Over 20 FREE and cheap events to check out in Vancouver this spring
Save your money this spring! Check out these 27 free and inexpensive things to do around Metro Vancouver this season.
Vaisakhi Parade, Jazz Festival, and Dragon Boat events. What are you in the mood for?
Be sure to check out our Listed section for more fantastic things happening around town. And to stay up to date on everything happening in Vancouver, B.C., and beyond, sign up for our newsletters.
Events and activities in and around Metro Vancouver
Tian Jin Festival
Tian Jin Festival
What: Celebrating the city’s multiculturalism and highlighting Taiwanese food in particular, TJ Fest is a highly anticipated annual event, celebrating its 14th year this May.
Taking place across two blocks at the Tian-Jin Temple at 3426 Smith Avenue, guests can enjoy expanded offerings set up in an adjacent park featuring free activities for children and families, live entertainment, food and artisan vendors, and more.
When: May 3 and 4, 2025
Time: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Tian-Jin Temple — 3426 Smith Ave., Burnaby
Cost: Free
VSO Day of Music
What: Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and the VSO School of Music present Day of Music, with 12 hours of free concerts of various music genres for all ages to discover in venues across the city.
When: May 24, 2025
Time: Various performances between 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Where: Various venues across the Lower Mainland
Cost: Free
Italian Day 2025
What: Let your tastebuds start tingling! Vancouver’s annual celebration of Italian culture, heritage, and community returns this spring.
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 8, 2025
Time: 12 to 8 p.m.
Where: Commercial Drive (Venables Street to Grandview Highway), Vancouver
Cost: Free
Surrey Khalsa Day Vaisakhi Parade
Surrey Vaisakhi Parade (Peter Newton/Shutterstock)
What: The largest Vaisakhi parade in the world returns to Metro Vancouver this spring.
Surrey Khalsa Day Vaisakhi Parade, organized by Gurdwara Sahib Dasmesh Darbar, will take place on Saturday, April 19. Over 500,000 people are expected to enjoy the variety of floats, live music and dancers, and community groups.
Hundreds of booths along the parade route, sponsored by local businesses and families, will provide free food and treats to the crowds.
When: April 19, 2025
Time: 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Starts at the Gurdwara Dasmesh Darbar – 12885 85th Ave., Surrey
Cost: Free
Vessi 500 Dragon Boat Championship
What: Vessi 500 Championship, one of the province’s largest dragon boat races, returns to False Creek. There will be four categories of races throughout the family-friendly event, as well as a Vessi pavilion and partner tents, a dragon boat-painting experience, and more.
When: May 31, 2025
Time: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Concord Pacific Place, Creekside Park, and False Creek, Vancouver
Admission: Free
Hats Off Day
What: The long-running free festival, which is called Hats Off Day because it’s a day for local businesses to “take their hats off” to their community, features live performances, kid-friendly activities, a show and shine, and, of course, plenty of delicious food.
Organized by the Burnaby Heights Merchants Association, as well as the Hats Off committee and the Burnaby Heights community, the 12-block event is expected to draw up to 50,000 visitors to the area.
When: June 7, 2025
Time: 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Hastings Street, between Gamma Avenue and Boundary Road, Burnaby
Cost: Free
Vancouver Hong Kong Fair
What: The annual Vancouver Hong Kong Fair, presented by HK House, is the biggest Hong Konger cultural celebration in Canada. Guests can visit the free event to learn about the region’s Hong Konger community while checking out the numerous vendors and activities.
When: May 11, 2025
Time: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Where: The Shipyards — 125 Victory Ship Way, North Vancouver
Concord Pacific Dragon Boat Festival
Canadian International Dragon Boat Festival Society
What: Over 100,000 visitors and racers are expected to attend the city’s biggest Dragon Boat celebration. The two-day event will include the international dragon boat races and an expanded range of programming, and free concerts throughout the day.
When: June 20 to 22, 2025
Time: Various times
Where: Concord Pacific Place, Creekside Park, and False Creek, Vancouver
Admission: Free
North Vancouver’s Shipyards Night Market
What: North Vancouver’s Shipyards Night Market (SYNM) is celebrating its 12th anniversary in Lower Lonsdale in 2025. The popular free event takes place every Friday and features a beer garden, live music, market vendors and food trucks.
