Autumn has arrived, but that doesn’t mean you need to break the bank! Here are 41 free things to do in Vancouver this fall, from Halloween to farmers’ markets, Yoga to Lumière and more!
For more things happening around town check out our events section.
Enjoy the great outdoors
Olde Harvest Fair
- What: Celebrate the harvest with food, neighbourly competitions and music. While the kids play in the hay, enjoy local vendors and artisans, live music and dancing, warm apple cider, performances by The Re-Enactors, tours of the 1894 farmhouse, and more.
- When: Saturday, September 22, 2018
- Time: 11 am to 3 pm
- Where: Historic Stewart Farm – 13723 Crescent Rd, Surrey
- Admission: Free
World Rivers Day – Watershed Tour
- What: Through games and activities, explore big concepts in some of the most beautiful parts of the Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve. Take a trip over the Seymour Falls Dam on a magic school bus and walk along the lower river through beautiful trails.
- When: Sunday, September 23, 2018
- Time: 9 am to 12 pm
- Where: Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve, North Vancouver
- Admission: Free. Ages 3+. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Registration Required 604-432-6430. Barcode 7488
Mat Collective Free Fall Yoga
- What: Take advantage of Vancouver’s beautiful autumn days and take part in free fall yoga, hosted by the Mat Collective. Fall classes will take place in September, October, and November at City Hall, in downtown Vancouver, Granville Island, and Kits Beach.
- When: Various dates through September to November
- Time: Times vary, check schedule for details
- Where: Downtown (800 Robson Street), City Hall (2600-2799 Yukon St.), Granville Island (1404 Anderson Street), Kits Beach (1015 Maple Street), East Vancouver (520 E 1st Ave (Emily Carr)
- Admission: Free
For your own safety, please make sure you are prepared before heading out on your next adventure. Information on how to prepare for your trip and stay safe while on your hike is available from North Shore Rescue and AdventureSmart.
Explore the city
Vancouver Ribfest
- What: The first annual Vancouver Ribfest features four powerhouse smokers including the Crazy Canuck Smokers (Brantford, Ontario), Blazing BBQ (Calgary, Alberta), Big M’s Smokin’ Bones BBQ (Ontario), and Billy’s BBQ (Michigan, USA). Other foodie draws include Lemon Heaven, Calgary Mini Donuts, Monster Ice Cream, Tator King (blooming onion and fries), and a craft beer garden. Additional features include live entertainment on The Big Sticky Stage and fierce competitions like the Best Rack Competition and an all-new Ribbers Olympics.
- When: Friday, September 21 to Sunday, September 23, 2018
- Time: 11 am to 9 pm (Friday and Saturday), 11 am to 7 pm (Sunday)
- Where: Plaza of Nations – 750 Pacific Boulevard, Vancouver
- Admission: Free entry
CapFest
CapFest/Capilano University
- What: Capilano University is throwing CapFest, a massive event for the broader community, to celebrate its 50th anniversary. The free-to-attend all-day event features multiple stages with live music and DJs, food trucks and a family-friendly beer garden. You can tour the new murals on campus, explore an Indigenous festival, see film screenings, visit an experience fair, where you can measure your abilities against world-class records, and take on an escape room challenge. There’s also going to be an alumni homecoming hospitality tent and activities for children.
- When: Saturday, September 22, 2018
- Time: 2 to 9 pm
- Where: Capilano University’s North Vancouver campus – 2055 Purcell Way
- Price: FREE admission
Etsy: Made in Canada
- What: Organized by a collaborative team of Etsy Team Captains and volunteers, Vancouver’s Etsy Team transforms UBC Robson Square into a marketplace bursting with handcrafted goods and vintage treasures. Everything available at the Etsy Made in Canada pop-up is made by local sellers with captivating stories, including unique handmade and vintage goods like jewellery, accessories, home décor and treasures for kids. Just in time for the Fall, the pop-up will also have top picks for Thanksgiving table décor, Halloween décor and costumes, DIY crafts, early Holiday finds and more.
