15 fun things to do in Vancouver this long weekend: Oct. 9 to 12
The Thanksgiving long weekend is upon us, and there are so many things to do around Vancouver.
Make the most of your time with our roundup of 15 fun events happening from Oct. 9 to 12. Cranberry Festival, aespa, and more.
Be sure to check out our Listed section for more fantastic things happening around town.
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Fort Langley Cranberry Festival
Fort Langley Project/Facebook
What: The 31st annual Fort Langley Cranberry Festival returns to the riverside community on Saturday, October 10.
A large turnout is expected as an estimated 35,000 guests attend the cranberry celebration each year. There are lots of activities for everyone to enjoy throughout the day, including 125 vendors and over 15 food trucks.
When: Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026
Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Fort Langley Village
Admission: Free of charge
BC Lions
What: BC Lions continue the CFL season at BC Place this fall. Roar on the home team as they welcome the Ottawa Redblacks on Oct. 9 and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Oct. 23.
When: Oct. 9 and 23, 2026
Time: 7 p.m.
Where: BC Place – 777 Pacific Blvd., Vancouver
Cost: Various; purchase online
Burnaby Central Railway
What: Burnaby Central Railway is welcoming passengers to climb aboard its 3-km track near Confederation Park every weekend until this fall. Your ride will take you across tunnels, bridges and viaducts. And while you’re there, stop by the ever-growing Garden Railway.
British Columbia Society of Model Engineers (BCSME) built and operates the mini railway, with three different types of locomotives pulling the rideable trains.
When: Weekends and stat holidays through Thanksgiving weekend
Time: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: 120 N Willingdon Ave., Burnaby
Cost: $4.50 for a single ride for all passengers three years old and up. $40 for a 10-ride pass
Vancouver International Music Festival: Competition, Gala Concert & Awards Ceremony
Vancouver International Music Festival
What: Vancouver International Music Festival: Competition invites all music lovers to the Final Round, Gala Concert, and Awards Ceremony events this week.
VIMC, presented by the Canada International Arts & Music Society, brings together talented young musicians from around the world for three days of performance, competition, education, and celebration. The 2026 competition features four categories — Piano, Strings, Voice, and Woodwinds, with Woodwinds introduced as a new category this year.
The Final Round takes place on Friday, Oct. 9, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the VSO School of Music with live performances before an international jury. There will also be masterclasses at Tom Lee Music from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 10.
The festival culminates with the Gala Concert and Awards Ceremony from 2 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 11, at the Orpheum Theatre, featuring performances by selected top prize recipients as well as Canadian pianist Ian Parker and violinist Domagoj Ivanovic, both members of the 2026 VIMFC jury.
When: Oct. 9 to 11, 2026
Time: Various times
Where: Various locations
Tickets: Various prices, more information online
aespa
What: Vancouver is fast becoming a hot spot for the world’s biggest K-pop groups to perform, and we can add aespa to the list of concerts happening in 2026.
The global K-pop force — made up of Karina, Winter, Giselle, and Ningning — is bringing their upcoming world tour to Rogers Arena on Sunday, Oct. 11.
When: Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026
Time: 8 p.m.
Where: Rogers Arena – 800 Griffiths Way, Vancouver
Tickets: Tickets for sale online
Fin-tastic Fall Days
What: The Vancouver Aquarium is proving that the best place to experience fall is with 65,000 animals and sea creatures at Fin-tastic Fall Days.
Guests can expect a bunch of seasonal talks, daily animal feeds, and other all-ages programming.
And just when you think it can’t get any cooler, you can catch divers carving jaw-dropping Jack-O-Lanterns beneath the waves of an aquarium habitat, happening on weekends until Oct. 11, then daily starting Oct. 17!
When: Now until Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026
Time: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Vancouver Aquarium — 854 Avison Way
Cost: Various prices, $80 for adult annual membership
Treat yourself to Thanksgiving dinner
Provence Marinaside
What: There’s a lot of pressure when it comes to cooking a standout Thanksgiving dinner, so we get it if you’d rather skip all the work (and, more importantly, not have to worry about dishes) and eat out this Thanksgiving.
Thankfully, there are plenty of tasty options to try in and around the city. We rounded up some of our favourites for you to check out.
Whether you’re looking for your standard turkey dinner with all the fixings, a Thanksgiving brunch buffet complete with a candy and sundae bar, or want to skip the turkey altogether and enjoy a seafood boil, there’s something here we think you’ll love
When: Various days of operation
Time: Various hours of operation
Where: Various restaurants across Vancouver. See the list online.
Vancouver International Travel Expo
What: The ninth annual Vancouver International Travel Expo brings together airlines, cruises, and tour operators from across the globe.
Turn your dream trip into reality, whether it’s an African adventure or an all-inclusive vacation. There will also be prizes, live entertainment, and more.
When: Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026
Time: 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Where: Vancouver Convention Centre East, Halls A & B
Admission: $15, purchase online
Fright Nights at Playland
What: Fright Nights, one of Western Canada’s scariest haunts, is returning to Vancouver for the upcoming Halloween season. And we can’t wait to visit the scream park!
