Skip to content
Join our Newsletter

Fun events to check out in Vancouver this weekend: July 11 to July 13

Find out what you can do this weekend in and around the city.
cyclingFrontfinal
The Tour de Concord returns to Vancouver streets this weekend, just one of the many events to do in the city.

This weekend's Metro Vancouver weather forecast includes sunshine and warm temperatures, providing ideal conditions for outdoor activities. 

Mid-summer in Vancouver will see lots of outdoor activities, but there's still plenty of options for people looking to escape the suns rays.

Cultural events include Vancouver's Greek Summerfest taking over a chunk of Boundary Road, the Carnaval del Sol in Mount Pleasant's Jonathan Rogers Park, and the Vancouver Chinatown Festival in the historic neighbourhood it's named after.

There's also not one but two pet-focused events, including the huge PawsFest in the West End, and the Tour de Concord returns to downtown Vancouver's roads on Sunday.

The Museum of Anthropology also has a pair of ongoing shows, with one focusing on the Nuxalk Nation, who have lived in on the coast just north of here for millenia.

The Richmond Night Market and downtown’s Junction Public Market will also continue to bring warm-weather vibes, tasty bites, and community fun.

Here are a few fun things to do in and around Metro Vancouver from July 11 to July 13, 2025.

Vancouver Greek Summerfest

Vancouver's epic Greek Summerfest will bring together thousands of people from around the region for four more days of food, entertainment, and fun.

The first Vancouver Greek Summerfest was held in 1987 as a small weekend church fundraiser but has since grown to fill the streets around 4541 Boundary Rd, complete with local bands, cultural performances, and lots and lots of food.

When: Thursday, July 10, to Sunday, July 13, from 11 a.m to 10 p.m. (or later)

Where: 4541 Boundary Rd

Cost: Admission is free


Historic Places Days | Summer Storytelling Social

For history buffs this will be a night of exploring, learning, and socializing as the Vancouver Heritage Foundation celebrates Historic Places Day.

Speaking at the event will be Martin Knowles, an architectural photographer, and Jessica Quan, a number of the VHF.

It's free to attend but registration is encouraged.

When: Friday, July 11 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Where: Heritage Hall - 3102 Main St

Cost: Free


MFA Exhibitions at Emily Carr University

Emily Carr University is hosting two free exhibitions featuring work by students in its Master of Fine Arts Low Residency program, and both are holding opening receptions this weekend.

"Fracture Fold Fray" (in the Michael O'Brian Exhibition Commons) showcases thesis projects from the graduating class of 2025, while "State of Practice"  (in Zone 4 Gallery, Level 1) highlights work from students at the mid-point of the program.

Both exhibitions offer a chance to experience a range of contemporary practices from an international cohort of emerging artists. 

When: July 7-18. Public opening reception July 10 from 6-9 p.m.

Where: Emily Carr University - 520 E 1st Ave

Cost: Free


Carnaval del Sol

Celebrating 17 years, the Carnaval Del Sol has grown a lot over the years.

This year features local artists along with entertainers from Mexico, Panama, Argentina, Cuba, Brazil, and more.

And, with the World Cup less than a year away, a street-style soccer tournament has been organized.

"With a dynamic 360° inmersive experience, visitors will feel the energy of a stadium, complete with fans cheering, “¡GOLLLLLL!”, games in true Latin American fashion," reads the festival's site.

There will also be areas set up for kids and seniors.

carnaval-del-sol-festival-vancouver-may-2025
Carnaval del Sol will be a lively celebration this weekend. Photo courtesy Latincouver

When: Opening concert Friday, July 11 at 6 p.m. Festival runs Saturday, July 12, and Sunday, July 13, from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Where: Jonathan Rogers Park - 110 W 7th Ave

Cost: $15-$25 (kids under 12 and seniors over 65 free)


Vancouver Chinatown Festival

A beloved summer tradition, the 23rd annual Vancouver Chinatown Festival will once again be held on Keefer and Columbia, in the heart of historic Chinatown.

This year, festival-goers can look forward to a variety of entertainment, culinary options, cultural experiences, and community activities. Highlights include: the Main Stage with multicultural performances; an expanded Children’s Theatre; a Cultural Zone, and the popular Artisans Market featuring a curated selection of local makers and food vendors.

