With August in full-swing, the events and things to do keep amping up.
There are grand openings, festivals, and new events to add to your weekend roundup and summer bucket list. Make the most of it and pick and choose the items that speak to you this summer.
Here is your roundup of things to do this August weekend.
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This Weekend – August 20-22
Drop By PNE’s Opening Weekend
The Fair at the PNE is back and it opens up this Friday, August 20. With concerts already announced, along with the prize home, ample rides, and fun games, this fair is a traditional summer must do. And no part of the annual fair is complete without eating at least one mini-donut or trying some of their other delicious food items.
Check Out The Whitecaps Return
BC Place will be opening up to host its first sporting game since the start of the pandemic. The Whitecaps will be kicking off their home opener with fans in their seats this Saturday, August 21. Tickets are available via TicketMaster.
Metrotown Bike Festival
Cyclists of all ages can take part in the Concord Pacific Metrotown Bike Festival in the parking lot on the north side of Metropolis at Metrotown mall. The event will take place on Sunday, August 22 at 1:00 p.m. The actual race will take place at 3:00 p.m. There will be a cycling zone for kids, entertainment, a community barbecue, prize draws, bike demos, free bike tune ups and more.
Richmond Maritime Festival
The Richmond Maritime Festival Re-Imagined is coming back to the Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site. It will be a 2-day event which brings back to life the rich and nautical history of the shipyards. There will be live music, boat builders, wood carvers and so much more. The event takes place on Saturday, August 21 and Sunday, August 22, from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Drive Into Surrey’s Only Outdoor Movie This Summer
Movies Under the Stars in Cars is an annual event put on by the Downtown Surrey Business Improvement Association can enjoy the outdoor movie night in Surrey on Saturday, August 21. Gates will open at 7:45 p.m. and the movie will begin at dusk, around 8:45 p.m. It is encouraged to register in advance as there are limited spots. If you miss this one, there are also many others around Metro Vancouver you can check out.
Royal City Sound Pier Nights
City of New Westminster is hosting live DJs and entertaining people with prizes and games this Friday, August 20 at New Westminster Pier Park. The event is free, put on by the Youth Services of Royal City Sound. You can enjoy tunes from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Wander The Chilliwack Corn Maze
Opening day for the Chilliwack Corn Maze is happening on Saturday, August 21 at Greendale Acres. This is the 23rd maze, and this time will feature 12 acres of adventure and the word “WANDER” within the maze itself. To kick off the grand opening there will be a pancake breakfast free with admission from 10:00 a.m to noon, a balloon artist from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and live concert at 7:00 p.m.
Sidewalking Arts Festival in White Rock
The streets of White Rock will be buzzing, even more than usual, this Saturday, August 21st. There will be street performers of all kinds will thrill audiences in various outdoor locations in White Rock’s Uptown and Five Corners districts courtesy of the WhiteRock BIA. Sidewalking Arts Spectacular will go from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Music in Deer Lake Park
Deer Lake will be hosting live entertainment on Saturday, August 21 at 6:30 p.m. in the gallery backyard. There will be two acts: sibling duo Francis and Francheska, with classical violin and guitar; and a performance of the Burnaby Summer Theatre production The Underlasting Forest. The event is free and open to all.
On-Going Things To Do
Visit The Vancouver Aquarium
After being closed for almost a year, the 65-year old Vancouver Aquarium has reopened this week. In addition to their regular exhibits, they also launched a showcase on Marine Mammal Rescue, highlighting how the facility rehabilitating marine mammals.
Soak In Art At The Vancouver Mural Festival
On now until August 22, check out 60+ displays across 11 different neighbourhoods at this year’s Vancouver Mural Festival. The giant murals are brought to life with artists creating art on massive canvases. There are guided Mural Tours, Talks, Workshops, and 40+ Live Shows at the outdoor Pop-Up Patio—presented by Granville Island Brewing.
Drink At The Wizard’s Den
Unleash your inner Harry Potter and experience this unique wizard-themed bar which has just started. The Wizard’s Den will have you creating boozy potions of your own and learning how to “perfect your brew.” The location is hidden to the public so you will need to get tickets to enjoy the secrets of being a boozy wizard.
Visit the Richmond Night Market
The Richmond Night Market officially opens on July 23rd, and will run every Friday, Saturday and Sunday through September 6th, 2021 from 7 pm to 12 am. You will need to purchase tickets online through their app to check it out. There will be vendor stalls as well as a bunch of new foods to try.
Drop By North Vancouver’s Shipyards Fest
Shipyards Live is a brand new summer series with 16 days of excitement taking place over 8 weeks. Taking place at North Vancouver’s popular Shipyards, this event starts on Friday July 30, and will be on every Friday and Saturday until September 18. The cost for the event is totally free, and festivities will take place throughout the day until 10 pm each night.