- When: Saturday, September 29, 2018
- Time: 10 am to 6 pm
- Where: UBC Robson Square, 800 Robson Street
- Admission: Free
Museum of Surrey Grand Opening
- What: Be among the first to play, laugh and explore Surrey’s very own museum. In addition to Dinosaurs Unearthed, see the TD Explore Zone and everything else Museum of Surrey has to offer. Bring the family to experience live performances, textile demonstrations, crafts, activities and scavenger hunts.
- When: Saturday, September 29, 2018
- Time: 11 am to 3 pm
- Where: Museum of Surrey – 17710 56a Ave, Surrey
- Admission: Free
Heritage Apple Day
- What: Sample a variety of apples, learn about pollinators, try your hand at old-fashioned chores and enjoy fiddlers, artists and historians. All ages.
- When: Saturday, September 29, 2018
- Time: 11 am to 2 pm
- Where: Derby Reach Regional Park – Meet at Heritage Area on Allard Crescent, north of 96th Ave, 4 km west of Fort Langley
- Admission: Free
Diwali Festival 2018
- What: A wide range of cultural events celebrating Diwali will be taking place at various locations in Vancouver and Surrey. This includes everything from a South Asian cooking class, a dinner and dance, and a massive performance at Vancouver Public Library.
- When: Various dates in October and November 2018
- Time: Various times
- Where: Various locations throughout Metro Vancouver
- Price: Prices vary from Free to $20
UNIQLO & GO Mobile Pop-Up
- What: Not only is Metro Vancouver getting a new UNIQLO location this fall, the city is also getting a pop-up of the clothing brand. Fans of the Japanese clothing store will have another place to shop in Vancouver when UNIQLO opens an immersive pop-up shop downtown. According to UNIQLO, guests will be able to e-commerce themselves and ‘step into’ the newly launched app/mobile e-commerce site, preview the F/W18 collection and make on-site purchases via the Mobile Site. Giveaways will also be up for grabs.
- When: Wednesday, October 17 to Saturday, October 20, 2018
- Time: TBA
- Where: TBD
- Admission: Free
Night for All Souls
- What: Curated by artists Paula Jardine and Marina Szijarto, this unique cultural event offers the public an opportunity to remember their dead, whether interred at Mountain View Cemetery or not, in a gentle atmosphere of contemplative beauty.
- When: Saturday, October 27 to Thursday, November 1, 2018
- Time: Various times
- Where: Mountain View Cemetery- 5455 Fraser St., Vancouver
- Admission: All events are free. Donations are welcome.
Halloween on the Heights
- What: Families are invited to dress up and go trick or treating down Hastings Street. Kids and their adults will be able to get yummy treats from neighbourhood stores and ride the Halloween Trains in the Dark.
- When: Tuesday, October 31, 2018
- Trick or Treating from 3:30 to 5:30 pm
- Halloween Trains in the Dark from 6 to 9 pm
- Where:
- Trick or Treating is along Hastings Street in Burnaby
- Halloween Trains in the Dark at Burnaby Central Railway at Confederation Park – 120 North Willingdon Avenue, Burnaby
- Tickets: All events are free, except the Halloween Trains in the Dark, which costs $3.50 and includes free hot chocolate and cookies. Costumes strongly encouraged
Lumière YVR 2018
Luna the Whale/Image: Alison Boulier
- What: Lighting up Vancouver’s iconic West End, English Bay and Jim Deva Plaza, Lumiere is a series of light art installations, performances and community building initiatives.
- When: Launching November 2018
- Time: Various times
- Where: West End, English Bay, and Jim Deva Plaza.
- Price: Free
Deer Lake Craft Festival
- What: The 46th annual event will feature more than 60 artisans, all of whom have been juried into the show and selected for their high-quality handcrafted creations. Glass blowers, sculptors, potters, fashion and jewellery designers, woodworkers and more will be among those assembled for the show. Visitors will also be able to choose from a wide selection of foodstuffs – chocolate, spices, Christmas cakes, cookies, jams and jellies, chutneys and designer honey, to name a few.
