Ultimate guide to Vancouver's most exciting food festivals and events
The weather is finally heating up, and so is Vancouver’s spring and summer food festival season.
From food truck fests to night markets to craft beer festivals, the next few months in Vancouver are shaping up to be very busy and very exciting, especially for the foodies among us.
But we know it can get a little overwhelming to keep track of everything that’s going on, let alone decide which events to partake in. So we made this handy guide, broken down by month, to help you figure out which events you should definitely be checking out in Vancouver this summer.
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Here’s our ultimate guide to Vancouver’s most exciting food festivals and events this season.
May:
Richmond Night Market
Courtesy Richmond Night Market
North America’s largest night market is set to officially kick off this week on April 28. The dates are set and the theme is Summer Wonderland. We know there will be over 600 items from a whopping 110 booths and food trucks to check out come launch.
When: April 28 to October 9, 2023; Friday to Sunday
Where: 8351 River Road, Richmond
La Pizza Week
La Pizza Week Canada, brought to us by the folks behind La Poutine Week and Le Burger Week, returns to several Canadian cities in May. Returning for its third edition this year, La Pizza Week is a national festival highlighting restaurants in several different Canadian cities, each offering unique pizza offerings for the occasion. Happening from May 1 to 14 this year, each participating restaurant will release a limited-edition pizza designed especially for the festival, which will only be available during that time.
When: May 1 to 14, 2023
Where: Participating restaurants TBA
Tian Jin Festival
TJ Fest/Facebook
Celebrating the multiculturalism of the city and highlighting Taiwanese food in particular, TJ Fest is a highly-anticipated annual event, celebrating its 11th year this May.
Taking place across two blocks at the Tian-Jin Temple at 3426 Smith Avenue, we’re told this year’s event will be even bigger than years previous, with expanded offerings set up in an adjacent park featuring free activities for children and families.
When: Saturday, May 6, and Sunday, May 7, from 11 am to 4 pm
Where: Tian-Jin Temple, 3426 Smith Avenue, Burnaby
North Vancouver’s Shipyards Night Market
North Vancouver’s Shipyards Night Market (SYNM) is kicking 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 from May 12 to September 15, 2023
Time: 3 to 10 pm
Where: The Shipyards — 125 Victory Ship Way, North Vancouver
Cost: Free
BC Distilled 2023
@bcdistilled/Instagram
Celebrating its 8th annual event this year, BC Distilled will feature dozens of local distilleries and exhibitors from across the province, including Wayward Distillery, Sons of Vancouver Distillery, and Indigenous World Spirits, to name just a few.
From vodka to whisky to gin, a range of spirit types will be available to sample, all from local BC-based distilleries. BC Distilled is proud to be the largest spirits event in Canada to exclusively showcase local distilleries.
Where: Saturday, May 13, 2023
Where: Croatian Cultural Centre — 3250 Commercial Drive, Vancouver
Tickets: Buy tickets online starting March 28
Brewhalla Beer and Music Festival
The first Brewhalla installment of the summer will happen at Fort Langley Park on May 20 from 12 pm to 6 pm. More than 30 craft beer vendors will be serving up cool sips, plus there’ll be two different live music stages, food trucks, field games, and more.
Some participating breweries for the Fort Langley edition include Sidekick Brewing, Faculty Brewing Co., and Field House Brewing Co.
When: Saturday, May 20, from 12 pm to 6 pm
Where: Fort Langley Park, 9089 Nash Street, Fort Langley
Tickets: Online
Spot Prawn Festival 2023
Spot Prawn season is an incredibly brief one, lasting only six weeks from roughly the beginning of May, which makes its arrival each year that much more highly anticipated. To celebrate the season of the delectable seafood, Vancouver’s Spot Prawn Festival is set to officially return on Sunday, May 28 at the False Creek Fisherman’s Wharf.
