15 fun things to do in Vancouver this weekend: Sept. 12 to 14

September is just speeding by, so slow down and have fun this weekend around Vancouver!

From a huge outdoor comedy festival to Car Free Day and more, here are 15 fun events to check out from Sept. 12 to 14.

Be sure to check out our Listed section for more fantastic things happening around town.

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The Great Outdoors Comedy Festival

What: The Great Outdoors Comedy Festival takes place in Stanley Park from Friday, Sept. 12 to Sunday, Sept. 14. With huge headliners like John Mulaney, Bert Kreischer, Trailer Park Boys, and Tony Hinchcliffe coming to Vancouver, plus a mouthwatering lineup of food vendors, it just may be one of the best days out you’ll have this year.

When: Sept. 12 to 14, 2025
Where: Stanley Park, Vancouver
Tickets: Various prices for general admission. VIP tickets and hotel packages are also available. Purchase online

Vancouver Queer Film Festival

What: Vancouver Queer Film Festival is Western Canada’s largest queer arts event. Since 1988, the festival has contextualized and celebrated queer lives and experiences through online and in-person film screenings.

This year, over 100 films from 25 countries will showcase the struggles, joys, and journeys of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. There will also be performances by local artists, post-screening Q&As, and industry events.

When: Tuesday, Sept. 11 to Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025
Time: Various times
Where: Venues across Vancouver and online screenings
Tickets: Various prices starting at $7; purchase online

Mr. Nowhere’s Disappearing Reappearing Starlight Carnival

What: An immersive theatrical experience at the 2025 Vancouver Fringe that is a blend of fairytale, cosmic circus, and a high-stakes game of heart and will.

Discover the world of Mr. Nowhere’s Disappearing Reappearing Starlight Carnival at Ron Basford Park on Granville Island, and you may even find an opportunity to participate in the interactive circus festivities.

When: Various dates until Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025
Time: Various times
Where: Ron Basford Park (Sculpture Grove), Granville Island
Cost: $20, purchase online

Car Free Days Main Street

What: On Sunday, Car Free Day is taking over Main Street from 10th Avenue to 30th Avenue for a celebration of connected, car-free communities.

The streets will be closed to all vehicle traffic for the family-friendly events and activities, including live music stages, kids’ activities, and more.

Make a day of it by inviting your friends to explore the variety of food vendors, local businesses, artisans, and non-profit organizations.

When: Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025
Time: 12 to 7 p.m.
Where: Main Street — 10th Avenue to 30th Avenue
Cost: Free

Richmond Sunflower Festival

What: Those who can’t get enough sunshine and summertime will want to head to the Richmond Sunflower Festival while the flowers are in bloom.

When: Now until mid-September 2025
Time: Noon to 7 p.m. (Mondays to Fridays), 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Weekends and holidays)
Where: Richmond Country Farms — 12900 Steveston Hwy., Richmond
Cost: Admission at the gates is $14 plus GST on weekdays and $17 plus GST on weekends. Children 3-12 and seniors are $12 plus GST on weekdays and $15 plus GST on weekends. Ages 2 and under are free.

ARC Restaurant and HYPE Chocolate‘s Artisanal Ice Cream Pop-Up

What: Fairmont Waterfront’s ARC Restaurant and HYPE Chocolate are teaming up for an Artisanal Ice Cream Pop-Up, right next to ARC Patio in downtown Vancouver.

Ice cream fans can discover distinctive flavours like Lemon, Wildflower Honey & Thyme sorbet, a Salted Chocolate ice cream, and a Vanilla Bean & Brown Butter Croissant flavour that is crowned with edible gold.

There will also be a rotating selection of signature flavours and HYPE Chocolate’s signature seasonal B.C. berry cups topped with warm chocolate.

When: Every Saturday and Sunday until Sept. 14, 2025
Time: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Where: Beside Arc Restaurant’s Patio – 900 Canada Place Way, Vancouver

stɑl̓əw̓ Pow Wow

What: All are welcome to attend the fourth annual stɑl’əw̓ Pow Wow at Langley Events Centre, happening from Friday, Sept. 12 to Sunday, Sept. 14. The three-day immersive Indigenous event celebrates pow wow culture and tradition with drumming, singing, dancing, and regalia. 

In addition, you can check out Indigenous artists and artisans in the Vendors Market, located inside the gymnasium at Gate 1, and treat yourself to Indigenous Food Vendors, located just outside the Langley Events Centre.

Tickets are available online or at the door.

