28 Fun Things To Do in Metro Vancouver This Week (Aug 11-17)

August is absolutely stacked with festivals, parties, and late-summer energy. Whether you’re chasing meteor showers, sipping bubble tea, or dancing at a rooftop rave, there’s no excuse to be bored in Vancouver.

28 Fun Things To Do in Metro Vancouver This Week (Aug 11-17)

PNE Fair 2025

pne fair
Photo: @pne_playland, @jenjen.lin / Instagram

The PNE Fair is back from August 16 to September 1, turning Hastings Park into Vancouver’s summer hotspot. Expect epic rides, wild fair food, and the return of Summer Night Concerts with artists like Meghan Trainor, Flo Rida, Counting Crows, and more.

Catch special deals like $7 opening weekend admission and 4-for-2 Tuesdays & Wednesdays (promo code FAIRTW, online only until Aug 19).

📅 Date: August 16 – September 1, 2025

📍 Location: Hastings Park, Vancouver, BC

🎟️ Tickets & More Info: PNE Fair 2025

Chilliwack Corn Maze

Photo: Chilliwack Corn Maze

This year’s maze design is a buzzing tribute to the unsung heroes of agriculture: bees. Celebrating 27 years, this iconic corn maze at Greendale Acres includes classic favourites like the sunflower field, hayrides, jumping pillows, and a brand-new barnyard ball zone. Whether you’re solving the maze or just snapping some golden hour pics, it’s peak fall preview content in early August.

📅 Date: August 1 – October 31

📍 Location: Greendale Acres, 41905 Yale Rd W, Chilliwack

🎟️ Tickets & More Info: Chilliwack Corn Maze

Chilliwack Mural Festival

Chilliwack Mural Festival
Photo: Chilliwack Mural Festival

Downtown Chilliwack gets covered in live art and murals during this ten-day outdoor fest. Expect spray battles, artist talks, block parties and alleyway tours that turn the whole city into an open-air gallery.

📅 Date: August 7–17, 2025

📍 Location: Downtown Chilliwack

🎟️ More Info: Chilliwack Mural Festival

Perseid Meteor Shower Peak

The best night sky show of the year hits its peak August 12–13. Grab a blanket, head to a dark-sky spot (Cypress, Porteau Cove, or Boundary Bay are local faves), and look up—there could be up to 75 meteors per hour.

📅 Date: August 12–13, 2025

📍 Location: Anywhere with dark sky access

The Play That Goes Wrong

A chaotic comedy where literally everything goes off the rails. Set in a murder mystery play-within-a-play, it’s pure slapstick meets theatre nerd gold. Critics love it, and you don’t need to be a theatre buff to laugh hard.

📅 Date: August 13–30, 2025

📍 Location: Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage, Vancouver

🎟️ More Info: The Play That Goes Wrong

ZWILLING Factory Direct Sale

Photo: ZWILLING

From August 14–18, the ZWILLING Factory Direct Sale is taking over Vancouver with massive savings on top brands like ZWILLING, STAUB, and HENCKELS. Score factory-direct prices on premium cookware, knives, and kitchen essentials at all ZWILLING locations, including Metropolis at Metrotown, Tsawwassen Mills, Aberdeen Centre, and McArthurGlen Designer Outlet.

📅 Date: August 14–18, 2025

📍 Locations:

Metropolis at Metrotown – 4700 Kingsway, Burnaby, V5H 4N2

Tsawwassen Mills – 5000 Canoe Pass Way, Delta, V4M 4G8

Aberdeen Centre – 4151 Hazelbridge Way, Richmond, V6X 4J7

McArthurGlen Designer Outlet – 1000-7899 Templeton Station Road, Richmond, V7B 0B7

More Info: ZWILLING Canada Website

RibFest Langley

Bring wet wipes. Award-winning pitmasters battle it out over racks of ribs while you lounge in a beer garden with live tunes and lawn chairs. All-ages, family-friendly, meat-sweat guaranteed.

📅 Date: August 15–17, 2025

📍 Location: McLeod Athletic Park, Langley

🎟️ More Info: ribfestlangley.com

Portobello West Summer Markets

Portobello West
Photo: Portobello West

A fashion-forward indie market showcasing Vancouver’s top makers in art, design, food and home goods. Happens on select Saturdays at the Creekside waterfront and features new vendors each time.

📅 Date: June 28–August 16, 2025

📍 Location: Creekside Community Recreation Centre, Vancouver

🎟️ More Info: portobellowest.com

Vancouver International Music Festival

A cross-cultural showcase of world music, orchestras, and genre-bending performances in venues across the city. Expect international talent, intimate spaces, and a more refined summer soundtrack.

