The Shipyards Night Market takes place on Fridays at Shipbuilders’ Square at the bottom of Lonsdale Avenue in North Vancouver from May until September.
The Shipyards Night Market in North Vancouver runs from the second Friday in May until the second Sunday of September.
This article contains the following information about the Shipyards Night Market:
What’s at the Night Market? | Entertainment Schedule | Where is the Night Market? | Tips & Advice | Other Information
Night Market at Shipbuilders’ Square
The Shipyards Night Market runs between 3:00 pm and 10:00 pm on Fridays from May 10th until September 13th in 2024. This year marks the 11th anniversary of the event.
The market features live music every evening, food vendors offering a variety of tasty foods, a beer garden with locally crafted brews, and dozens of artisan stalls.
In 2024, at the same time as the Shipyards Night Market, there is an additional artisan market run by Made in the 604 Markets on the same days from May to September. That market takes place indoors at the Pipe Shop which is right in the centre of the Shipyards. Made in the 604 Markets is a great company that also hosts markets at Heritage Hall in Vancouver at various times of the year.
Thousands of people turn out for the Shipyards Night Market, and even up to 10,000 or so on busy days. It’s an impressive event and folks come from all over the Lower Mainland to see it.
What’s at the Night Market?
Lower Lonsdale’s Shipyards Night Market is a fairly upscale night market. Don’t expect to find ultra-cheap sunglasses or plastic trinkets here. For those kinds of things you’ll want to go to the Richmond Night Market, which is quite different, larger and great in its own way.
At the Night Market in Shipbuilders’ Square you’ll normally find handmade jewellery, artisan baked goods, local art, homemade jams and jellies, handcrafted chocolates and a small selection of organic produce.
The Night Market in North Vancouver is smaller than the main Richmond Night Market, but it’s still pretty big. On a sunny evening the North Shore event attracts a lot of people. It’s a great venue for people watching, and a wonderful place to enjoy the live outdoor music.
Click shipyardsnightmarket.com for the market’s official website.
Entertainment Schedule
The 2024 entertainment schedule as of mid-May is listed below. Exact details, however, are subject to change.
- 10th of May, 2024 – Justine Lynn, Earla Music Project, Randy Swallow Trio, DJ Mike Madness
- 17th of May, 2024 – Mitch Drew, Scott Riddell Band
- 24th of May, 2024 – Tom Welsh, Bitterly Divine
- 31st of May, 2024 – Pieter Jordaan, Common Ground
- 7th of June, 2024 – The Mosquito Trio, Matty Miller and The Barge Boys
- 14th of June, 2024 – Luc Lemans, Iconix Band
- 21st of June, 2024 – Darling Skies, Susana Williams Trio, HB Wild
- 28th of June, 2024 – Justin Lynn Duo, R&B Conspiracy
- 5th of July, 2024 – Sarah Eské, Annika & The Earthlings
- 12th of July, 2024 – Melissa Endean, Kickstart
- 19th of July, 2024 – Tim Hewitt, Wyper & Parker Band
- 26th of July, 2024 – Adrienne Robles Music, Dave Hartney
- 2nd of August, 2024 – NSPA Drag Show, Susana Williams Band
- 9th of August, 2024 – Shipyards Got Talent Competition, Iron Wave
- 16th of August, 2024 – Chantal Marie, Wicked Fun Band
- 23rd of August, 2024 – Special Exceptions, Venus and Mars
- 30th of August, 2024 – Black Pontiac, HB Wild
- 6th of September, 2024 – Sons Of Stanley, Brice Tabish Band
- 13th of September, 2024 – TBC
For the up-to-date schedule, visit the Shipyards Night Market website.
For full details, visit the Shipyards Night Market website.
Where is the Night Market?
The Shipyards Night Market takes place in Shipbuilders’ Square, a five-minute stroll from the SeaBus terminal at Lonsdale Quay, which itself has its own public market open all day year-round, and in the summer until 7:00 pm. Overlooking the market is the Pinnacle Hotel, which is a lovely place to stay.
Shipbuilders’ Square is at 138 Victory Ship Way. It’s at the very bottom of Lonsdale Avenue, which is a long hilly San Francisco-style street with a number of great restaurants at the bottom, right across the street from the entrance to the market. Click North Vancouver Restaurants for ideas on where to eat in the area.
The Shipyards Night Market is also right by the Shipbuilders’ Pier which is a nice place for a stroll and views of downtown Vancouver across the water, especially on Canada Day when the fireworks take place in Burrard Inlet.
Remember to check out the new covered area that hosts a children’s water park in the summer and an outdoor skating rink in the winter just east of the pier.
Years ago the area was home to a major Canadian shipbuilding industry, which still exists close by, but on a smaller scale than in generations past. Evidence of the area’s rich shipbuilding history includes a couple of restored buildings and a giant crane in the heart of the square.
Night Market Tips & Advice
Below is a list of suggestions to help you make the most of your Shipyards Night Market experience.
TIP #1: If you can, try to take public transit, especially if coming from downtown Vancouver. The market is just a five-minute walk to the Lonsdale Quay SeaBus terminal, which is just a 15-minute boat ride from Vancouver’s Waterfront Station. Lonsdale Quay is also home to North Vancouver’s main bus terminal with connections to all parts of the North Shore.
TIP #2: There is a fair bit of parking in the area, but if it’s a sunny day finding a spot can be challenging.
TIP #3: If you are driving, try to get there early, before all the free parking in the area is taken. There is paid parking in the ICBC parkade adjacent to the Lonsdale Quay Public Market by the corner of Carrie Cates Court and Rogers Avenue.
TIP #4: If you want to enjoy the beer garden, get there early before the lineup gets crazy. On a warm sunny day, the market is a popular place to be.
TIP #5: If you can, head to the Shipyards Night Market early. It’s pretty quiet at the start, but there is lots to see in the Lower Lonsdale neighbourhood. Make a full evening out of your visit and explore the area. Check out the Lonsdale Quay Public Market (before its 7:00 pm closing time), enjoy dinner at one of the many local restaurants and go for a walk along the Pier.
Other Information
For more information about the market, visit the Shipyards Night Market website.
To learn more about the area see our article about North Vancouver’s Shipyards.
If you like outdoor concerts and happen to be around Shipbuilders’ Square in the summer on a Saturday, then also check out the Shipyards Summer Sessions Concerts which take place at the same venue on Saturday evenings in July and August from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm.
Click Free Summer Concerts for a list of other free music venues in July and August throughout the Lower Mainland.
For a list of regular farmers markets in Metro Vancouver, check out Lower Mainland Farmers Markets.
Also, check out Lower Mainland Night Markets for other summer markets on weekends in the evenings.
