If you’re looking for something fun to do in Vancouver during your stay, we’ve got you covered! Here are just a few awesome activities happening around the city, and they’re all free!
Stanley Park Movies
Link: http://www.freshaircinema.ca/summercinema/
Throughout the summer The Outdoor Movie Company offers free outdoor movie nights at Stanley Park. The movies play every Tuesday after sunset on a massive 3 STORY inflatable movie screen! Bring some snacks and friends and enjoy a movie under the stars.
Vancouver Fireworks: Honda Celebration of Light
Link: http://hondacelebrationoflight.com/
The Honda Celebration of Light is an annual musical fireworks competition held every summer in Vancouver, Canada since 1990. Three companies representing their country perform a 25 minute fireworks display set to accompanying music. The fireworks are synchronized to music which is broadcast over the radio station LG104.3 FM. The fireworks start at 10PM sharp. Everyone comes into the city during these days, so try to make it there early! There are also free music concerts that happen at the same time, see the link for further details.
The dates of the fireworks:
July 23 – Netherlands
July 27 – Australia
July 30 – USA
Vancouver Summer Night Markets
Link: http://vancouver.about.com/od/summereventsjunjulaug/tp/Summer-Night-Markets-In-Vancouver-Bc.htm
You will love our summer night markets! There are two huge, Asian-style night markets in Richmond (one is free, the other is just $2 for admission) plus two more free markets around Metro Vancouver (the Shipyards Night Market in North Vancouver and the Surrey Night Market)
Free Salsa Dancing in Robson Square
Link: https://www.facebook.com/Sunday-Afternoon-Salsa-at-Robson-Square-136149732080/
One of the more unique free things to do in Vancouver this summer is the free salsa dancing series in downtown Vancouver’s Robson Square (across from the Vancouver Art Gallery). This takes place every Sunday Afternoon, and it includes free beginner salsa lessons and “social dancing” that’s open to everyone, regardless of skill level.
Free Ballroom Dancing in Robson Square
Link: http://www.dancesportbc.com/about/robsonsquare/
Organized by DanceSport BC, the Robson Square Summer Dance Series offers ballroom dance lessons every Friday at 8pm. They also have show dances at 9pm and 10pm. Come for a chance to dance the night away under the Robson Square dome, in the heart of downtown Vancouver!
Kitsilano Showboat
Link: http://www.kitsilanoshowboat.com/
The Kitsilano Showboat, operating since 1935, is essentially an open-air amphitheatre with the scenic backdrop of the North Shore Mountains, English Bay and West Coast sunsets – one of the most spectacular settings anywhere. All summer long, the showboat hosts free performances from local bands, dance groups, and other performers. Its main goal is to entertain residents and tourists, showcasing amateur talent. It is located on the south side of the Kitsilano Pool along Cornwall Avenue. Weather permitting, shows typically start at 7:00 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesday, Fridays and Saturdays.
Vancouver Pride Parade & Festival
Link: http://www.vancouverpride.ca/
Bring your most colourful costume and get ready for a weekend of parties, parades and gay pride. The Vancouver Pride Parade & Festival draws more than half a million participants and spectators, and it includes street parties, movies, family-friendly events and one of the largest gay pride parades in North America. This year the parade is taking place on Sunday July 31st.
Powell Street Festival
Link: http://www.powellstreetfestival.com/
At the Powell Street Festival, you can celebrate Japanese-Canadian arts and culture, while experiencing everything from martial arts and sumo wrestling to traditional music and contemporary film. While you’re here, make sure to sample authentic Japanese cuisine from one of the many food vendors. The festival this year is over the weekend of July 30th and 31st.
The City of Surrey’s Fusion Festival
Link: http://www.surreyfusionfestival.ca/
This festival is the ultimate celebration of music, food and culture. It is a two day festival taking place at Holland Park by SFU (Simon Fraser University). Come for food, music, culture, and fun! More than 40 cultural pavilions will showcase music, food and dance. The SFU Celebration Stage will feature performances from a wide range of cultural acts including ancient Korean martial arts, bhangra, Salvadoran dance, Afro-Peruvian music, and Surrey indie-folk/alternative band Good for Grapes. This event takes place this Saturday, July 23 and Sunday, July 24, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Caribbean Days Festival
Link: http://www.caribbeandays.ca/
Each July, the Trinidad & Tobago Cultural Society of BC presents the Caribbean Days Festival. This event draws a crowd of exuberant fun-lovers to North Vancouver’s Waterfront Park for a weekend of parading, dining and dancing in the sunshine. This is a weekend of tropical rhythm, cuisine, carnival and culture as only the Caribbean can offer. Over the years, the Festival has grown into the largest Caribbean event on the local calendar, Drawing tens of thousands of attendees, it is among the very largest cultural events in BC, Canada. This year’s Festival takes place this weekend, July 23-24.
Vancouver Calendar of Events
Link: http://www.tourismvancouver.com/events/calendar-of-events/
If none of the activities above peaked your interest, have no fear! There are many more events happening around Vancouver, some free and some not. Look at the link above to see a calendar of events in Vancouver, and see what interests you!
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