📅 Date: August 18–23, 2025

📍 Location: Various Vancouver venues

🎟️ More Info: vimf.ca

After Dark: Sparks and Rec — Summer Party Edition

Photo: Science World

Nighttime vibes, interactive art, glowing games, and DJ sets light up this summer edition of Sparks and Rec. Expect a garden space turned dance floor, a fully licensed bar, and that only-in-Vancouver creative energy.

📅 Date: August 14, 2025

📍 Location: Vancouver (TBA)

🎟️ More Info: After Dark: Sparks and Rec — Summer Party Edition

Fridays on Front

fridays on the front
Photo: @downtownnewwest / IG

Bringing the electric vibes is New Wesminster’s Fridays on Front. This free night market offers mouthwatering food trucks, live music, and plenty of family-friendly activities for everyone. It’s especially great if you love shopping for handmade treasures.

📅 Date: July 11 – August 25

📍 Location: Front Street Mews, Downtown New Westminster

🎟️ Tickets & More Info: Fridays on Front

Playland 2025

PNE discount
Photo: @pne_playland / IG

The OG summer thrill spot. Ride the wooden roller coaster, destroy mini doughnuts, try your luck at the midway, and relive your youth. Open daily until mid-August, before transitioning into Fright Nights later in the fall.

📅 Date: May 17–August 15, 2025

📍 Location: PNE Grounds, Vancouver

🎟️ More Info: pne.ca

VCT’s Summer on šxʷƛ̓ exən Xwtl’a7shn: Summer Sounds

free concert
Photo: Vancouver Civic Theatres

This is a series of concerts you won’t forget. Featuring artists such as Ruby Singh’s KraKIN, Emily Wurramara, and Toronto’s Al Qahwa, you can party in the sun-soaked plaza of šxʷƛ̓ exən Xwtl’a7shn– all for free!

📅 Date: July 10 – August 14

📍 Location: šxʷƛ̓ exən Xwtl’a7shn, plaza outside of Queen Elizabeth Theatre

🎟️ Tickets & More Info: Summer on šxʷƛ̓ exən Xwtl’a7shn: Summer Sounds

Theatre Under the Stars

Theatre under the stars
Photo: MPMG Media Relations

Theatre Under the Stars (TUTS) presents its 2025 season of sweet dreams and big schemes with musical megahits, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Legally Blonde, on stage June 27- August 16, 2025, at Stanley Park’s majestic Malkin Bowl. From Willy Wonka’s world of pure imagination to the perfectly pink, chic aesthetic of Elle Woods, TUTS ‘magical summer season is bursting with fast-paced adventure, lighthearted whimsy, and feel-good delights.

📅 Date: June 27–August 16

📍 Location: Malkin Bowl, Stanley Park

🎟️ Tickets & More Info: Theatre Under The Stars

Evo Summer Cinema

stanley park outdoor movies
Photo: Evo Summer Cinema

Join Evo for their annual Summer Cinema Tuesdays! These free, open-air films are a great place to catch a film under the beautiful starry sky in Stanley Park. From films like The Princess Bride to Top Gun, there are loads of movies that are suited for everyone’s tastes. VIP seating is also available for purchase, but the Grand Lawn is totally free to sit on and enjoy the films.

📅 Date: July 8 – August 26

📍 Location: Ceperley Meadow

🎟️ Tickets & More Info: Evo Summer Cinema

Live and Local Summer Concert Series

North Van parks light up with free outdoor concerts, pop-up beer gardens, and chill sunset hangs. Local bands, good vibes, and that “we only came for one but stayed till the end” energy.

📅 Date: July 3–August 29, 2025

📍 Location: Various North Vancouver parks

🎟️ More Info: nvrc.ca

So there it is—August in Vancouver, coming in hot with markets, music, murals, and meteor showers. Whether you’re soaking up the last of the long weekends or plotting out one final summer blowout, now’s the time to get out there. You’ve got sun, you’ve got skyline views, and you’ve got no shortage of excuses to say yes to just one more event.

Uptown Live

fun things to do july metro vancouver
Photo: @uptownlivenw / Instagram

Featuring vibrant, busker-style performances by local artists, Uptown Live is a music and arts event that brings the free live tunes to New Westminster. Don’t miss these amazing performances every Saturday!

📅 Date: June 28 – August 30

📍 Location: Uptown New Westminster

🎟️ Tickets & More Info: Uptown Live

Gastown Sunday Set

fun things to do july metro vancouver
Photo: Gastown

This car-free event series turns Water Street into a stage, gallery, cafe patio, dance floor, and open-air playground. You can expect family-friendly fun, tons of music and art, and plenty of good food.

📅 Date: June 15 – August 31

📍 Location: Water Street

🎟️ Tickets & More Info: Gastown Sunday Set

Explore the Galaxy at Metropolis at Metrotown

summer at the met
Photo: @exploreburnaby / Instagram

This year’s Summer at the Met will have you blasting off into space with Metropolis at Metrotown’s galaxy-themed event series. From markets to challenges, these free and family-friendly activities will fly you through the universe.

