Can you believe it’s already almost October?! While we’re still coming off of the summer high, it’s good to note all the fall fun we have in store in Vancouver this upcoming month. The leaves are changing colours, Cirque du Soleil is back onstage, and there are plenty of fall fairs and festivities to look forward to. Here are 35 of the best things to do in and around Vancouver this October.
Live Events & Concerts
Saint Levant: DEIRA Tour
Saint Levant is a multilingual rapper whose music tells the story of his upbringing and heritage, blending a mix of traditional Arabic music, R&B, and hip-hop.
When: Friday, October 4th
Where: Commodore Ballroom
Cost: $139.46
Harvest Haus
Harvest Haus is back at the PNE this year with tons of specialty German fare, including schnitzel, roast chicken, and a wide range of German, Czech, and Belgian brews. Whether you’re impartial to an old-fashioned pilsner or more of a radler person, there’s a beer (and a seat) for everyone at Harvest Haus.
Note that table reservation tickets include a souvenir beer stein.
When: Friday, October 4th and Saturday, October 5th
Where: 2901 East Hastings
Cost: Pre-sale access here
Weezer: Voyage To The Blue Planet Tour
Formerly known as “Goat Punishment,” iconic rock band Weezer is coming to Vancouver on Saturday, October 5th, and it’s not too late to snag tickets!
When: Saturday, October 5th
Where: Rogers Arena
Cost: $129.15
VIFF 2024
This year’s Vancouver International Film Fest will feature over 350 movies from across the globe as well as dozens of live speaker events by acclaimed directors and film industry professionals that you won’t want to miss.
When: Thursday, September 26th to Sunday, October 6th
Where: VIFF Centre and other local theatres
Cost: $19 per adult per screening
Hans Zimmer Live
Oscar-winning film score composer Hans Zimmer is no doubt as legendary as Hollywood itself, and he’s performing at Rogers Arena early this month.
When: Sunday, October 6th
Where: Rogers Arena
Cost: $280.84
Wild Rivers
Canadian folk band Wild Rivers will perform at the Orpheum on Monday, October 7th.
When: Monday, October 7th
Where: Orpheum Theatre
Cost: $45+
Kygo World Tour
Your fave EDM DJ and producer Kygo is going on a huge World Tour and stopping in Vancouver early this month, so mark your calendars and get ready to be transported back to the age of “Firestone,” and “I See Fire!”
When: Thursday, October 10th
Where: Rogers Arena
Cost: $58.95+
Oktoberfest Country Edition at Boots N Beats
Starting at 9 pm on Friday, October 11th, Abbotsford’s Townhall is transforming for a free-to-enter Oktoberfest celebration with a country twist. Here, visitors can don their best cowboy getups and dance the night away.
When: Friday, October 11th
Where: 33720 South Fraser Way Abbotsford
Cost: Free admission
Don Toliver: Psycho Tour
From the release of his debut mixtape, Don Toliver has wowed the world of rap and taken the industry by storm, and he’s coming to Vancouver on Saturday, October 12th.
When: Saturday, October 12th
Where: Rogers Arena
Cost: $91.25+
Kehlani – CRASH WORLD TOUR
It’s hard to believe that Kehlani’s first taste of fame came from 2011 teen pop group PopLyfe…but here we are! Nowadays, the legendary artist is hitting Vancouver as one of many stops on her CRASH World Tour.
When: Monday, October 21st
Where: UBC Doug Mitchell Stadium
Cost: $41.65+
Suki Waterhouse with Special Guest Bully
English singer-songwriter Suki Waterhouse is newer to the scene, but already an indie icon. Plus, she’s with Robert Pattinson, so she wins!
When: Monday, October 28th
Where: Commodore Ballroom
Cost: $149.10
Food & Drink
Sip Around the World
This fundraising event for men’s mental health awareness will take participants on a guided journey through a night of whiskey tastings, with 30 sips from across the globe in addition to food, door prizes, and silent auctions. All proceeds go towards the local nonprofit HeadsUpGuys.
When: Thursday, October 3rd
Where: 115 Victory Ship Way, North Vancouver
Cost: $161.08
Oktoberfest at Austria Vancouver Club
Ready for a semi-formal celebration? The Austria Vancouver Club is celebrating Oktoberfest on Saturday, September 28th and October 5th with live music by Al Pichler and an authentic Oktoberfest-inspired meal.