The annual event, hosted by the Chef’s Table Society of British Columbia, will run from 11 am to 3:30 pm and is a celebration of the season’s delicacy from the sea.
When: Sunday, May 28 from 11 am to 3:30 pm
Where: False Creek Fisherman’s Wharf, 1505 West 1st Avenue, Vancouver
Tickets: Online
June:
Halal Ribfest
@halalribfest/Instagram
This year, a massive halal food tour is happening across North America, with its first planned stop in Vancouver.
Founded in Toronto last year, The Halal Ribfest is set to be a much bigger event this year, with stops in BC, Alberta, Ontario, and several American states. The event will feature halal food vendors offering everything from shawarma to burgers to South African BBQ, in addition to ice cream stalls and beverage options.
When: June 2 to 4
Where: TBD location in Vancouver
BC Cider Festival 2023
The BC Cider Festival, the province’s most comprehensive cider event, is heading to North Vancouver this summer. The fourth annual event is set to officially return this year on June 3 from 2 pm to 6 pm, bringing more than 30 local and international cideries together, all in one place.
Taking place at North Vancouver’s charming and historic venue The Pipe Shop, the one-day event will wrap up BC Cider Week and will bring together both cider drinkers and makers.
When: June 3 from 2 pm to 6 pm
Where: The Pipe Shop, 115 Victory Ship Way, North Vancouver
Tickets: Available online as of April 6
The Vegan Market
Canada’s first and only 100% plant-based night market is gearing up for a busy summer season, and foodies and shoppers will want to join the fun. The Vegan Market, hosted by Peaces, has announced that its bi-weekly summer series will begin on Thursday, June 8 at The Waldorf Hotel. The plant-based food-fuelled parties invite guests to enjoy a drink while you shop from local businesses, makers, and brands.
When: June 8, June 22, July 13, July 27, August 3, August 17, August 31, 2023
Time: 6 to 10 pm
Where: Waldorf Hotel, 1489 East Hastings Street, Vancouver, plus a location to be announced.
Tickets: Minimum donation of $4 or canned goods, clothing, or pet food. Children are free.
Japan Market Summer Festival 2023
One of the city’s most popular Japanese cultural festivals is officially returning for its summer edition. The Japan Market Summer Festival 2023 will take place at the Vancouver Art Gallery North Plaza on Saturday, June 10, and Sunday, June 11.
This awesome summer market is especially food-focused this year and will feature several food trucks and food vendors, all centering on Japanese cuisine.
When: Saturday, June 10, and Sunday, June 11, from 10 am to 6 pm
Where: Vancouver Art Gallery North Plaza, 750 Hornby Street, Vancouver
Tickets: From $4
Italian Day 2023
@wonderful_ida/Instagram
Vancouver’s annual celebration of Italian culture, heritage, and community will return this summer with a full-size festival. Italian Day is set to pack Commercial Drive with pasta, pizza, and partygoers on Sunday, June 11, 2023
Thousands of Vancouverites will take over Commercial Drive as it transforms into a 14-block car-free zone. There will be plenty of merchants, food vendors, and entertainment to discover throughout the day-long event.
When: June 11, 2023
Time: 12 to 9 pm
Where: Commercial Drive (Venables Street to Grandview Highway), Vancouver
Cost: Free
Red Truck Beer Company’s Truck Stop Concert Series 2023
This year, the brewery will be celebrating its seventh year of the concert series with a diverse lineup of local and international performers. The three-show outdoor concert series will take place on June 17, July 15, and August 12 this summer, right at the brewery’s spacious outdoor area in East Van.
When: June 17, July 15, and August 12
Where: Red Truck Beer Company, 295 East 1st Avenue, Vancouver
Tickets: Online
July:
Vancouver Bubble Tea Festival 2023
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Last year we put the Vancouver Bubble Tea Festival on your radar, and now it looks like the event is returning for another year of all things boba.
