Enjoy Vancouver Events Every Month of the Year
It doesn’t matter what time of year; there are always plenty of Vancouver events to occupy residents and tourists alike. In a town that is known for its cultural flair, endless ethnic food, and social activities, there is a constantly revolving calendar of events, festivals, and things to do.
Of course every year there are new, up-and-coming, one-time events. But there are numerous annual Vancouver events to count on happening every year. Vancouver is one of the few cities that literally has at least one (often, many more) event every month of the year.
(Note: Exact dates change every year, so be sure to check the latest dates before booking your travel!)
- January: Polar Bear Swim: Entering its 90th year, watch as nearly 1500 people take the plunge into the icy waters of English Bay.
- February: The annual Cultural Olympiad gets into full swing; featuring artists, dancers, actors, and anyone involved with the creative arts. Also, celebrate Asian arts and culture with the annual LunarFest and one of the largest Chinese New Year celebrations on the continent.
- March: Festival du Bois; a francophone festival with a French twist.
- April: Wine and Beer Festival, Global Discoveries Festival, TELUS World Ski and Snowboard Festival.
- May: The annual Bard on the Beach begins and runs until September. It is an outdoor Shakespearean Festival on the waterfront, and often combines other features such as lectures, workshops, food booths and fireworks. May also sees the annual Vancouver Marathon.
- June: The annual Jazz Festival begins its two-week run, featuring world-famous jazz artists as well as local talent in over 400 concerts at 40 venues throughout the city. It also marks the kick-off to countless summer Vancouver events.
- July: The annual Theater Under the Stars begins and runs until the end of August. Each year “TUTS” entertains families with musical favorites at the Malkin Bowl in Stanley Park. July also sees events that celebrate Canada Day, the Vancouver Folk Music Festival, and the international Celebration of Light.
- August: The annual MusicFest features classical, jazz and world music in various venues throughout town, adding to the already exciting Vancouver nightlife. The Chinatown Festival features a weekend of amazing food and festivities, and has become one of the top things to do in Vancouver every summer.
- September: International Global ComedyFest, featuring internationally known comics and local talent as well.
- October: Vancouver International Film Festival presents over 350 films from 80 countries. Also, the Canucks hockey team begins its regular season; as well as the Vancouver Giants, a major junior hockey team that plays in the Western Hockey League.
- November: Bright Nights at Stanley Park begins and goes through January 1; over one million lights transform the woods into a winter wonderland. Also the Eastside Culture Crawl and the Circle Craft Christmas Market; in addition to countless other holiday-themed events.
- December: Festival of Lights, Christmas at Canada Place: On the Sails offers nightly light shows. Rogers Santa Claus Parade attracts over 300,000 spectators and raises tens of thousands of dollars and collects food for the Vancouver Food Bank.
These represent just a small sampling of the countless Vancouver events that take place in and around Vancouver throughout the year. There is literally something for everyone, all the time.... so get out there and experience Vancouver!