When: Saturday, September 28th and Saturday, October 5th
Where: 5851 Westminster Highway, Richmond
Cost: $40 for members, $45 for non-members
Harvest Fair in Surrey
From 12 pm to 4 pm on Saturday, October 5th, a harvest fair and celebration will take place at the Historic Stewart Farm in Surrey, featuring tons of local vendors ranging from handmade pots, florals, and gifts to guided ‘ghost’ tours.
When: Saturday, October 5th
Where: 13723 Crescent Road, Surrey
Cost: Free admission
Fort Langley Cranberry Festival
Every year, the Fort Langley Cranberry Fest celebrates the cranberry’s role in the area’s local history, which dates back thousands of years. The beloved celebration often includes tasty food and drink vendors and family-friendly fun, so stay tuned for more info as it comes!
When: Saturday, October 12th
Where: Fort Langley
Cost: Free admission
The Scarlett: Pop-up speakeasy
Tuesday to Saturday evenings from 5 pm starting October 18th, Fairmont Vancouver is hosting a spooky pop-up speakeasy inspired by the hotel’s legendary Lady in Red. Here, guests can enjoy signature cocktails, light bites, ‘ghostly glamour’, and captivating stories of the hotel’s colourful history.
When: Friday, October 18th
Where: Fairmont Hotel Vancouver
Cost: Free admission
Vancouver Fall Food Fest
Hungry for all things autumn? From October 4th to 27th, you can embark on a delicious self-guided tour of the best fall treats in Metro Vancouver, including specialty teas and lattes to limited-time baked goodies. So if you’re looking for an excuse to try a new spot or catch up with a friend, you’ve just found one.
When: Friday, October 4th to October 27th
Where: Participating locations in Metro Vancouver
Cost: Free admission
Richmond Night Market
Home to literally hundreds of vendors, the Richmond Night Market has become a must for food and drink lovers, and the first two weeks of October are your last chance to check it out this year!
When: Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday until October 14th
Where: 8351 River Road, Richmond
Cost: $8.50 per person
Castle Confidential: An immersive Halloween experience
On Saturday, October 26th Fairmont Hotel Vancouver is hosting a Halloween mystery event on the 14th floor at Notch8 in partnership with Vancouver Mysteries, inviting guests to follow clues and meet spooky characters as they explore the hotel’s eerie past. The experience includes three themed cocktails and gourmet nibbles to fuel your search.
When: Saturday, October 26th
Where: Fairmont Hotel Vancouver
Cost: $130 per person
Black Lagoon
Starting October 1st, Butcher & Bullock in Vancouver will transform into a spine-chilling, immersive experience via the annual Black Lagoon pop-up – a travelling immersive experience for cocktail enthusiasts and lovers of spooky season.
When: Tuesday, October 1st to Thursday, October 31st
Where: Butcher & Bullock
Cost: $72 per adult, $40 per child
Fall with Autumn Harvest Tea at Fairmont Vancouver
From Wednesdays to Sundays at 11 am, 1 pm, and 3 pm, there will be a special fall-themed afternoon tea service at Fairmont Hotel Vancouver starting this month. So get ready to indulge in everything from Kabocha Squash Tartlets to Pumpkin Tiramisu.
When: Wednesdays to Sundays until Sunday, November 24th
Where: Fairmont Hotel Vancouver
Cost: $72 per adult, $40 per child
Arts & Culture
Cirque du Soleil: ECHO
With whimsical characters, daring acrobatics, and vibrant costuming and sets, ECHO is a celebration of everything we know & love about Cirque du Soleil. And Vancouverites will be able to see it all unfold onstage starting this October, so be sure to snag tickets sooner rather than later!
When: Wednesday, October 9th to December 15th
Where: Under the Big Top, Concord Pacific Place
Cost: $68 to $78+
Free nights at Vancouver Art Gallery
The next free night at Vancouver Art Gallery is coming up on Friday, October 4th – so mark your calendars and get ready to enjoy some after-work art!
When: Friday, October 4th and every first Friday of the month
Where: 750 Hornby Street
Antique Show at the Vancouver Flea Market
Want to go treasure-hunting? You’ll find all kinds of secondhand and vintage gems at the Vancouver Flea Market, which is hosting a special Antique Show this month.
The show will run from 11 am to 3 pm on Sunday, October 6th.
When: Sunday, October 6th
Where: 703 Terminal Avenue
Cost: $5 admission
All Hallows’ Eve Craft Market
Sapperton Hall in New West is transforming this month for a Halloween-themed fair filled with spooky, witchy, and gothic finds. Visitors can shop two levels of 60 Halloween-inspired vendors.