📅 Date: June 16 – September 1

📍 Location: Metropolis at Metrotown

🎟️ Tickets & More Info: Summer at the Met

Ocean Bound at Science World

museum of surrey ocean bound
Photo: Museum of Surrey

Hands-on exhibit all about how water travels from your street to the sea. Features kid-friendly stations, sustainability facts, and cool ocean-themed activities. Great for rainy days or family outings.

📅 Date: May 27–September 7, 2025

📍 Location: Science World, Vancouver

🎟️ More Info: Ocean Bound at Science World

The Vegan Market

metro vancouver night market
Photo: The Vegan Market

The Vegan Market is Canada’s one and only plant-based night market. With over 30 different plant-based businesses offering their goods, live music, and complimentary sunset yoga, this is night market is one of a kind

📅 Date: June 19 – September 11

📍 Location: Locarno Beach

🎟️ Tickets & More Info: The Vegan Market

Harrison Lake Floating Waterpark

water park

This epic floating playground is back for summer 2025. Think giant slides, teeter-totters, monkey bars, and the infamous blob—all set against the stunning backdrop of Harrison Lake. It’s a full-on Wipeout-style obstacle course that’s as fun as it is exhausting. Perfect for groups, families, or anyone looking to bounce, splash, and laugh their way through a summer day. Pro tip: book early—spots fill up fast. 

📅 Date: Opens June 21, 2025

📍 Location: 100 Esplanade Ave, Harrison Hot Springs

🎟️ Tickets & More Info: Harrison Lake Floating Waterpark

Shipyards Night Market

Shipyards Night Market
Photo: Shipyards Night Market

Every Friday night, the Shipyards Night Market lights up North Van with live music, local vendors, and some of the best food trucks around. It’s your chance to try new eats, shop handmade goods, and vibe out by the water. Expect everything from pierogies to Peruvian BBQ, all with a view of the city skyline.

📅 Date: May 16 – September 12, 2025

📍 Location: The Shipyards, North Vancouver

🎟️ Tickets & More Info: Shipyards Night Market

Bard on the Beach 2025

Bard on the Beach
Photo: David Rose Vancouver / 604 Now Flickr Pool

Shakespeare hits the shore once again at Vanier Park, with a mix of classic performances and new spins under the big white tents. Catch stunning ocean views between soliloquies.

📅 Date: June 10–September 20

📍 Location: Vanier Park

🎟️ Tickets & More Info: Bard on the Beach

Richmond Night Market

richmond night market
Photo: Richmond Night

The Richmond Night Market is back, offering a vibrant mix of street food, games, and live entertainment. Open weekends from April 25 to October 13, it’s a must-visit for foodies and fun-seekers alike. This year’s theme, “Summer Wonderland,” promises whimsical decorations and new attractions to explore.

📅 Date: April 25 – October 13, 2025

📍 Location: 8351 River Road, Richmond

🎟️ Tickets & More Info: Richmond Night Market

Junction Public Market

junction public market
Photo: @junctionpublicmarket / Instagram

Discover local artisans, food vendors, and live entertainment at the Junction Public Market. Located at Granville Square, it’s open from May 1 through September 28. Enjoy waterfront views while sipping on craft beverages from the “sipping container” bar.

📅 Date: May 1 – September 28, 2025

📍 Location: Granville Square, Vancouver

🎟️ Tickets & More Info: Junction Public Market

Creed – Summer of ’99 Tour

If you grew up yelling “Can you take me higher,” this one’s for you. Creed is back with a full arena tour that’s heavy on nostalgia.

📅 Date: August 16, 2025

📍 Location: Pacific Coliseum, Vancouver

🎟️ More Info: creed.com

Sports in Vancouver This August

fun things to do july metro vancouver
Photo @whitecapsfc / Instagram, Vancouver Bandits

Vancouver’s summer sports scene is peaking—whether you’re into ⚽ footwork, 🏀 fast breaks, or 🏈 big hits. Here are the must-watch games around town:

🏈 BC Lions

August 16: vs Montreal Alouettes

📍 Location: BC Place

🎟️ Tickets & More Info: bclions.com

Vancouver Whitecaps FC

August 17: vs Houston Dynamo

📍 Location: BC Place

🎟️ Tickets & More Info: whitecapsfc.com

That’s a massive August lineup—and we didn’t even list every patio party or pop-up happening around Metro Van. Whether you’re catching a show, hitting a rooftop, or just chasing the next food fest, this month’s all about making summer count.

For even more things to do, head to our 604 Now Events Calendar and keep your plans looking as fun as your IG grid.

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