find food and medicine growing all around us even in the most urban settings.
  • Where: Homestead Junction – 649 E. Hastings, Vancouver
  • When: Various dates
  • Price: Tickets are $12 on Eventbrite and include four tasters and a souvenir glass

Red Truck Brewery Tour

Image: Red Truck Beer Company

Image: Red Truck Beer Company

  • What: Go on a behind the scenes tour of the Red Truck Brewery, one of the many popular urban breweries based in East Vancouver.
  • Where: Red Truck Brewery – 295 East 1st Avenue, Vancouver
  • When: Monday, October 3, 6 – 7pm
  • Price: Tickets are $25 online

EAT! Vancouver

  • What: Dropping the trade show element from the event, the EAT! Vancouver Food & Cooking Festival has a diverse calendar of programming aimed at putting Vancouver’s food fans up close with prominent local and national chefs. To find out more about the revamped event check out our article on the change.
  • Where: Various Locations
  • When: October 4-7
  • Price: Tickets are $35-$135 online

RIPE 2016

  • What: This annual harvest celebration and fundraiser showcases the best of local ingredients, paired with some of Vancouver’s finest chefs and restaurants at 8 mouth-watering small plate tasting stations, along with craft beers and cocktails.
  • Where: Exhibition Hall, Roundhouse Community Centre – 181 Roundhouse Mews, Vancouver
  • When: Sunday, October 16, from 5:30 to 8 pm
  • Tickets: At Brown Paper Tickets, $85

Comedy

Vancouver International Improv Festival

Image: VIIF

Image: VIIF

  • What: The 17th Annual Vancouver International Improv Festival returns to Granville Island with over 30 interactive performances, inspiring workshops, an opening night gala and more.
  • Where: Performance Works – 1218 Cartwright St, Vancouver
  • When: October 4-8
  • Price: Tickets are $15-$18 online

Pro/Am Night at The Comedy Mix

  • What: Visit every Tuesday night this month for sets from the most promising amateur comedians in Vancouver alongside a professional headliner and host.
  • Where: The Comedy Mix – 1015 Burrard Street, Vancouver
  • When: Every Tuesday night at 8:30 pm
  • Price: $8

Trump Card – Winner Takes All

  • What: Based around the recent events of 2016 including the US elections, the Canadian election, and BREXIT; the Vancouver TheatreSports League ups the ante with their own improvised election game.
  • Where: The Improv Centre – 1502 Duranleau Street, Vancouver
  • When: Various dates
  • Price: Tickets are $28-$29.50 online

Concerts and Shows

Tegan and Sara

  • What: Everything is awesome for The Quin twins in 2016 – they just released their eighth studio album Love You To Death to rave reviews and their fall tour is selling out quickly. Fans can expect the 100-minute show to include new singles “Stop Desire” and “White Knuckles”, both of which were produced by Greg Kurstin of Sia and Adele fame.
  • When: Wednesday, October 5 at 7:30 pm
  • Where: Queen Elizabeth Theatre – 650 Hamilton Street

Tokyo Police Club

  • What: Toronto’s Tokyo Police Club are on a fall tour coinciding with the two-party self-released Melon Collie and the Infinite Radness , which features the leading single “Not My Girl.” This collection of songs is the first batch of tracks from the group since they launched their 2014 LP Forcefield.
  • When: Wednesday, October 5 at 8 pm
  • Where: Commodore Ballroom – 868 Granville Street

New Forms Festival

Image: New Forms Festival

Image: New Forms Festival

  • What: The New Forms Media Society (NFMS) is a non-profit society and media arts organization founded in 2000 that exists to unite creative communities, push artistic and conceptual boundaries, and explore digital media as an art form. With their New Forms Festival (NFF), the organization aims to raise the profile of Canadian artists, media arts, underground and subversive arts movements and practices both in Canada and abroad.
  • Where: 560 Seymour, Vancouver
  • When: October 7 – 8
  • Price: Tickets are $40-$75 online

