Welcome to the first crisp, colourful, moody days of October, a time of year that many have long been waiting for. From Fright Nights to a fall food fest, to the start of VIFF, here are 11 of the best things to do in and around Vancouver this weekend (Oct. 3-5).
The 44th annual Vancouver International Film Festival is here! Celebrating the work of filmmakers from all corners of the world, as well as local talent right here in B.C., the festival will showcase dozens of films, filmmaker Q&As, VIFF Talks, and live performances.
When: Thursday, Oct. 2 to Oct. 12, 2025
Time: Showtimes vary
Where: VIFF Centre (1181 Seymour St.) and theatres across Vancouver
Cost: Tickets on sale at noon on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025
The Vancouver Art Gallery offers free admission to the public on the first Friday of every month, from 4 to 8 p.m. The next free Friday night will be on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025 — so get ready to roam all the exhibits free of charge.
When: Friday, Oct. 3, 2025
Time: 4 to 8 p.m.
Where: 750 Hornby St.
Cost: Free admission
Mark your calendars for this one! UBC’s Apple Festival is back at the UBC Botanical Garden on Oct. 18 and 19, 2025. Here, you can savour over 50 apple varieties at the Tasting Tent, enjoy live food demos, sip your way through the brand-new Apple Cider Garden, and browse the bustling food fair. Take home unique varieties from the apple and apple tree sale, catch live entertainment, and let your kids loose in the Children’s Area, complete with exclusive merch, games, and the famous giant leaf pile.
Admission is priced at $11 per person aged between eight and 64, $10 for senior admission, and $12 for GA when purchased onsite.
When: Saturday, Oct. 18 and Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025
Time: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: 6804 SW Marine Dr.
Cost: $10 to $12 per person, free for children aged seven and under
Vancouver’s scariest Halloween experience is back at the PNE starting this week, complete with seven haunted houses, terrifying rides and attractions, and roaming entertainment that is sure to knock your socks off.
When: Select nights in October from Oct. 1 to 31, 2025
Time: 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. or midnight, depending on the day
Where: 2901 East Hastings St.
Cost: $39+ per person
Cheer on the BC Lions this weekend as they face off against the Calgary Stampeders at BC Place.
When: Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025
Time: 4 p.m.
Where: 777 Pacific Blvd.
Cost: $25
If hockey is more your speed, there’s a Canucks game this Friday against the Oilers that you won’t want to miss.
When: Friday, Oct. 3, 2025
Time: 7 p.m.
Where: 800 Griffiths Way
Cost: $25
Harvest Days is a time-honoured tradition in Vancouver that transforms VanDusen’s 55 acres into a celebration of autumn’s bounty, complete with fall decor, pumpkins, sweet treats, and live music.
When: Weekends from Sept. 27 to Oct. 19, 2025
Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: 5251 Oak St.
Cost: $12.59 to $15.05 per adult, $6.29 to $$10.55 per child
The Improv Centre on Granville Island has a new show to check out on Fridays and Saturdays, as well as select Thursdays until Nov. 1, 2025. I Know What You Did Last Weekend focuses on a group of friends who experience a tragic accident and are forced to keep a deadly secret. Inspired by ’90s teen slasher films, the show is sure to bring on the laughs.
When: Fridays and Saturdays (and select Thursdays) until Nov. 1, 2025
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Where: 1502 Duranleau St.
Cost: $24.50 to $31.50
Following a sold-out world premiere in January 2024 at Ottawa’s National Arts Centre, Touchstone Theatre presents Women of the Fur Trade, which has its first Western Canadian stop in Vancouver on Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025. Written by Frances Končan and directed by Renae Morriseau, the project is a lively historical satire of survival and cultural inheritance through the lens of the Canadian fur trade.
When: Until Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025
Time: Showtimes at 2 p.m., 4 p.m., and 7:30 p.m.
Where: 6354 Crescent Rd.
Cost: $13 to $45 per person
From Friday, Oct. 3 to Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025, the self-guided Vancouver Fall Food Fest is back in action with over 15 participating cafes, bakeries, and food spots across Metro Vancouver. So get ready to load up on limited-time sweet treats, including exclusive items with hojicha, chestnut, apples, and more classic autumn flavours.
When: Friday, Oct. 3 to Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025
Time: Varies per location
Where: Participating locations across Metro Vancouver
Cost: Free admission
It’s not too late to drop by the largest night market of its kind in North America: the Richmond Night Market. Now in its 25th year, the iconic market features hundreds of international street food booths, local retail vendors, and a first-of-its-kind zipline.
When: Open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays
Time: 7 p.m. to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, and until 11 p.m. on Sundays
Where: 8351 River Rd., Richmond
Cost: $7 for GA
Don’t forget your umbrellas!
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