When: Saturday, October 5th and Sunday, October 6th
Where: 318 Keary Street, New Westminster
Cost: $3 admission
Halloween Market
Another spooky market coming your way! This October, a ‘haunted’ haven of local vendors is popping up at The Pipe Shop, with a $50 Market Cash reward waiting for the winners of this year’s official costume competition. So dig out your scariest digs and get ready to shop local!
When: Saturday, October 19th
Where: The Pipe Shop, North Vancouver
Cost: Free admission
North Shore Art Crawl
The North Shore Art Crawl is coming up this month in North Van, and registration is still open to participate! Otherwise, prepare to be wowed by the amazing creative talent of the community from Friday, October 4th to Sunday, October 6th.
When: Friday, October 4th to Sunday, October 6th
Where: The Pipe Shop, North Vancouver
Cost: Free admission
Vancouver Writers’ Festival
While there are always year-round book sales and programming to enjoy, the official 2024 Vancouver Writers’ Fest is coming up this month, connecting avid readers to exceptional books, ideas, and dialogue with a full week of over 80 events.
When: Monday, October 21st to Sunday, October 27th
Where: Vancouver Convention Centre, West
Cost: $14 to $16 per person
Vancouver Fall Home Show
Looking for cozy additions to your home for a steal? It’s worth checking out this year’s Vancouver Fall Home Show at the convention centre, which will have tons of home-related products and services to peruse – and maybe even inspire your next home project.
When: Thursday, October 24th to Sunday, October 27th
Where: Vancouver Convention Centre, West
Cost: $14 to $16 per person
DTES Heart of the City Festival
The 21st annual DTES Heart of the City Festival is coming up at the end of October and will last through mid-November, and will feature over 100 local events across 40 venues – both indoors and out. With the 2024 theme of ‘Threads of Connection,’ the 2024 fest will take place over 12 days, showcasing music, stories, poetry, theatre, films, dance, ceremony, and much more.
When: Wednesday, October 30th to November 10th
Where: 250 to 111 West Hastings
Cost: Free admission
Outdoors & Sports
Harvest Days at VanDusen
It’s nearly autumn season once again at VanDusen, and the beautiful gardens are celebrating with their annual Harvest Days festival, complete with access to the botanical gardens, maze area, and festive photo-op areas. Visitors can enjoy tasty seasonal treats, live entertainment throughout the garden, and of course, take pictures with all of the fun fall decor.
When: Weekends from Saturday, September 28th to October 20th, plus October 14th
Where: 5251 Oak Street
Cost: $12 per adult
Pumpkins After Dark
The award-winning Pumpkins After Dark experience in Burnaby transforms Central Park and Swangard Stadium into a spooky family-friendly event with 10,000 glowing, hand-carved pumpkins to illuminate the night.
When: Thursday, October 3rd to Tuesday, October 29th
Where: 6100 Boundary Road, Burnaby
Cost: $21.62 to $27.81 for adults, $17.49 to $23.68 for youth
Fright Nights
Vancouver’s scariest Halloween experience kicks off this month with eight haunted houses, and all will have you facing your deepest, darkest fears. Yes, we’re talking about this year’s Fright Nights at the PNE!
The nightmare-ish experience will bring everything from “Fear” to “Carn-Evil”-themed haunted attractions, to a haunted house simply called the “Void” that will have you covered in goosebumps.
When: Friday, October 4th to Thursday, October 31st
Where: 2901 East Hastings
Cost: $33 to $61 per person
UBC Apple Festival
Now in its 33rd year, the annual UBC Apple Fest is a two-day food fair with live entertainment and over 40 varieties of new & heritage BC apples available for tasting – all at the UBC Farm from 11 am to 4 pm.
When: Saturday, October 19th and Sunday, October 20th
Where: UBC Botanical Garden
Cost: $8-$9 for early bird pricing
Scariest Corn Maze in Canada – Maan Farms
Called ‘Agatha Unseen,’ the newest ‘chapter’ of Canada’s scariest corn maze at Maan Farms will offer those who dare to visit an interactive experience that “pushes horror to new extremes.” Guests have three chilling attractions to choose from: The Kept: Slaughterhouse, Forsaken: The Way Down, and Echo: Homestead – each promising “unforgettable terror” to all who enter.
When: Friday, September 27th to Sunday, November 3rd
Where: 790 McKenzie Road, Abbotsford
Cost: $45 to $126 per person
And that’s a wrap on the month of October, Vancouver!
Enjoy!