Kanye West

  • What: Kanye’s got some explaining to do to his Vancouver fans. Not only did he cancel his 2013 Rogers Arena concert with just one day’s notice – he did it again a month or so later. But that hasn’t stopped his October 17 show from becoming a near-sellout, and fans with floor tickets will have the chance to dance underneath West as his stage floats above them.
  • When: Monday, October 17 at 8 pm
  • Where: Rogers Arena – 800 Griffiths Way

Arts

Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF)

  • What: The Vancouver International Film Festival is going into their 35th year of showing some of the world’s best cinema and there is something for every taste. If the catalogue is looking too intimidating, be sure to check out our list of 10 films to check out at this year’s VIFF.
  • Where: Various locations
  • When: September 29 – October 14
  • Price: $13-$15

The Music of David Bowie

  • What: The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra is paying tribute to legendary musician David Bowie, who passed away earlier this year. Tony Vincent will be on lead vocals, accompanied by a full rock band to play 18 of Bowie’s epic hits.
  • Where: The Orpheum Theatre – 601 Smithe St, Vancouver
  • When: Wednesday, October 5 at 8 pm
  • Tickets: Available online, $25-$65

Small Stage: 34

Image: Small Stage

Image: Small Stage

  • What: The latest presentation from the 2016/17 Small Stage season, performance artists will cleverly explore the duet/solo/gender themes through movement with irreverent, provocative commentary by Christiansen and Warner.
  • Where: The Anza Club – 3 West 8th Avenue, Vancouver
  • When: Multiple dates from 8 – 10 pm
  • Price: Tickets are $25 on Eventbrite

Shopping

The East Van Bazzar

  • What: A manifestation of talent and creativity, the East Van Bazaar provides an opportunity to be vocal and buy local from over 40 local vendors, collectors, crafters, creators, doers and dreamers, all serving up their own unique slice of East Van awesomeness!
  • Where: 1739 Venables Street, Vancouver
  • When: Saturday, October 15, 12 – 5 pm
  • Price: $2 cover

Elemental Trends Fall Harvest

  • What: Get a head start on your holiday shopping with over 30+ vendors at the Elemental Trends Fall Harvest market.
  • Where: Croation Cultural Centre – 3250 Commercial Drive, Vancouver
  • When: Sunday, October 23, 11 am – 6 pm
  • Price: Tickets are $2.50 on Eventbrite, $5 at the door

XpoCity 2016 – Vancouver

  • What: Shop, sample, and socialize in space that bring female-focused vendors in to showcase their products and services to the women of Vancouver.
  • Where: Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver – 791 West Georgia Street, Vancouver
  • When: Sunday, October 23, 2 – 7 pm
  • Price: Tickets are $20-25 on Eventbrite

Sports

Take in a Canucks game

Image: Vancouver Canucks / Twitter

Image: Vancouver Canucks / Twitter

Give in to the hockey madness and support the Canucks in person! Check out the complete home game schedule right here.

Watch a Whitecaps game

Show your team spirit at a Whitecaps game this season; Vancouver’s soccer team needs your support! For the full game schedule, click here.

Check out a BC Lions game

Our Lions are going all out this season. Click here for a full game schedule.

Odds and Ends

Vancouver Rad Dads #5

Image: Vancouver Rad Dads

Image: Vancouver Rad Dads

  • What: Vancouver Rad Dads is a gathering of dads to share ideas, learn from each other and talk about their experiences of day-to-day life as parents.
  • Where: Juice Truck Cafe – 28 West 5th Avenue, Vancouver
  • When: Tuesday, October 4, 730 – 9:30 pm
  • Price: Tickets are $13:50 on Eventbrite and includes two beers and a variety of snacks