When: Every Friday from May 16 to Sept. 12, 2025
Time: 3 to 10 p.m.
Where: The Shipyards — 125 Victory Ship Way, North Vancouver
Cost: Free
MOSAIC’s 13th Annual Job Fair
What: Are you currently looking for work? Discover your next career at MOSAIC’s 13th Annual Job Fair on May 13 at the Anvil Centre.
Meet with dozens of employers looking to fill various jobs in business, finance, IT, hospitality, trades, healthcare, retail, customer service and more.
When: May 13, 2025
Where: Anvil Centre – 777 Columbia St., New Westminster
Cost: Free, register online
Janes Walk Vancouver
What: The annual Jane’s Walk Festival of free citizen-led walking tours is happening throughout Vancouver from May 1 to 4.
Hundreds of cities host Jane’s Walk events on the first weekend of May each year, with architects, community gardeners, artists, neighbours, and more hosting the walking conversations.
When: May 1 to 4, 2025
Time: Various times
Where: Various locations throughout Vancouver
Cost: Free, register online
Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival 2025
Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival
What: Get your cameras ready because the colourful Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival (VCBF) is returning this spring, and it will be blooming bigger than ever.
The festival is one of the city’s most beloved yearly events, with a huge lineup of events to discover from March 26 to April 28. The popular Blossoms After Dark takeover of David Lam Park also returns bigger than ever from March 28 to 30. Guests will enjoy added light art installations, a licensed lounge with a stage where you can try specially crafted cherry blossom cocktails, and roaming performers.
When: March 26 to April 28, 2025
Time: Various times
Where: Various locations around Metro Vancouver
40th Annual Vancouver Jazz Festival
What: The 40th annual Vancouver International Jazz Festival is returning to stages all over the city from Friday, June 20, to Tuesday, July 1.
The full lineup of events will be shared by the Coastal Jazz & Blues Society over the upcoming weeks. To get music lovers jazzed about this year’s fest, organizers announced the first two performances in this summer’s legendary lineup.
First up are headlining performances by Grammy-winning bassist and composer Richard Bona and his Asante trio on Monday, June 23, and world-class guitarist and composer Bill Frisell with Thomas Morgan and Rudy Royston on Tuesday, June 24.
When: June 20 to July 1, 2025
Time: Various times
Where: Various venues across Vancouver
Tickets: Free and ticketed events
Eastside Flea – Spring Fling Market
What: Eastside Flea features dozens local vendors offering a variety of items, including handmade goods and vintage clothing, collectibles and plants, artisan foods and more. Each event will also have food trucks on-site, beverages being served, and a photo booth.
When: March 29 and 30, 2025
Time: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: 1739 Venables St., Vancouver
Admission: $5
Party for the Planet
What: The City of Surrey is set to host the 14th annual Party for the Planet at Surrey Civic Plaza, presented by TD, on Saturday, April 26.
This year’s event will be packed full of entertainment and activities for the whole family. The best part is that it’s free to attend and just steps from the Surrey Central SkyTrain station.
When: April 26, 2025
Time: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Where: Surrey Civic Plaza – 13450 104 Ave., Surrey
Cost: Free
Easter at the Cannery
Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site/Facebook
What: This annual family-friendly weekend at the Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site features crafts, storytime, games, and the popular Easter Salmon Scavenger Hunt. Activities are suitable for children ages two to six, though all ages are welcome.
When: April 18 to 20, 2025
Time: 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site – 12138 4th Ave., Richmond
Cost: Special event admission of $6.50 for children two years old and above, $9.50 for adults 18+
Food Truck Wars 2025
What: Vancouver has an incredible food truck scene, and it’s natural to wonder which one is the best of the best. That’s what the Food Truck Wars are all about.
When: April 11 to 13, 2025
Time: 3 to 9 p.m. (Friday), 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. (Saturday), 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Sunday)
Where: Cloverdale Exhibition Grounds, Surrey
Cost: Entry by donation with partial proceeds being donated to the organization’s local charity partner. Purchase online
Let’s Hear It Live Juno Block Party
What: The Let’s Hear It Live Juno Block Party will showcase a variety of established Canadian talent and emerging artists on the TD Main Stage. Attendees will enjoy performances by local and Juno-nominated artists, discover a night market with local vendors and delicious food, and more.