- When: Friday, November 16 to Sunday, November 18, 2018
- Time: 11 am to 7 pm (Friday), 10 am to 4 pm (Saturday and Sunday)
- Where: Shadbolt Centre for the Arts – 6450 Deer Lake Avenue, Burnaby
- Admission: Free
Dundarave Festival of Lights
- What: Fabulously festive and absolutely free, the Dundarave Christmas Fair kicks off their 10th anniversary in 2018, featuring four Saturdays of free concerts in the Festival Longhouse on Dundarave Beach. Claim a tree in the Forest of Miracles and enjoy one of the most spirited decorating parties anywhere.
- When: Saturday, December 1 to Saturday, December 22, 2018
- Time: Various times
- Where: Dundarave Park, West Vancouver
- Admission: Free
Yule Duel Vancouver 2017 carolling competition
- What: Hundreds of voices from Vancouver’s best choirs will again echo through the streets of Gastown on Thursday, December 6, 2018, during Yule Duel: BC’s largest outdoor carolling competition.
- When: Thursday, December 6, 2018
- Time: 6 to 9 pm
- Where: Gastown
- Admission: Free, but a $5 donation to May’s Place is suggested.
Remembrance Day Ceremonies
Remembrance Day poppies (Sergii Votit/Shutterstock)
Victory Square Cenotaph
- Where: Victory Square – 200
- Time: 9:45 am
Richmond Cenotaph
- Parade: 10:20 am
- Where: Richmond City Hall – 6911 Road No. 3, Richmond
- Time: 10:40 am
Whalley Legion
- Where: 13525 – 106 Avenue, Surrey
- Time: 10:25 am
Port Coquitlam Cenotaph Service
- Where: Veterans Park – 2580 Shaughnessy Street, Port Coquitlam
- Time: 11 am
Douglas Park Cenotaph
- Parade: 10:25 am. Begins at Legion Branch 21, 20570 – 56 Avenue, Langley
- Where: Douglas Park Cenotaph, Langley
- Time: 11 am
Get fresh at farmers’ markets
Downtown Farmers’ Market
- When: Every Thursday until Thursday, October 4, 2018
- Time: 3 to 7 pm
- Where: Queen Elizabeth Theatre – 650 Hamilton Street, Vancouver
- Admission: Free
Kitsilano Farmers’ Market
- When: Every Sunday until Sunday, October 21, 2018
- Time: 10 am to 2 pm
- Where: Parking lot of Kits Community Centre – 2690 Larch Street, Vancouver
- Admission: Free
Trout Lake Farmers’ Market
- When: Every Saturday until Saturday, October 20, 2018
- Time: 9 am to 2 pm
- Where: Lakewood Drive and 13th Avenue, Vancouver
- Admission: Free
West End Farmers’ Market
- When: Every Saturday until Saturday, October 20, 2018
- Time: 9 am to 2 pm
- Where: West End Farmers Market – 1100 Comox Street, Vancouver
- Admission: Free
Main Street Station Farmers’ Market
Image: Vancouver Farmers Market
- When: Every Wednesday until Wednesday, October 3, 2018
- Time: 2 to 6 pm
- Where: Main Street Station – 1100 Station Street, Vancouver
- Admission: Free
Mount Pleasant Farmers’ Market
- When: Every Sunday until Sunday, October 7, 2018
- Time: 10 am to 2 pm
- Where: Dude Chilling Park – 2390 Brunswick Street, Vancouver
- Admission: Free
Riley Park Farmers’ Market
- When: Every Saturday until Saturday, October 27, 2018
- Time: 10 am to 2 pm
- Where: Riley Park – 50 East 30th Avenue, Vancouver
- Admission: Free
River District Farmers’ Market
- When: Every Saturday until Saturday, October 14, 2018
- Time: 10 am to 3 pm
- Where: Kerr Street Plaza – 8683 Street, Vancouver
- Admission: Free
Ambleside Farmers’ Market
- When: Every Sunday until Sunday, October 28, 2018
- Time: 10 am to 3 pm
- Where: Ambleside Park – 1000 Argyle AveWest Vancouver
- Admission: Free
Lonsdale Quay Farmers’ Market
Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock
- When: Every Saturday until Saturday October 27, 2018
- Time: 10 am to 3 pm
- Where: East Plaza of the Lonsdale Quay Market – 123 Carrie Cates Court, North Vancouver
- Admission: Free
Clayton Community Farmers’ Market
- When: Select Sundays until September 30, 2018
- Time: 10 am to 3 pm
- Where: Clayton Heights Secondary School, 7003 188 St, Surrey
- Admission: Free
Kwantlen Street Farmers’ Market
- When: Every Tuesday until Tuesday, October 2, 2018
- Time: 12 to 4 pm
- Where: Plaza in between the Richmond Public Library and the Minoru Place Seniors’ Centre – 7660 Minoru Gate, Richmond
- Admission: Free
Burnaby Artisan Farmers’ Market
Maram/Shutterstock
- When: Every Saturday from now to October 27, 2018
- Time: 9 am to 2 pm
- Where: North Parking Lot of Burnaby City Hall (4949 Canada Way at Deer Lake Pkwy)
- Admission: Free
Poirier Street Market
- What: Launched in 1996, the Poirier Street Farmers’ Market is the longest running suburban farmers market in the Lower Mainland. The Poirier Street Market hosts a diversity of vendors and products from May through October. Each week a wide variety of vendors gather to showcase their products – made, baked, grown, or raised in BC.