Thrive Talks with Pennylane Shen

  • What: THRIVE TALKS is a speakers series that invites successful female artists and women in the arts to share their journeys, successes and advice with other women. At this edition Pennylane Shen will be talking about consultations, curating and courage.
  • Where: Vancouver Convention Centre – 1055 Canada Place, Vancouver
  • When: Wednesday, October 26, 7 – 8:30 pm
  • Price: Tickets are $25 on Eventbrite

Halloween

Ghostly Gastown Tour

Image: Ghostly Gastown Tour

Image: Ghostly Gastown Tour

  • What: Step back into Vancouver’s past to learn the haunted history of the Gastown area. On this 90 minute walking tour you will learn about a town renown for its wild west legacy of drinking, gambling, and harsh justice in the form of hangings.
  • Where: Angel Statue in front of Waterfront Station – 599 West Cordova Street, Vancouver
  • When: Various dates from 7:30 – 9 pm
  • Price: Tickets are $20 on Eventbrite

Spectral Theatre’s “Late-Night Double Feature”

  • What: Feeling in the mood for two spooky tales from the dank, dark vault of horrors? Then head on over to the intimate confines of Slickity Jim’s towitness the Grimmsfield Radio Players perform staged readings of original works, in the style of the radio programs of yesteryear.
  • Where: Slickity Jim’s Chat ‘n’ Chew – 3475 Main Street, Vancouver
  • When: Various dates from 7 – 10 pm
  • Price: Tickets are $10-$35 on Eventbrite

Fright Nights

  • What: The annual Fright Nights takeover Playland on select nights throughout October and feature seven haunted houses, fifteern rides and two thrilling live shows.
  • Where: Playland – 2901 E Hastings Street, Vancouver
  • When: Various days and times between October 7-31
  • Price: Tickets are $22-$79 online

Ghost Train in Stanley Park

  • What: This year’s Ghost Train is inspired by the Day of the Dead. Be serenaded by a mariachi band of cockroaches, ride the train through the tunnel of flames with the Aztec Lord and Lady of Death, and picnic with in a gorgeous graveyard where friendly souls return to dance with a twelve foot skeleton.
  • Where: Stanley Park
  • When: October 8-31 at various times
  • Price: Tickets are $6-$11 online

KISS OF DEATH! Halloween Speed Dating

  • What: Meet the love of your life just in time for Halloween at this fun speed dating event.
  • Where: Hello Goodbye Bar – 1120 Hamilton Street, Vancouver
  • When: Thursday, October 27, 7:30 pm
  • Price: Tickets are $35-$39 on Eventbrite

HIDDEN – A Site Specific Horror Adventure

  • What: ITSAZOO presents a bone-chilling site-specific horror event – HIDDEN. Blurring the lines between performance and reality, audiences of 13 people, armed only with flashlights, will be guided on the Lost Lovers Murder Tour – a frighteningly accurate re-enactment of the infamous and unsolved murders that occurred exactly 20-years ago, deep within the forest.
  • Where: UBC Botanical Gardens – 6804 SW Marine Drive, Vancouver
  • When: Saturday, October 29, 9:30 pm
  • Price: Tickets are $37 – $42 online

Bacardi Boohaha

  • What: The annual Bacardi Boohaha adults-only Halloween party is back this year featuring music by DJ Flipout all night long.
  • Where: Commodore Ballroom – 868 Granville Street, Vancouver
  • When: Saturday, October 29, 9:30 pm
  • Price: Tickets are $20 online

Spoo-ook-tacular Halloween at the Britannia Mine Museum

  • What: It’s the witching hour at Britannia Mine Museum this Halloween where there are plenty of spoo-ook-tacular activities for all ages to enjoy including a spooky train ride, a stage science show, and a witches house.
  • Where: Britannia Mine Museum – 1 Forbes Way, Britannia Beach
  • When: Saturday, October 29 and Sunday, October 30, 11 am – 3 pm
  • Price: $15 general entry
Vanessa TamVanessa Tam

+ Listed
ADVERTISEMENT