When: Saturday, July 12, and Sunday, July 13, from noon to 6 p.m.

Where: The intersection of Keefer and Columbia streets.

Cost: Free


PawsFest 2025

Have a furry friend? PawsFest will have something for them.

"We’ll be utilizing every inch of Sunset Beach Park for this incredible event," says PawsFest's Harman Shaughnessy in an email to V.I.A.

In all the huge festival will cover 400,000 square feet next to English Bay in Vancouver's West End.

PawsFest will include a doggy fashion show, puppy yoga, and agility demonstrations, along with a pet-friendly beer garden and a marketplace.

At the same time, Day of the Dog is holding a special snowy event at the other end of the city.

When: Saturday, July 12 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Where: Sunset Beach Park - 1204 Beach Ave.

Cost: Free


Day Of the Dog Après Ski Social

In Vancouver's River District, Day of the Dog is bringing a new event with literally tons of snow.

Along with the huge pile of snow for canines to play in, there's going to be bone broth shots, races, and dog snow cones. A pool party, canine cabanas, and a photo booth are also being set up.

The July 12 event is a precursor to the full Day of the Dog event planned in Yaletown for Aug. 24.

When: Saturday, July 12, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Where: River District - 8683 Kerr St

Cost: Free


“Imagining our Stories” at Family Art Party

The Surrey Art Gallery invites families to an afternoon of hands-on artmaking and live performances inspired by its summer exhibitions 10 and 10: Story of Stories running until Aug. 9 and Experiments in Solitude running until Aug. 16.

Activities include wire sculpture, fabric collage, and wearable art, plus storytelling through song and dance by Spakwus Slolem of the Squamish Nation.

The event is free and open to all; children must be accompanied by an adult.

When: July 12, from noon to 4 p.m.

Where: Surrey Art Gallery - 13750 88 Ave

Cost: Free


Vancouver Craft Beer & Music Festival

Vancouver Craft Beer & Music Festival takes over the PNE Fairgrounds with a wide selection of over 150 craft beers, ciders, and B.C. natural wines, along with food trucks and live performances by artists like The Moss, Oliver Hazard, and Harbour.

New this year is Wing Fest, a dedicated area featuring a lineup of local restaurants and chefs serving up their take on chicken wings, from classic flavours to creative, globally inspired variations. The event also includes games, local art installations, and a laid-back outdoor setting.

When: July 12. Afternoon Tasting: Noon to 4 p.m. Evening Tasting: 5 to 9 p.m.

Where: PNE Fairgrounds - 2901 E. Hastings St, Vancouver

Cost: $74


how-did-this-get-made
Paul Scheer, June Diane Raphael and Jason Mantzoukas are brining "How Did This Get Made" to Vancouver July 12. Photo courtesy Paul Scheer

How Did This Get Made?

The popular podcast How Did This Get Made? comes to town for fans of cinema and comedy.

Hosted by three actors with substantial experience in comedy—June Dianne Raphael (Grace and Frankie, NTSF:SD:SUV::), Paul Scheer (The League), and Jason Mantzoukas (The LeagueBrooklyn 99)—the long time podcast turns their comedic talents on terrible films.

For this live show they'll be taking aim at Driven, the 2001 Sylverster Stallone race car movie.

When: Saturday, July 12, at 8 p.m.

Where: Queen Elizabeth Theatre - 630 Hamilton St

Cost: Tickets start at $56.50 plus fees and taxes.


Tour de Concord

Tour de Concord is back along False Creek this Sunday with a full day of free, family-friendly cycling fun at Concord Pacific Place.

Watch thrilling pro and amateur races, enjoy live demos, check out bike gear, and let the kids ride the course—including a special race just for ages 3–6.

With hands-on activities, music, treats, and more, it’s a great reason to get outside and celebrate cycling in the city. Free registration encouraged.

When: Sunday, July 13 from 9:55 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Where: Concord Pacific Place - 88 Pacific Blvd,  Vancouver

Cost: Free admission


Car-free Sundays in Gastown

After 2024's pedestrian-friendly pilot project in Gastown, 2025 will see car-free days return to the historic neighbourhood with a series of themed events.

