by Sharon Miki
Summer is coming to an end, but that doesn’t mean the good times have to stop. Before you get hyped for back-to-school season and pumpkin spice everything, celebrate the sweet last drops of summertime in Vancouver with these Labour Day long weekend activities. [Photo courtesy of Tourism Vancouver/PNE]
iHeartRadio Beach Ball
Rock out to some of the coolest acts in music at the inaugural iHeartRadio Beach Ball on September 3rd and 4th. This all-ages event takes place at the PNE Amphitheatre and brings big-name acts – like Lorde, Alessia Cara, Liam Payne and Shawn Hook – to the outdoor stage.
Richmond World Festival
Showcasing more than 75 artists on nine stages, the Richmond World Festival celebrates music, food, art, sport and cultural diversity. Taking place September 1st and 2nd at Minoru Park in Richmond, the free admission fest hosts performances by acts including Dragonette, Tokyo Police Club and Verbal Jint. When you’re not caught up in the tunes, check out the culinary stage to watch local top chefs cook up gastronomic masterpieces.
Victory Square Block Party
Celebrate Vancouver’s unique and diverse music community at the 13th annual Victory Square Block Party on Sunday September 3rd at Victory Square in the Downtown Eastside. This free day-long event brings together local bands like Dumb, Needles//Pins, Passive and more.
The Fair at the PNE
An annual end of summer essential for Vancouverites, The Fair at the PNE runs until September 4th and boasts rides for kids and kids-at-heart, shows, entertainment and – best of all – delicious fair food like the legendary mini doughnuts. In addition to classic PNE must-sees like the baby animals at Farm Country and SuperDogs, check out new exhibits like the Hockey Hall of Fame and Toytopia.
Nikkei Matsuri
On September 2nd and 3rd from 11 am to 7 pm, bring the kids to the Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre at Kingsway and Sperling in Burnaby for Nikkei Matsuri. This Japanese cultural festival has something for everyone with food vendors, a game zone, martial arts demonstrations and main stage performances. Admission is $3 and kids under five are free.
Polish Cultural Festival
Venture to the North Shore for the fifth annual Polish Cultural Festival on September 3rd from 2 pm to 7:30 pm. Family-friendly and free, the festival showcases Polish music, folk dancing, food and plenty of activities for the kids like a puppet theatre show, face painting and balloons.
Farmers’ markets
Taste the best food that local farmers, artisans and vendors have to offer at one of the festive local farmers’ markets this long weekend. Head to Riley Park, Trout Lake or the West End markets on Saturday and check out the Mount Pleasant Farmers’ Market on Sunday.
TAIWANfest
For three days, from September 2nd to 4th, the annual TAIWANfest brings art, culture, music and plenty of delicious food to downtown Vancouver on and around Granville Street. Feast on Taiwanese cuisine or catch the International Pan-Asian Culinary Invitational, where local chefs face off with Taiwanese and Japanese culinary masters.
