What's Happening This Weekend

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 3rd to 5th include May the Fourth Star Wars-themed events and Cinco de May Mexican-themed celebrations. The Royal Canadian International Circus is also in town. Other events this weekend include Fort Langley Jazz Festival‘s Tribute to Motown, Search for the Perfect Pint in Port Moody, and Chilliwack Party in the Park in the Fraser Valley. There is also the West Coast Wedding Show in Burnaby, concerts with the EnChor Choir and Laudate Singers in Vancouver, and special events at Pacific Arts Market on West Broadway.

For folks who like farms and flowers, there is the Harrison Tulip Festival, Abbotsford Tulip Festival and Sweet Spring at Greendale Acres in the Fraser Valley. 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 3rd, 2024

Royal Canadian International Circus – the popular circus has shows in Surrey. (TIP: Use promo code VANSBESTPLACES and get 2-for-1 pricing on general admission.)
Tribute to Motown – a Dance & Silent Auction event hosted by the Fort Langley Jazz Festival. It features live music with Big City Soul at Fort Langley Community Hall.
Search for the Perfect Pint – a craft beer-tasting event put on by the local Rotary Club at Port Moody City Hall.
Mary Poppins – the popular Broadway musical shows at the Massey Theatre in New Westminster. Tickets start at just $27.
DOXA Film Festival – a documentary film festival at various venues around town.
Sweet Spring at Greendale Acres – a family-friendly spring flower festival with baby farm animals and tons of activities for children in Chilliwack.
Abbotsford Tulip Festival – amazing displays of tulips and other flowers at Lakeland Flowers in Abbotsford.
Harrison Tulip Festival – an amazing flower festival featuring 10 million tulip bulbs and stunning mountain views in Agassiz (which is near the beautiful resort town of Harrison Hot Springs).
Vancouver Marathon Health & Sports Expo – a running and other health and fitness-themed trade show at the Vancouver Convention Centre. Admission is free.
Improv Centre Theatre – live comedy theatre at Granville Island. Today features Theatresports and Theatresports Unhinged.
Richmond Night Market – Vancouver’s famous weekend Asian market in Richmond.

Featured Attractions & Activities

Guided Tours at the FRDC – tours can be booked for today at New Westminster’s Fraser River Discovery Centre.
WildPlay Element Park – ropes courses and ziplines at the outdoor adventure facility in Maple Ridge. (TIP: Use the promo code VBP15 and save 15%.)
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%!)
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.)
Bill Reid Gallery – free admission at the Indigenous art gallery from 2 until 5 pm (because it’s the first Friday of the month).
Chinese Canadian Museum – a museum that’s full of information and things to see in Vancouver’s Chinatown.
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 and Forbidden Vancouver tours.
Vancouver Art Gallery – admission to the museum is by donation today (because it’s the first Friday of the month).
Britannia Mine – the historic mining museum at Britannia Beach (which is half an hour north of Horseshoe Bay along the beautiful Sea to Sky Highway).

Saturday, May 4th, 2024

May the Fourth – a day when you get to dress up like your favourite Star Wars character and say “May the Fourth be with you” to all your friends. It’s also a day with a few Star Wars-themed events around town including at Greendale Acres in Chilliwack and at the MacMillan Space Centre in Vancouver.
Royal Canadian International Circus – the popular circus has shows in Surrey. (TIP: Use promo code VANSBESTPLACES and get 2-for-1 pricing on general admission.)
Laudate Singers Concert – the Laudate Singers perform Handel’s Dixit Dominus & Bach’s Christ Lag in Todesbanden with the Paragon Singers and a Baroque orchestra at West Vancouver United Church. (There is also a livestream option.)
Chilliwack Party in the Park – a Greater Vancouver Food Truck Festival event at Central Community Park in Chilliwack.
Pacific Arts Market Events – today at the gallery and art gift store on West Broadway there is a Japanese Calligraphy workshop as well as an Empowering Local Artists Event.
Mary Poppins – the popular Broadway musical shows at the Massey Theatre in New Westminster. Tickets start at just $27.
DOXA Film Festival – a documentary film festival at various venues around town.
TJ Fest – a multicultural and Taiwanese-themed community event at the Tian Jin Temple in Burnaby.
Improv Centre Theatre – live comedy theatre at Granville Island. Today features Theatresports and Theatresports Unhinged.
Vancouver Marathon Health & Sports Expo – a running and other health and fitness-themed trade show at the Vancouver Convention Centre. Admission is free.
Vancouver Marathon Kids Run – the Kids Run takes place today in Stanley Park for children ages 5 to 12.

Flower Festivals

Sweet Spring at Greendale Acres – a family-friendly spring flower festival with baby farm animals and tons of activities for children in Chilliwack. (Today is also Star Wars Day at the farm where guests are encouraged to wear their favourite Star Wars character costumes.)
Abbotsford Tulip Festival – amazing displays of tulips and other flowers at Lakeland Flowers in Abbotsford. Today there are food trucks on site. (TBC)
Harrison Tulip Festival – an amazing flower festival featuring 10 million tulip bulbs and stunning mountain views in Agassiz (which is near the beautiful resort town of Harrison Hot Springs).