When: Friday, Sept. 12 to Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025
Time: 6 to 11 p.m. (Friday), 12 noon to 11 p.m. (Saturday), 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. (Sunday)
Where: Langley Events Centre – 7888 200th St., Langley
Cost: $10 for a daily pass, $20 for a three-day weekend pass, and free for seniors 60+ and children five and under. Purchase online

Fish & Sips at the Vancouver Aquarium

What: The Vancouver Aquarium’s adults-only after-hours Fish & Sips event series returns in September with its Shrimp-tember edition.

Local craft beers, wines, and ciders, plus other snacks, will be available for purchase at indoors and outdoors bar, as will be shrimply tasty eats like shrimp tacos. There will even be a special deep-sea DJ for you to get your groove on.

When: Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025
Where: Vancouver Aquarium – 845 Avison Way, Vancouver
Time: 7 to 10 p.m.
Tickets: $35, purchase online

Vancouver Whitecaps vs. Philadelphia Union

What: Vancouver Whitecaps continue their MLS season this week with a match against the Philadelphia Union at BC Place on Saturday, Sept. 13. The game is also a celebration of BC Soccer’s Youth and Family Match.

When: Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Where: BC Place – 777 Pacific Blvd., Vancouver
Cost: Various; purchase online

The Canine Library

What: Canine Library is woofing it up at John Hendry Park, and participants can choose from various poetry books from VPL’s collection for their session. There will also be fun with VPL’s Children’s tent and poetry workshops with VPL’s Writer in Residence, Selina Boan, during the popular annual event.

When: Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025
Time: 1 to 3 p.m.
Where: John Hendry Park — 3300 Victoria Dr., Vancouver (Behind the Trout Lake Community Centre on the east side and along the path)
Cost: Free

Bike the Night

What: Bike the Night Vancouver is rolling back into town this September with music, lights, prizes, and hundreds of riders cruising the Seawall after dark, and it’s free to join.

Designed for people of all ages and experience levels, the event turns the Seawall into a glowing, music-filled ride route, with a community festival to kick things off.

When: Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025
Time: 6:30 p.m. (family wave) and 8:30 p.m. (main wave)
Where: David Lam Park, Vancouver
Admission: Free (early access available with a $10 lifetime HUB Cycling membership at bikehub.ca; general tickets on Hub Cycling’s Bike the Night page)

Whistler Village Beer Festival 2025

What: The 12th Whistler Village Beer Festival (WVBF) returns to the heart of the resort from Sept. 9 to 14 for a massive celebration of everything craft beverages. Get ready for an Oktoberfest celebration, a craft beer brunch, bandaoke, and more.

The Main Event at Whistler Olympic Plaza on Saturday, Sept. 13, will showcase over 80 varieties of cider, beer, canned cocktails, and non-alcoholic beverages. And the extravaganza also includes great concerts you won’t want to miss.

When: Tuesday, Sept. 9 to Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025. Main Event on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025
Time: Various times. Main event from noon to 6 p.m.
Where: Various locations throughout Whistler Village, Main Event at Whistler Olympic Plaza
Tickets: Various prices, purchase online

Splash – Free Preview Exhibition

What: Over 90 stunning artworks make up the Splash 2025 Art Collection on display at the Pendulum Gallery at 885 W. Georgia St. The free public preview showcases the pieces of art donated by acclaimed and emerging Canadian and international artists.

The lineup of artists this year includes Moses Salihou, a Cameroonian artist who blends abstraction with portraiture, Maggie Hall, a painter inspired by pop culture, and Cole Speck, a Kwakwaka’wakw artist who infuses Northwest Coast carving traditions with contemporary narratives.

When: Now until Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025 (closed Sunday and stat holidays)
Time: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Monday to Wednesday), 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. (Thursday to Friday) and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Saturday)
Where: Pendulum Gallery – 885 W. Georgia St, Vancouver
Admission: Free, walk-ins welcome

Broadway Across Canada – The Lion King

What: Watch as the Serengeti comes to life as never before in The Lion King by Broadway Across Canada. More than 100 million people around the world have experienced the awe-inspiring visual artistry, the unforgettable music, and the uniquely theatrical storytelling of this Broadway spectacular – one of the most breathtaking and beloved productions ever to grace the stage.

When: Now until Sept. 14, 2025
Time: Various times
Where: Queen Elizabeth Theatre — 630 Hamilton St., Vancouver
Tickets: Online

Vancouver Is Funny Comedy Showcase

What: If you’re looking for a hilarious night out this month, then you need to check out a new comedy extravaganza that is taking over Vancouver all September long.

The inaugural Vancouver Is Funny, presented by MRG Live, runs from now until Tuesday, Sept. 30. There are over 30 comics at over 30 live events to discover in the annual celebration of comedy, including stand-ups, podcasters, and more.

When: Now until Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025
Time: Various times
Where: Various locations
Cost: Various; purchase online