October is zooming by! Take a moment for yourself this week by checking out these 28 things to do in Vancouver from Monday, October 21 to Thursday, October 24. Thom Yorke, Spooktober, and more.
For even more things happening around town check out our events section.
Monday, October 21
Thom Yorke
Thom Yorke (Radiohead/Instagram)
What: Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke brings his solo tour to Vancouver on October 21. Yorke will be performing with special guest Tomorrow’s Modern Boxes, audiovisual composer Tarik Barri, as well as Nigel Godrich. The last solo album Thom Yorke produced was Suspiria in October 2018, the soundtrack album for the horror film Suspiria.
When: October 21, 2019
Time: 8 pm
Where: The Orpheum — 601 Smithe St, Vancouver
Tickets: Online
Lucy Dacus
What: Virginia indie singer-songwriter and musician Lucy Dacus performs at the Rio Theatre with special guest Liza Anne.
When: October 21, 2019
Time: Doors 7 pm, show 8 pm
Where: Rio Theatre – 1660 East Broadway, Vancouver
Tickets: Online
The Who
What: The Who are taking over the Rogers Arena on October 21 as part of their 2019 North American ‘Moving On’ tour. They will be joined by special guest Liam Gallagher.
When: October 21, 2019
Time: Doors 6:30 pm, show 7:30 pm
Where: Rogers Arena — 800 Griffiths Way, Vancouver
Tickets: Online
FEAST: Asian Dining Festival 2019
What: FEAST: Asian Dining Festival kicks off on October 18 and runs through November 18, 2019, this year. Urging diners to broaden their horizons and try a variety of Richmond restaurants – old and new – FEAST allows diners to indulge family-style.
Participants can expect curated menus when they dine in groups of four to 10 people, and some signature dishes, specialty items, and recommended FEAST menu options at a special price during the festival.
When: Now until November 18, 2019
Time: Various hours of operation
Where: Participating restaurants in Richmond
More Info: Online
Vancouver Writers Fest 2019
Vancouver Writers Fest (Credit Alexandra Bolduc)
What: The 2019 Vancouver Writers Fest features over 100 authors and over 80 events on Granville Island and across Vancouver. The Festival features readings, workshops, performances, Q&As and more. Artists and authors include guest curator Tanya Tagala, youngest ever Griffin Poetry Prize winner Bill-Ray Belcourt, former Chief Justice Beverly McLachlin and BC Book Prize winner Laisha Rosnau; international superstars Mona Awad, Tash Aw and Stephen Chbosky, and more
When: October 21 until October 27, 2019
Time: Various times
Where: Various locations
Tickets: Online
Scream Train 2019
What: The Scream Train ride takes visitors on a journey through a forest that “comes alive with ghosts and ghouls intent on scaring you amidst creepy sounds and special effects.” The attraction includes such “favourite” characters as Chainsaw Charlie, as well as the walking dead who roam the platform every Halloween.
For the younger ghouls and goblins, there’s the Halloween Train Ride to the Pumpkin Patch. On this journey, kids can delight in the crafts and activities under the tent on the platform. In addition, each child who’s paid admission will receive a treat to enjoy on the pumpkin express, as it travels through the decorated forest.
When: Now to October 31, 2019
Time: 6:30 pm to 10 pm
Where: Bear Creek Park – 13750 88th Avenue, Surrey
Admission: $13 per person
White Rock Farmers’ Market
What: Live music, over 80 vendors, and great local produce and food products make the White Rock Farmers’ Market a great community event for South Surrey and White Rock.
When: Every Monday until October 27, 2019
Time: 10 am to 2 pm
Where: 15154 Russell Avenue (Beside Whaling Wall) in White Rock
Admission: Free
Tuesday, October 22
Spooktober – Dare to Laugh
Spooktober/VTS
What: Spooktober is Vancouver TheatreSports’ seasonal comedy celebration of all things eerie. Check out Monster Matches, Cult Fiction, and Kreepy Kitty leading up to the big day, and Halloween Howl on October 26.
When: October 22 to October 31, 2019
Time: Various times
Where: The Improv Centre – 1502 Duranleau St, Vancouver
Tickets: Online
TechVancouver
What: TechVancouver is a monthly meeting of tech leaders, innovators, and enthusiasts. Learn from their experiences and expertise in a variety of presentations and panels.
When: October 22, 2019
Time: 6 to 9 pm
Where: Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre – 181 Roundhouse Mews, Vancouver
Tickets: Online
Revision: the art of recycling
What: Burnaby Arts Council presents ReVision: the art of recycling at Deer Lake Gallery, featuring a non-profit society of artists. Explore artwork made from upcycled waste materials and discarded objects, workshops, artist talks, events, and more.