This shindig — which coins itself as the largest bubble tea festival in Canada — is slated to go down once again this summer in Metro Vancouver. Last year the event featured 20 street food booths, 10 bubble tea brands, and approximately 30 retail booths, too.
When: July 7 to 9, 2023
Where: Swangard Stadium — 3883 Imperial Street, Burnaby
Price: From $9.99
VCBW Craft Beer Week Festival 2023
The Lower Mainland’s largest craft beer event is officially returning for Summer 2023, but this time around, the event is learning from past mistakes and making some major changes. For the one-day event for 2023, guests can expect over 150 craft beers and ciders from participating breweries and cideries from around the world, in addition to live entertainment and food trucks.
When: July 8, 2023
Where: PNE/Playland – 2901 E Hastings Street, Vancouver
Tickets: Online
Brewery & The Beast Vancouver 2023
@brewerythebeast/Instagram
The highly anticipated celebration of brews, meat, and local products is slated to return to Vancouver on Sunday, July 9, 2023. This one-of-a-kind, ultra-meaty, outdoor culinary experience features chefs cooking up locally sourced products and ingredients at the event site at Concord Pacific Place.
When: July 9, 2023, from noon to 4 pm
Where: Concord Pacific Place, Vancouver
The Vegan Market
Canada’s first and only 100% plant-based night market is gearing up for a busy summer season, and foodies and shoppers will want to join the fun. The Vegan Market, hosted by Peaces, has announced that its bi-weekly summer series will begin on Thursday, June 8 at The Waldorf Hotel. The plant-based food-fuelled parties invite guests to enjoy a drink while you shop from local businesses, makers, and brands.
When: June 8, June 22, July 13, July 27, August 3, August 17, August 31, 2023
Time: 6 to 10 pm
Where: Waldorf Hotel, 1489 East Hastings Street, Vancouver, plus a location to be announced.
Tickets: Minimum donation of $4 or canned goods, clothing, or pet food. Children are free.
Red Truck Beer Company’s Truck Stop Concert Series 2023
This year, the brewery will be celebrating its seventh year of the concert series with a diverse lineup of local and international performers. The three-show outdoor concert series will take place on June 17, July 15, and August 12 this summer, right at the brewery’s spacious outdoor area in East Van.
When: June 17, July 15, and August 12
Where: Red Truck Beer Company, 295 East 1st Avenue, Vancouver
Tickets: Online
Port Moody Ribfest 2023
Port Moody Rotary Ribfest is officially returning to Metro Vancouver this summer, and we’re already pumped about it. The annual celebration of all things ribs will take place over three days this year, July 21 to 23, 2023.
This event typically features a lively beer garden, live music, family-friendly events, tented seating, and of course, lots and lots of ribs.
When: July 21 to 23, 2023
August:
The Vegan Market
Canada’s first and only 100% plant-based night market is gearing up for a busy summer season, and foodies and shoppers will want to join the fun. The Vegan Market, hosted by Peaces, has announced that its bi-weekly summer series will begin on Thursday, June 8 at The Waldorf Hotel. The plant-based food-fuelled parties invite guests to enjoy a drink while you shop from local businesses, makers, and brands.
When: June 8, June 22, July 13, July 27, August 3, August 17, August 31, 2023
Time: 6 to 10 pm
Where: Waldorf Hotel, 1489 East Hastings Street, Vancouver, plus a location to be announced.
Tickets: Minimum donation of $4 or canned goods, clothing, or pet food. Children are free.
Red Truck Beer Company’s Truck Stop Concert Series 2023
Courtesy Red Truck Beer
This year, the brewery will be celebrating its seventh year of the concert series with a diverse lineup of local and international performers. The three-show outdoor concert series will take place on June 17, July 15, and August 12 this summer, right at the brewery’s spacious outdoor area in East Van.
When: June 17, July 15, and August 12
Where: Red Truck Beer Company, 295 East 1st Avenue, Vancouver
Tickets: Online
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