Inspired by other pedestrian-first activities around the world and the return of the Water Street Pedestrian Pilot, Gastown will host a series of events with four rotating themes this summer.

Attendees can enjoy "music, art, culture, dining, shopping, and community vibes."

This week's event will be will be part of the Open Air Atelier series, focused on art outddors.

When: July 13, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Where: On Water Street, from Richards Street to Columbia Street

Cost: Free to attend


Hycroft Secret Garden Party

The Hycroft Secret Garden Party will be held at the heritage site, giving attendees a chance to step inside the 115-year-old mansion—and into the past.

"Guests are encouraged to discover the moss-covered original gate on Marpole Avenue and step into a magical garden party that is reminiscent of another era," reads a press release.

Hosted by the Hycroft Heritage Preservation Foundation and the University Women's Club of Vancouver, the guests are invited to dress up for the elegant event inspired in part by the Netflix show Bridgerton.

When: Sunday, July 13th from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Where: Hycroft Estate - 1489 McRae Ave

Cost: $48


Ongoing

Vancouver Ice Cream Festival

Now in its third year, organizers have brought over 30 restaurants, cafés, and sweet shops on board who will each be offering signature items or special fest creations from June 20 to August 4. All of the sales of the event treats stay with the business, making the Vancouver Ice Cream Festival a great way to support local this summer.

When: Now through Aug. 4

Where: Participating locations/vendors in Vancouver, Burnaby, and Richmond

Cost: Free admission

Kitsilano Showboat

The Kitsilano Showboat has been entertaining people on the shore of Vancouver since 1935, offering an annual collection of free community performances.

The performers showcase a broad range of local talent, from the Vancouver Puppet Theatre to the Band of the 15th Field Artillery Regiment to You Can Uke Too to Sambacouver.

Along with the regular programming, there will be some special events.

When: Wednesdays to Sundays from June 18 to Aug. 17. Regular performances start at 7:30 p.m. 

Where: The Kitsilano Showboat — 2300 Cornwall Ave

Cost: Free

Waitress

The Arts Club Theatre Company’s production of Waitress is on now through Aug. 3 at the Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage. Ashlie Corcoran directs the Broadway musical about a small-town waitress and expert pie-maker, Jenna, "who dreams of a new life outside of her tumultuous marriage."

Jenna faces an unexpected pregnancy and sees winning a pie-making contest's grand prize as a "lifeline." Grammy Award-winning Sara Bareilles created the score, and it is based on the 2007 indie film written and directed by Adrienne Shelly.

When: Through Aug. 3

Where: Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage - 2750 Granville St

Cost: From $39

Exhibitions at the Vancouver Art Gallery

Monsters in My Head is Japanese artist Otani's first solo presentation in North America, inviting visitors into an "enchanted dreamworld, where myths, memories and materials come together to form a landscape—one that is strange, yet deeply familiar."

Otani's work includes ceramic creatures in various scales that "emerge from earthen mounds, tree stumps and scattered stones. 

"The mazelike installation—constructed from materials foraged from local parks and forests—echoes Otani’s creative process, which transforms natural elements (clay, wood, flora) into figures brimming with presence and personality," according to the exhibition description. 

Written in Clay from the John David Lawrence Collection, invites visitors to explore the rich ceramic traditions of British Columbia. The exhibition has about 200 objects, and examines the materials and processes used by artists across the region. It focuses on the mentors, interlocutors, societies, and schools that comprised the clay community from the 1930s to the early 2000s.

When: From May 25 to Nov. 9.

Where: Vancouver Art Gallery - 750 Hornby St

Cost: B.C. Resident General $29. Youth, caregivers, and persons with disabilities are free.

Value: Rebecca Belmore at the Museum of Anthropology

The Museum of Anthropology will host the opening of its next major exhibition, Value: Rebecca Belmore, on Thursday, May 15. The exhibition will feature four installation works spanning the four-decade career of the internationally lauded Anishinaabe contemporary artist. 