When: Now until October 26, 2019 (closed Sundays, Mondays and Holidays)
When: Various times
Where: Deer Lake Gallery – 6584 Deer Lake Ave, Burnaby
Admission: By donation
Out of Concealment – Female Supernatural Beings of Haida Gwaii
What: Bill Reid Gallery presents the Vancouver premiere of Terri-Lynn Williams-Davidson’s solo exhibition Out of Concealment. Williams-Davidson honours Indigenous feminine power by re-imagining supernatural figures from Haida tradition. Her vivid portraits — which feature Williams-Davidson herself — use creative design, photographic collage, and subtle integration of designs by celebrated Haida artist Robert Davidson.
When: October 22, 2019 (opening celebration), Exhibition from October 23, 2019 to April 5, 2020
Times: 6 to 8 pm (opening celebration), Various times
Where: Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art – 639 Hornby Street, Vancouver
Tickets: Online
Weapon of Choice: Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse
LedyX / Shutterstock
What: This exhibit transports you to a world where the the zombie apocalypse has descended upon the city of Vancouver and you and your friends are trapped in The Vancouver Police Museum.
Luckily, this museum has a large weapons collection, and to defend yourself against the zombies, you need to select a weapon from those in the museum’s collection. Peruse the available guns, bats and blow darts and make your choice. However, attendees are advised to choose wisely, as “not all weapons guarantee your survival,” according to the museum.
When: Tuesdays to Saturdays until the end of October 2019
Time: 9 am to 5 pm
Where: Vancouver Police Museum – 240 E Cordova St, Vancouver
Admission: $12 Adult; $10 Student/Senior (ID required); $8 Youth (6 – 18 years old); $30 Family (2 youth & 2 adults
City of Vancouver Career Fair
What: City of Vancouver is hosting its first city-wide Career Fair. The one-day event will take place on Tuesday, October 22 and will allow locals to meet staff and recruiters from a selection of departments across the city.
The Career Fair is free to attend and although drop-ins are welcome, registration via Eventbrite is preferred. The City of Vancouver has also said, that in keeping with its Greenest City goals, they will not be accepting paper resumes.
When: October 22, 2019
Time: 3 to 6 pm
Where: CityLab Vancouver – 511 West Broadway, Vancouver
Register: Online, Free of charge
Wael Shawky: Al Araba Al Madfuna
What: For the first time in Western Canada, Egyptian artist Wael Shawky will be showing a collection of his latest work with Al Araba Al Madfuna. Shawky’s contemporary artwork gives visitors the chance to see how history and mythology blur together, or become interchanged as we search for meaning and narrative in real life.
Check out screenings of the multilayered film productions Al Araba Al Madfuna I and Al Araba Al Madfuna II, which will take place during the run of the exhibition on select days. Each explores how mythologies are recorded alongside our current narratives of uncertainty and change.
When: Tuesdays to Sundays from now until January 12, 2020. Closed Mondays
Time: 10 am to 5 pm
Where: The Polygon Gallery — 101 Carrie Cates Court, North Vancouver
Price: By donation
Wednesday, October 23
Matt Mays
Matt Mays / Facebook
What: JUNO-award winner Matt Mays brings his Howl At The Night Tour to Vancouver on October 23 with special guest Skye Wallace.
When: October 23, 2019
Time: Doors 7 pm
Where: Vogue Theatre – 918 Granville St., Vancouver
Tickets: Online
Stage 43 presents The Creature Creeps
What: Stage 43’s latest show is The Creature Creeps, a comedic exploration of the horror genre. Expect to see a mad scientist, hear creaking doors, and meet a cast of classic spooky characters.
When:
Time: 8 pm
Where: Evergreen Cultural Centre – 1205 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam
Tickets: Online
Saints, Sinners and Souvenirs: Italian Masterworks on Paper
What: The Burnaby Art Gallery presents Saints, Sinners and Souvenirs: Italian Masterworks on Paper. The exhibition showcases Italian Master prints and drawings from Vancouver-area public and private collections, from the Renaissance to the late 18th century.
When: Tuesdays to Sunday until November 17, 2019. Closed Mondays and stat holidays
Time: 10 am to 4:30 pm (Tuesday to Friday), 12 to 5 pm (Saturdays and Sundays)
Where: Burnaby Art Gallery – 6344 Deer Lake Ave, Burnaby
Admission: Suggested donation $5
Cost Of Living
What: A 2018 Pulitzer Prize-winning play about relationships and living with physical disabilities, and filled with surprise humour. The play tells the story of a wealthy student being cared for by a young down-on-her-luck woman, and a man who rebuilds an old connection by providing assistance to his ex-wife.
When: Tuesdays to Sundays until November 3, 2019
Time: Various times
Where: Goldcorp Stage at the BMO Theatre Centre – 203 – 162 West 1st Avenue, Vancouver
Tickets: Online
The Lost Souls of Gastown
What: This Halloween season you can step into the dark history of Vancouver’s earliest years on the Lost Souls of Gastown tour. Hear stories of deadly fire, smallpox, and murder as you explore the cobblestone streets of Victorian Gastown.
When: Daily until November 2, 2019 (no tour on October 13)
Time: 8 to 9:30 pm
Where: Meeting point at Cathedral Square, at Dunsmuir and Richards
Tickets: Online
The Wailers
What: Reggae legends The Wailers celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Survival at Imperial on October 23 with special guest Secret 77.