The highly anticipated Playland attraction is celebrating its 23rd anniversary on select nights running through to Halloween night.
Visitors can experience the immersive Halloween-themed experience with haunted houses, heart-pounding rides, spooky décor, roaming monsters, thrilling live performances, and more.
When: Select dates until Oct. 31, 2026
Time: Various times
Where: Playland at the PNE — 2901 E. Hastings St., Vancouver
Tickets: Various prices, purchase online
Bear Creek Park Halloween Train
Bear Creek Park Trains/bctrains.com
What: Bear Creek Park Train presents its annual Pumpkin Train and Halloween Scream Train in Surrey throughout October. Whichever ride you choose, you’ll climb aboard Eddy the Engine for a spooky and delightful trip at one of the city’s most popular parks.
The little ones are invited on the daytime Pumpkin Train, while those looking for more frights can climb aboard the evening Halloween Scream Train. But beware: don’t let Chainsaw Charlie get you!
When: Now until Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026
Time: Pumpkin Train from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Scream Train from 6 to 10 p.m.
Where: Bear Creek Park & Mini Golf – 13750 88th Ave., Surrey
Price: $12 for daytime trains; children two and under are free. $18 for evening trains, recommended for ages 12 and up.
Heist
What: Arts Club presents Heist, a thrilling theatrical caper filled with fast-paced dialogue and high-tech action at the Stanley BFL Canada Stage. Follow along as the conman, the hacker, the cat burglar, the muscle, and the mastermind attempt to steal a priceless ruby in the perfect crime.
When: Now until Oct. 18, 2026
Time: Various times
Where: Stanley BFL Canada Stage — 2750 Granville St., Vancouver
Cost: Various prices from $39, purchase online
The Oddities & Curiosities Expo
What: The Oddities and Curiosities Expo, a one-of-a-kind showcase of the bizarre, returns to Vancouver this weekend. Hundreds of oddity vendors and artists will come together at the convention centre for a weekend of spooky shopping, photo opportunities, workshops, performances, and more.
When: Oct. 10 and 11, 2026
Time: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Vancouver Convention Centre — 1055 Canada Pl, Vancouver
Tickets: $20 plus fees; purchase online
Treat yourself to Ignite Pizzeria’s new Lower Lonsdale location
Ignite Pizzeria
What: Ignite Pizzeria’s newest location — its first on the North Shore — is now open in Lower Lonsdale’s historic 1904 Beasley Block at 101 Lonsdale Ave.
The North Van spot serves Ignite’s handmade, artisanal pizza made with dough fermented for five days and stone-fired at 800°F, all in a warm, modern space.
Alongside the pizza, guests will find an expanded menu, house-made cocktails, a wine list, a sunny south-facing patio, and daily happy hour.
When: Open Daily
Time: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Sunday to Thursday), 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. (Sunday to Saturday)
Where: 101 Lonsdale Ave., North Vancouver
Vancouver International Film Festival 2026
What: This year’s highly anticipated Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF) is happening until Oct. 11.
One of the largest film festivals in North America, VIFF 2026 will showcase approximately 160 features from around the world.
Movie-goers can also experience Vanguard, the festival’s only competitive international feature section, showcasing eight narrative and hybrid films by rising filmmakers from around the globe.
When: Now until Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026
Time: Various times
Where: Various locations
Tickets: Single tickets range from $17 to $22 for regular screenings, with ticket packs and festival passes also available. Purchase online
Forbidden Vancouver’s Lost Souls of Gastown Tour
What: Follow the lamplight and discover Vancouver’s gruesome, tragic history on the Lost Souls of Gastown Tour. Now in its 15th consecutive year, the walking tour immerses guests in an interactive, theatrical experience as they journey deep into the historic neighbourhood.
Hear gruesome stories of the Great Fire, learn about the notorious ladies of the Gold Rush, discover a murder mystery that remains unsolved to this day, and more on this eerie tour.
When: Nightly until Saturday, Nov. 29, 2026
Time: Various times, with extra times on weekends and Halloween week
Where: Starts at the corner of Water and Cordova Streets, beside Monaco Cafe
Cost: $35 for adults and $32 for students and seniors. Purchase online
Hop into Cozy Carrots, Richmond’s first bunny lounge
What: Cozy Carrots is Richmond’s first bunny lounge, located just a short walk away from the Canada Line Brighouse Station.
There are usually about a dozen bunnies with a variety of personalities at any given time in the lounge, and patrons will be given a cup of veggies to feed them.
Guests can even visit a retail area with rabbit-themed merchandise, and little ones can explore a small library of books and novels about rabbits and try their hand at some colouring sheets.
When: Monday to Sunday
Time: 1 to 7 p.m. (Monday to Thursdays), 1 to 8:30 p.m. (Fridays to Sundays and holidays)
Where: #171-5951 Minoru Boulevard, Richmond
Cost: Various costs per session length. Book online