The exhibition challenges notions of collective value defined by colonial institutions and contemporary social structures. It features two of Belmore's most notable multimedia works – Fountain (2005) and Wild (2001). Fountain premiered at the 2005 Venice Biennale and will be exhibited with the artist's original installation specifications in Vancouver for the first time in 20 years. It features a short film displayed on a wall of falling water. 

A fourth work – Ayum-ee-aawach Oomama-mowan: Speaking to their Mother (1991) – will arrive later this summer to be on display in MOA's Great Hall. The two-meter-wide wooden megaphone was created in response to the deadly 1990 Kanehsatà:ke Resistance in Oka, Quebec.

When: From May 15 to Oct. 19.

Where: UBC Museum of Anthropology - 6393 NW Marine Dr.

Cost: Free with admission to the museum ($26 for adults)

Playland

Following the opening of Vancouver's largest amusement park last weekend, locals can enjoy over 20 rides at a variety of thrill levels for children of all ages (and adults can enjoy them, too). 

People can purchase Playland Season passes to get the "ultimate access" to the amusement park on public operating dates, at the cost of less than three admissions (on select dates, May to Aug 2025). Passholders also receive additional special perks.

When: Wednesdays to Sundays from now until Friday, Aug. 15. Opens at 11 a.m. Closes at 5 p.m. on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Closes at 7 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

Where: Playland Amusement Park - 2901 E Hastings St.

Cost: Varies with ticket. Get tickets.

Junction Public Market

vancouver-junction-market-summer-2025-2jpg
Photo courtesy Junction Public Market

Vancouver's vibrant waterfront free public market returns to Granville Square for the 2025 season on May 1.

Now in its second year, the Junction Public Market features rotating pop-ups, local artisans, food vendors, a licensed patio, live entertainment, and special events planned throughout the spring and summer.

The popular warm-weather event runs in a unique shipping container marketplace in Granville Square, located between Waterfront Station and Canada Place. 

The Sipping Container bar will feature a list of local brews, wines, and pre-mixed drinks, with a patio overlooking the Vancouver waterfront and North Shore. 

When: May 1 to Sept. 28. Vendors: Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Licensed patio: Tuesday to Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Where: Granville Square - 200 Granville St., between Waterfront Station and Canada Place, Vancouver

Cost: Free admission

Richmond Night Market

Richmond hosts one of the largest outdoor markets in North America and has up to 150 retail stalls and 130 food vendors, as well as entertainment and carnival games. This year it is adding a 600-foot zipline ride by to celebrate its 25th anniversary (available starting May 19). 

Also, to celebrate 25 years, the market will also offer happy hour specials and admission discounts. Every night, drinks will be under $7 and food under $10 at every food stall, while admission will be $5 after 10 p.m. General admission is $7 for anyone older than 7 but under 60; kids up to 7 and those 60+ get in for free. A Zoom Pass, which gives you the ability to skip the line, is $35. 

When: From April 25 until Oct. 13.

Where: 2431 No. 3 Rd, Richmond

Cost: $7

Nuxalk Strong: Dancing Down the Eyelashes of the Sun

The Nuxalk Strong: Dancing Down the Eyelashes of the Sun is the first exhibition dedicated entirely to the Nuxalk Nation, who haved lived for for over 14,000 years on the central northwest coast in Bella Coola. 

The exhibition showcases the Nation's rich culture and what it is doing to revitalize its language, self-governance, stewardship, and ceremonial practices. 

Visitors can also see how the community works to "safeguard Nuxalk belongings, treasures, and ceremonies – including the return of a significant collection of masks, regalia, and cedar bark weavings at the exhibition closes in 2026."

Nuxalk Strong features treasures and artworks housed at the Museum of Anthropology, as well as loans from private collections and six participating museums: Royal British Columbia Museum (Victoria), Burke Museum (Seattle), Glenbow Museum (Calgary), Manitoba Museum (Winnipeg), and Museum of Vancouver.

When: Feb. 21, 2025, to Jan. 5, 2026

Where: MOA at the University of British Columbia - 6393 NW Marine Dr, Vancouver

Cost: Free with admission to the museum ($26 for adults)

With files from Lindsay William-Ross, and Valerie Leung.

$(function() { $(".nav-social-ft").append('
  • '); });