When: October 23, 2019
Time: 8 pm
Where: Imperial – 319 Main Street Vancouver
Tickets: Online
ECS Fundamentals
What: ECS Education is the missing link in understanding Endocrine dysfunction. This course provides cannabis education that will shed light on the dynamics of the endocannabinoid and endocrine systems and how they synergistically provide us with quality of life as we age.
When: October 23, 2019
Time: 11 am to 3 pm
Where: i-Training STUDIO – 208-2520 Ontario Street
Tickets: Available online for $199
Thursday, October 24
Chefs on Deck for Camp Goodtimes
Chefs on Deck for Camp Goodtimes
What: Chefs on Deck at Cactus Club Cafe at English Bay features chefs from some of Vancouver’s top restaurants, including JC Poirier of St. Lawrence, Mike Robbins of AnnaLena, Lee Cooper of Coquille and L’Abattoir, Andrea Carlson of Burdock and Co., Alex Chen of Boulevard, and Cactus’ Rob Feenie. Along with the oceanfront ambience, guests will receive a multi-course tasting menu from and expert wine pairings from sommeliers Shiva Reddy of Savio Volpe and Sebastien LeGoff from Cactus Club.
The event raises funds for Camp Goodtimes, a charity that has been providing a place for children with cancer to go to summer camp (as well as year-round programs) in conjunction with the Canadian Cancer Society since 1985.
When: October 24, 2019
Time: 6:30 pm
Where: Cactus Club Cafe – 1790 Beach Avenue, British Columbia
Tickets: $215 ticket + 18% gratuity, available online
Vancouver Public Library Book Sale
What: Vancouver Public Library is holding a huge book sale from October 24 to 26, in the Alice McKay Room, at the VPL’s main branch at 350 West Georgia Street. More than just books, however, the sale will also feature CDs and video games among the offerings. All sales are final, and attendees are asked to bring their own bags to carry their new finds home in. Prices start at just 50 cents for some items, and anything that remains unsold by Saturday will be half price.
When: October 24 to 26, 2019
Time: 10 am to 9 pm Oct. 24, 10 am to 6 pm on Oct. 25 and 26.
Where: Alice MacKay Room, Vancouver Public Library central branch – 350 West Georgia St
Admission: Free
SPARK ANIMATION 2019 Film Festival
What: SPARK ANIMATION celebrates the impact of animation on today’s entertainment industry and honours the diversity of films and techniques in the field. Highlights include Hollywood producer Bonnie Arnold receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award, a 20th Anniversary screening of Disney’s Tarzan with the co-directors, the SPARK Animation Conference and Career Fair, film premieres and screenings, and more. Proceeds from this year’s festival will be donated to Covenant House Vancouver.
When: October 24 to 27, 2019
Time: Various times
Where: Various locations
Tickets: Online
Chutzpah! Festival
What: The Chutzpah! Festival celebrates all aspects of Jewish culture, with Canadian and international artists performing theatre, comedy, dance, music, and more at venues around Vancouver.
When: October 24 to November 24, 2019
Time: Various times
Where: Various locations
Tickets: Online
Helly Hansen Clearance Sale
Helly Hansen/Facebook
What: Norwegian brand Helly Hansen is having ahuge pre-winter clearance sale at their Queensborough Landing store in New West from Thursday, October 24 to Thursday, October 31. Get anything from 50% to 80% off top-of-the-range, all-weather apparel for men and women such as jackets, base layers, pants, and accessories available.
When: October 24 to October 31, 2019
Time:
- Thursday, October 24: 10 am to 9 pm
- Friday, October 25: 10 am to 9 pm
- Saturday, October 26: 10 am to 6 pm
- Sunday, October 27: 11 am to 6 pm
- Monday, October 28: 10 am to 6 pm
- Tuesday, October 29: 10 am to 6 pm
- Wednesday, October 30: 10 am to 6 pm
- Thursday, October 31: 10 am to 9 pm
Where: Helly Hansen Queensborough Landing — H140-805 Boyd Street, New Westminster
Admission: Free
The Vancouver Fall Home Show
What: Fall in love with your home all over again at the Vancouver Fall Home Show. Explore the marketplace filled with home-related products and services. Attendees will see HGTV Canada stars Bryan Baeumler of Island of Bryan and Sabrina Smelko of Save My Reno, plus learn from many demos and presentations to help you with your next home project.
When: October 24 to October 27, 2019
Time: Various times
Where: Vancouver Convention Centre West Building – 1055 Canada Place, Vancouver
Tickets: Online
Everywhere From Here: New works by David Wilson
What: Vancouver painter David Wilson has had his work collected nationally and internationally with an extensive history of solo and group exhibitions. His latest exhibition, Everywhere From Here is being shown at a pop-up gallery on Granville Island.
When: October 24 to November 5, 2019
Time: 11 am to 6 pm daily or by appointment.
Where: 1387 Railspur Alley, Granville Island, Vancouver
Admission: Free