Weekend of May 24 to 26 in Vancouver

Wondering what to do in Vancouver this weekend? Lots of events are happening in the Lower Mainland including festivals, theatre performances and more.

See below for a list of what’s taking place this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. For a list of what’s happening on other days of the month, see our May Calendar of Events.

This Weekend in Vancouver

Highlights of the weekend of May 24th to 26th include Ladner May Days in Delta, the West of Main Art Walk in Vancouver, Hyack Parade & Festival in New Westminster, and the BC Polish Festival in Port Coquitlam. There is also a Thomas the Train event at the BC Railway Museum in Squamish and the Big Jungle Run in Burnaby. For people who like music, there is a concert with the VAM Symphony Orchestra at the Orpheum Theatre and free Youth Concert Showcase Series performances with the Fort Langley Jazz Festival.

Other events this weekend include Playland at the PNE, the Shipyards Night Market (which is free) and the Richmond Night Market. (which costs $8.50). There is also the Walk to Make Cystic Fibrosis History.

Also this weekend, there are live comedy shows at The Improv Centre on Granville Island, outdoor adventure games with Vancouver Mysteries, walking tours with Forbidden Vancouver, and indoor virtual reality games at Zero Latency.

See below for a list of what’s taking place, when and where. As you’ll see, so much is happening in the Lower Mainland!

Friday, May 24th, 2024

Ladner May Days – first day of the 3-day community event in Ladner’s Memorial Park with live music, amusement rides and a fastball tournament.
The Improv Centre – live comedy Theatresports shows at Granville Island. Today’s shows are Theatresports and Camp What’s-It-Called.
Shipyards Night Market – market vendors, food trucks, beer garden and live entertainment at the Shipyards in North Vancouver.
Richmond Night Market – Vancouver’s famous weekend Asian market in Richmond.
FlyOver Canada – a multi-dimensional flying theatre experience at Canada Place. Today also features the films Legendary Iceland: Landscapes and Lore and Windborne: Call of the Canadian Rockies.
Forbidden Vancouver Walking Tours – guided walking tours in downtown Vancouver. Today features the Lost Souls of Gastown and Forbidden Vancouver tours.
Vancouver Mysteries Games – play an outdoor adventure game in downtown Vancouver. (TIP: Use promo code BESTPLACES and save 10% when booking online.)
Zero Latency – a virtual reality games centre where you can battle zombies, aliens and other creatures in Vancouver and Langley. (TIP: Save 10% when you book your game with the promo code VBP2024.)
Capilano Suspension Bridge – the world-famous attraction is a great place to visit. (TIP: BC residents can get an annual pass for the same price as a single-day ticket!)

Saturday, May 25th, 2024

West of Main Art Walk – an open studio tour and art sale at artist’s studios between Main Street and Point Grey, and from 41st Avenue to Granville Island.
Hyack Parade & Festival – a large parade with floats, marching bands and other entries in New Westminster.
Ladner May Days – a community event with live music, amusement rides, beer garden, family-friendly activities and a fastball tournament.
Big Jungle Run – family fun 1 km, 5 km and 10 km runs at Burnaby Lake. Leashed dogs and strollers are welcome!
Thomas the Train – rides with Sir Topham Hatt on the classic storybook train at the Railway Museum of BC in Squamish.
Playland at the PNE – the rides at Vancouver’s favourite amusement park run from 11 am until 5 pm.
Super Saturday at FRDC – the Fraser River Discovery Centre hosts a special activity at its venue in New Westminster. The event is specially designed for families with children ages 6 and older, but everyone is welcome. Guided tours are also available in the afternoon.
The Improv Centre – live comedy Theatresports shows at Granville Island. Today’s shows are Theatresports and Camp What’s-It-Called.
Orpheum Tours – guided tours of Vancouver’s iconic theatre happen today.

Featured Attractions & Activities

Vancouver Maritime Museum – a family-friendly museum at Vanier Park. (TIP: Use the promo code BESTVANCOUVER and save 25%!)
FlyOver Canada – a multi-dimensional flying theatre experience at Canada Place. Today also features the films Legendary Iceland: Landscapes and Lore and Windborne: Call of the Canadian Rockies.
Fort Langley – the national historic site in Fort Langley is a great place to explore (and children ages 17 and under get in for free).
Zero Latency – a virtual reality games centre where you can battle zombies, aliens and other creatures in Vancouver and Langley. (TIP: Save 10% when you book your game with the promo code VBP2024.)
Vancouver Mysteries Games – play an outdoor adventure game in downtown Vancouver. (TIP: Use promo code BESTPLACES and save 10% when booking online.)
Forbidden Vancouver Walking Tours – guided walking tours in downtown Vancouver. Today features the Lost Souls of Gastown, Hidden History & Sweet Treats, Dark Secrets of Stanley Park, and Forbidden Vancouver tours.
Chinese Canadian Museum – a museum that’s full of information and things to see in Vancouver’s Chinatown.
Capilano Suspension Bridge – the world-famous attraction is a great place to visit. (TIP: BC residents can get an annual pass for the same price as a single-day ticket!)
Museum of Surrey – the museum in Cloverdale is an interesting place with free admission.
WildPlay Element Park – ropes courses and ziplines at the outdoor adventure facility in Maple Ridge. (TIP: Use the promo code VBP15 and save 15%.)
Guided Tours at the FRDC – tours can be booked for today at New Westminster’s Fraser River Discovery Centre.
Britannia Mine – the historic mining museum at Britannia Beach (which is half an hour north of Horseshoe Bay on the way to Squamish and Whistler).
Railway Museum of BC – a large museum with trains and railway artifacts in Squamish.