Featured Attractions & Activities

WildPlay Element Park – ropes courses and ziplines at the outdoor adventure facility in Maple Ridge. (TIP: Use the promo code VBP15 and save 15%.)
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.
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.
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.)
Chinese Canadian Museum – a museum that’s full of information and things to see in Vancouver’s Chinatown.
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 along the beautiful Sea to Sky Highway).

Saturday Markets

Fort Langley Village Farmers Market – at 9025 Glover Road in Fort Langley.
Burnaby Artisan Farmers Market – in the parking lot of Burnaby’s City Hall.
Haney Farmers Market – at the Memorial Peace Park in Maple Ridge.
Riley Park Farmers Market – a small to medium-sized market near Nat Bailey Stadium.
Squamish Farmers Market – in downtown Squamish.
Trout Lake Farmers Market – at Vancouver’s John Hendry Park.
Vancouver Flea Market – at 703 Terminal Avenue.
Richmond Night Market – Vancouver’s famous weekend Asian market in Richmond.

Sunday, May 5th, 2024

Cinco de Mayo – a Mexican celebration with various events around town.
Royal Canadian International Circus – the popular circus has shows in Surrey. (TIP: Use promo code VANSBESTPLACES and get 2-for-1 pricing on general admission.)
West Coast Wedding Show – a bridal fair event full of wedding experts and service providers at the Hilton Vancouver Metrotown in Burnaby. (TIP: Use the promo code WCW-VBP20 to save 20% on admission.)
Chilliwack Party in the Park – a Greater Vancouver Food Truck Festival event at Central Community Park in Chilliwack.
EnChor Choir Concert – the EnChor Choir performs its Fields of Gold Concert at Pacific Spirit United Church in Vancouver. Tickets cost $25 at the door. Folks ages 18 and under are free.
Mary Poppins – the popular Broadway musical shows at the Massey Theatre in New Westminster. Tickets start at just $27.
TJ Fest – a multicultural and Taiwanese-themed community event at the Tian Jin Temple in Burnaby.
DOXA Film Festival – a documentary film festival at various venues around town.
Vancouver Marathon – a major running race with marathon, half marathon and 8K events.
Jazz Vespers in Surrey – at Northwood United Church at 8855 156th Street in Surrey. Admission is by donation. Today features Kim Greenwood & Friends.

Flower Festivals

Sweet Spring at Greendale Acres – a family-friendly spring flower festival with baby farm animals and tons of activities for children in Chilliwack.
Abbotsford Tulip Festival – amazing displays of tulips and other flowers at Lakeland Flowers in Abbotsford. Today there are food trucks on site. (TBC)
Harrison Tulip Festival – an amazing flower festival featuring 10 million tulip bulbs and stunning mountain views in Agassiz (which is near the beautiful resort town of Harrison Hot Springs).

Featured Attractions & Activities

Forbidden Vancouver Walking Tours – guided walking tours in downtown Vancouver. Today features the Lost Souls of Gastown, Forbidden Vancouver, Hidden History & Sweet Treats, and Really Gay History tours.
Vancouver Mysteries Games – play an outdoor adventure game in downtown Vancouver. (TIP: Use promo code BESTPLACES and save 10% when booking online.)
Guided Tours at the FRDC – tours can be booked for today at New Westminster’s Fraser River Discovery Centre.
WildPlay Element Park – ropes courses and ziplines at the outdoor adventure facility in Maple Ridge. (TIP: Use the promo code VBP15 and save 15%.)
Vancouver Maritime Museum – a family-friendly museum at Vanier Park. (TIP: Use the promo code BESTVANCOUVER and save 25%!)
Museum of Vancouver – admission is by donation because it’s the first Sunday of the month.
Chinese Canadian Museum – a museum that’s full of information and things to see in Vancouver’s Chinatown.
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.
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.)
Britannia Mine – the historic mining museum at Britannia Beach (which is half an hour north of Horseshoe Bay along the beautiful Sea to Sky Highway).

Sunday Markets

Ambleside Artisan Farmers Market – in West Vancouver.
Coquitlam Farmers Market – at 624 Poirier Street.
Kitsilano Farmers Market – outside the Kitsilano Community Centre.
Steveston Village Farmers Market – in the parking lot of the Steveston Community Centre.
White Rock Farmers Market – in White Rock between 10 am and 2 pm.
Cloverdale Flea Market – at the Cloverdale fairgrounds in Surrey.
Vancouver Flea Market – at 703 Terminal Avenue.
Richmond Night Market – Vancouver’s famous weekend Asian market in Richmond.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Highlights of the weekend of May 10th to 12th include Royal Canadian International Circus shows in Surrey and both the Shipyards Night Market and Richmond Night Market. There is also a concert with Chor Leoni choir, the Rotary May Day Parade, Food Truck Festival at BCIT, a Mother’s Day Dinner Cruise, Mother’s Day Brunches and baseball games with the Vancouver Canadians, plus a few special events at Pacific Arts Market.

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. Weather permitting, there might also still be flower festivals in Agassiz/Harrison, Abbotsford and Chilliwack in the Fraser Valley.