The block party is just one of the events planned for Vancouver during the Junos season. There will also be an Indigenous business of music workshop, a music therapy session, an Indigenous storytelling circle and music industry mixer, and a lunchtime concert series at The Carnegie Centre.
When: March 27 to 29, 2025
Time: 4 to 10 p.m. (Thursday and Friday), 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. (Saturday)
Where: šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl’e7énḵ Square (Vancouver Art Gallery North Plaza)
Cost: Free, register online
Bunny Bingo at Capilano Mall
What: Capilano Mall invites everyone to join in the fluffy festivities in the Grand Court on April 19. Take part in bunny bingo for a chance to win prizes from Purdys Chocolatier. Then take a selfie with the Easter Bunny for a chance to win a Capilano Mall gift card.
When: April 19, 2025
Time: 12 to 2 p.m.
Where: Capilano Mall — 935 Marine Dr., North Vancouver
Cost: Free
Recurring events and activities
Bill Reid Gallery — Free Admission Day
Bill Reid Gallery
What: The Bill Reid Gallery is named after the renowned Haida artist and is the only public gallery dedicated to contemporary Indigenous Art of the Northwest Coast in the country. The gallery is home to the Simon Fraser University Bill Reid Collection and also hosts a variety of special exhibitions, workshops, panel discussions, and more.
Guests can visit the Bill Reid Gallery for free from 2 to 5 p.m. on the first Friday of each month.
When: The first Friday of every month
Time: 2 to 5 p.m.
Where: 639 Hornby St., Vancouver
Cost: By donation
Vancouver Public Library Movie Screenings
What: Vancouver Public Library hosts a variety of movie screenings for the public at its branches throughout the month, and the best part is they are free to check out. Expect to see the latest Hollywood Blockbusters, timeless classics, and more.
When: Various dates
Time: Various times
Where: Various VPL Branches
Cost: Free
Vancouver Art Gallery – Free First Friday Nights
Vancouver Art Gallery/Facebook
What: The Vancouver Art Gallery was founded in 1931 and is renowned as one of North America’s leading visual arts institutions. The largest public art museum in Western Canada currently has a variety of exhibitions on display, and you can check them out for free during the Free First Friday Nights events.
When: The first Friday of every month
Time: 4 to 8 p.m.
Where: 750 Hornby St., Vancouver
Cost: Free
Community Jam at The Improv Centre
What: The Improv Centre welcomes performers of all levels to get up onstage with professionally trained improvisers at its free monthly community jam. The 18+ event features theatre exercises, improv games, and more during the fun, interactive jam.
When: The last Saturday of every month
Time: 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Where: The Improv Centre – 1502 Duranleau St., Vancouver
Cost: Free
Eat fresh at farmers markets
White Rock Farmers Market
White Rock Farmers Market/Facebook
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 Sunday from April 20 to Oct. 12, 2025
Time: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: 15154 Russell Ave., White Rock (Beside Whaling Wall)
Burnaby Artisan Farmers Market
What: Launched in June 2008, this open-air market offers visitors an assortment of food and craft stalls to peruse. Shop for fresh fruits and veggies as well as artisan goods while you listen to live entertainers.
When: Every Saturday from May 10 until Oct. 18, 2025
Time: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: North Parking Lot of Burnaby City Hall – 4949 Canada Way at Deer Lake Parkway, Burnaby
Southlands Tsawwassen Farmers Market
What: This Delta farmers market features local produce, sweet treats, blooms, bevvies, artisans, live music, food trucks and more. There will also be themed celebrations on select dates throughout the season.
When: Every other Saturday from May 24 until Nov. 8, 2025
Time: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: Market Square, Southlands – 6313 Market Ave., Delta
Coquitlam Farmers Market
Coquitlam Farmers Market
What: The Coquitlam Farmers Market is celebrating its 29th year by gathering a curated lineup of farmers, bakers, crafters and makers, food trucks and more every Sunday.
When: Every Sunday from June to October 2025
Time: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Where: Dogwood Pavilion Parking Lot – 1655 Winslow Ave., Coquitlam