- When:
- Time: 9 am to 1 pm
- Where: Dogwood Pavilion Parking Lot – 624 Poirier Street, Coquitlam
- Admission: Free
Surrey Urban Farmers’ Market
- What: A vibrant, multi-cultural Farmers’ Market, promoting small-scale farmers, food producers and artisans. Meet farmers, bakers, distillers, artisan and crafters, food trucks, community groups, and more.
- When: Every Wednesday to October 3, 2018
- Time: 2 to 6 pm
- Where: North Surrey Rec Centre – 10275 City Parkway, Surrey
- Admission: Free
Haney Farmers’ Market
- What: A vibrant outdoor Saturday market in downtown Maple Ridge, Haney Farmers’ Market sells fresh farm produce, locally-grown fruit and veg, preserves, baked goods, artisan crafts, fine art, and more.
- When: Saturdays until November 10, 2018
- Time: 9 am to 2 pm
- Where: Memorial Peace Park – 224th Street, Maple Ridge
Port Coquitlam Farmers’ Market
- What: Inspired by, and created in collaboration with the Haney Farmers’ Market Society, the Port Coquitlam Farmers’ Market is part of a larger plan to strengthen Port Coquitlam’s downtown centre through arts, cultural and heritage programming.
- When: Thursdays until October 11, 2018
- Time: 3 to 7 pm
- Where: 2253 Leigh Square, Port Coquitlam
Langley Community Farmers’ Market
- What: Explore the dozens of local makers, bakers, and growers at two weekly locations of Langley Community Farmers’ Market.
- When: Wednesdays until October 10, 2018, and Saturdays until October 6th, 2018
- Time: 12 to 4:30 pm (Wednesdays), 10 am to 2 pm (Saturdays)
- Where: Kwantlen Langley Campus Courtyard – 20901 Langley Bypass, Langley (Wednesday), Timms Community Centre – 20339 Douglas Crescent, Langley (Saturdays)
Fort Langley Village Farmers’ Market
- What: You’ll find fresh groceries (fresh foods picked from local farmers’ fields in the Fraser and Okanagan Valleys), along with plants, flowers, and other artisan goods at this weekly market in Fort Langley.
- When: Saturdays until October 27, 2018
- Time: 10 am to 3 pm
- Where: St. Andrews Historic Church – 9025 Glover Road in Fort Langley
Enjoy the night market
North Vancouver’s Shipyards Night Market
@shipyardsnightmarket/Instagram
- What: Shipbuilders’ Square in North Vancouver will be transformed into a vibrant night market with 100+ vendors every Friday night. Gathering some of Vancouver’s best food vendors, this free event will feature a full farmers’ and artisan marketplace along with local food trucks and live entertainment.
- When: Every Friday night from now to September 28, 2018
- When: 5 to 10 pm
- Where: Shipbuilders’ Square – 15 Wallace Mews, North Vancouver
- Admission: Free
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