Saturday Markets

Abbotsford Farm & Country Market – in Abbotsford.
Burnaby Artisan Farmers Market – in the parking lot of Burnaby’s City Hall.
Fort Langley Village Farmers Market – in Fort Langley.
Haney Farmers Market – at the Memorial Peace Park in Maple Ridge.
Richmond Night Market – Vancouver’s famous weekend Asian market in Richmond.
Riley Park Farmers Market – near Nat Bailey Stadium.
Squamish Farmers Market – in downtown Squamish.
Trout Lake Farmers Market – at Vancouver’s John Hendry Park.
West End Farmers Market – at 1100 Comox Street.
Vancouver Flea Market – at 703 Terminal Avenue.

Sunday, May 26th, 2024

VAM Symphony Orchestra – the New World Symphony & Rhapsody in Blue concert takes place at the Orpheum Theatre.
West of Main Art Walk – an open studio tour and art sale at artist’s studios between Main Street and Point Grey, and from 41st Avenue to Granville Island.
BC Polish Festival – food, dancing and other activities celebrating Polish culture in Port Coquitlam.
Walk to Make Cystic Fibrosis History – fundraising events in Pitt Meadows and Burnaby. Money raised benefits Cystic Fibrosis Canada.
Ladner May Days – a community event in Ladner’s Memorial Park with live music, amusement rides, pancake breakfast and fastball tournament. Today is also the day of the May Day Parade!
Thomas the Train – rides with Sir Topham Hatt on the classic storybook train at the Railway Museum of BC in Squamish.
Brookswood Community Car Show – a car show where funds raised benefit Brookswood Secondary School in Langley. Admission to see the cars is by donation.
Playland at the PNE – the rides at Vancouver’s favourite amusement park run from 11 am until 5 pm.
Walk for Alzheimer’s – a fundraising event benefiting the Alzheimer Society of BC. The walk takes place in a number of communities including at Creekside Community Recreation Centre at Olympic Village.
Spot Prawn Festival – a 1-day festival celebrating spot-prawn season at Fisherman’s Wharf not far from Granville Island.
Richmond Night Market – Vancouver’s famous weekend Asian market in Richmond.
Jazz Vespers in Surrey – at Northwood United Church at 8855 156th Street in Surrey. Admission is by donation. Today features the Caribbean rhythms of Sweet Pan.
Youth Concert Showcase Series – free live music presented by the Fort Langley Jazz Festival at the Fort Langley Heritage CNR Station in the afternoon.

Featured Attractions & Activities

FlyOver Canada – a multi-dimensional flying theatre experience at Canada Place. Today also features the films Legendary Iceland: Landscapes and Lore and Windborne: Call of the Canadian Rockies.
Vancouver Maritime Museum – a family-friendly museum at Vanier Park. (TIP: Use the promo code BESTVANCOUVER and save 25%!)
Vancouver Mysteries Games – play an outdoor adventure game in downtown Vancouver. (TIP: Use promo code BESTPLACES and save 10% when booking online.)
Forbidden Vancouver Walking Tours – guided walking tours in downtown Vancouver. Today features the Forbidden Vancouver, Lost Souls of Gastown, Hidden History & Sweet Treats, and Really Gay History tours.
Chinese Canadian Museum – a museum that’s full of information and things to see in Vancouver’s Chinatown.
Zero Latency – a virtual reality games centre where you can battle zombies, aliens and other creatures in Vancouver and Langley. (TIP: Save 10% when you book your game with the promo code VBP2024.)
Capilano Suspension Bridge – the world-famous attraction is a great place to visit. (TIP: BC residents can get an annual pass for the same price as a single-day ticket!)
Fort Langley – the national historic site in Fort Langley is a great place to explore (and children ages 17 and under get in for free).
Museum of Surrey – the museum in Cloverdale is an interesting place with free admission.
WildPlay Element Park – ropes courses and ziplines at the outdoor adventure facility in Maple Ridge. (TIP: Use the promo code VBP15 and save 15%.)
Guided Tours at the FRDC – tours can be booked for today at New Westminster’s Fraser River Discovery Centre.
Britannia Mine – the historic mining museum at Britannia Beach (which is half an hour north of Horseshoe Bay on the way to Squamish and Whistler).

Sunday Markets

Ambleside Artisan Farmers Market – in West Vancouver.
Coquitlam Farmers Market – at 624 Poirier Street in Coquitlam.
Kitsilano Farmers Market – outside the Kitsilano Community Centre in Vancouver.
Whistler Farmers Market – near the base of Blackcomb Mountain.
White Rock Farmers Market – at 15154 Russell Avenue in White Rock.
Cloverdale Flea Market – a large weekly flea market in Surrey.
Vancouver Flea Market – at 703 Terminal Avenue not far from Science World.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Highlights of the weekend of May 31st to June 2nd weekend include Kids Up Front More Than A Movie at BC Place, Thomas the Train in Squamish, and Hats Off Day in Burnaby.

There is also the Port Moody Shred-a-Thon fundraising event, a Cantonese Opera presentation at the Museum of Surrey, Pitt Meadows Day, and baseball games with the Vancouver Canadians at Nat Bailey Stadium. The United Voices Choir also has its Bach: Mass in B Minor concert in Vancouver.

Other events next weekend include Playland at the PNE, the Shipyards Night Market (which is free) and the Richmond Night Market. (which costs $8.50). There is also the Walk to Make Cystic Fibrosis History.

More fun activities this time of year include outdoor games with Vancouver Mysteries, walking tours with Forbidden Vancouver, live comedy at The Improv Centre, and virtual reality games at Zero Latency in both Vancouver and Langley. There are also ropes course adventures at WildPlay Element Park in Maple Ridge.