Find A Farmers Market
If you love exploring farmer’s markets, check out a new one using the BC Farmers’ Market Trail. This is a free, mobile-friendly website featuring a farmers’ market finder which quickly directs shoppers to fresh local food and goods available anywhere in B.C. So matter where you are, you can still enjoy a good weekend farmers market.
Check Out The Cool New Voxel Bridge
Cambie Street Bridge has a new digital and artistic makeover that is a true combination of art and technology. The underside of the bridge has been transformed into the digital world of Voxel Bridge. This is Vancouver Biennale’s latest public art work installation. Using augmented reality (AR) and blockchain technology the space will become an interactive 3-D world.
Explore A New Hike
Sunny weather may be limited. This is a great time to check out a new hike or go swim under a waterfall. Being surrounded by nature, there is an abundance amount of trails to choose from.
Kick Back at The Granville Street Promenade
A stretch of the Granville Entertainment District (GED) turns into a vehicle-free zone for better access to temporary patios, public seating, art and musicians every weekend for a couple of hours. The pedestrian promenade takes place between Smithe and Helmcken streets on Saturdays and Sundays for the rest of summer, ending on September 5. Check out this outdoor party with no cars around.
Check Out A Sunflower Festival
Sunflowers galore, there are a number of festivals to check out these fresh blooms no matter where you live. The Sunflower Festivals are happening in various cities and all are opening up this week in Abbotsford, Richmond and Chilliwack. In each field there are hundreds of blooms to enjoy with lots of picture opportunities and other features. Check out out each city listed for their unique offerings.
Play A Round of Mini Golf
Try putting around and check out some of the best places to play mini golf. Fun for all ages, this activity is exciting for both families and friends while they spend a few hours in some friendly competition. This also makes for an excellent date idea.
Ride The New Eagle Coaster
The massive roller coaster on top of Cypress Mountain just opened up this week. Get a thrilling experience while taking in the views on top of the mountain. If you want to ponder before you take the ride, check out pictures of some riders that enjoyed the Eagle Coaster on opening week.
Attend A Beer Garden
The Parallel 49 Brewing Company in Vancouver reopened their massive beer garden this summer which features a 120-seat patio. Along with its full selection of beers, they also have a full kitchen and amazing views. It’s definitely worth checking out this large and beautiful outdoor space.
Check Out a New Patio
Although going to a patio doesn’t seem like a new idea, there are plenty of patios that are quite literally hidden gems and must be added to a patio bucket list for the summer. The ambiance, the views, or the oasis creation has made some patio stand out. Check out 7 hidden gem patios to see which one you haven’t tried yet.
Watch a Movie on the Big Screen
Movie theatre’s finally reopened this month and there is a lot to catch up on. There is a great line-up of blockbusters to watch this summer. Movies out in August includes Free Guy and Reminiscence. This is in addition to highly anticipated films like Black Widow, The Suicide Squad and Space Jam that came out earlier this summer.
For an extra special experience, check out the new 19+ VIP Cinemas that just opened in Burnaby.
Enjoy DaVinci’s Art
The DaVinci exhibit is an exclusive multi-room exhibit is an interactive experience showcasing the work of Leonardo da Vinci. This is the first time this art exhibit has come to Canada, and will be around all summer. Take a peak inside.
Get Spell Bound At Wings and Wizards
Started this week, Wings and Wizards is being held at BC Place Stadium and entertaining to any wizardry and Harry Potter fans. With over 7,000-sq-ft of event space, using cutting-edge interactive technologies and motion tracking devices. It is said to create a fun and immersive environment for the whole family. If you are undecided, take a sneak peak.
Walk Through a Van Gogh Painting
The Imagine Van Gogh exhibit has been a popular spot for many since it’s launch earlier this year. Tickets has sold out multiple times, with dates being extended until fall. Now may be the best time to experience this for yourself. Here is a look inside.
Check Out The New Rec Room
The Rec Room at the Amazing Brentwood Mall just opened this past week in Burnaby. This massive amusement area features 2 dinning areas and over 90 arcade games for gamers of all ages. From classics like skee ball and racing to physical games like table tennis and billiards.
Eat From A Food Truck
No weekend is complete without a delicious food treat. The area near the intersection of Broadway and Granville Street is hosting a regular weekend pop-up food-truck festival called “Thank Granville It’s Food trucks” (TGIF). With about 20 different food trucks with varying weekly schedules, the event offers something new each weekend. The festival will take place every Friday and Saturday for the whole summer.
Experience A Sea Of Lavender
This new lavender farm has 7 acres covered in a variety of different lavenders. Lavenders are also known to have medicinal and calming qualities, which would make the visit extra enjoyable after a stressful year. Tickets are currently on sale, and they are open daily until October.
Take Advantage of Translink Discounts on Attractions
As part of the Reconnect campaign, Translink is offering riders a 25% discount on hundreds of local attractions, destinations and tours. It’s a perfect way to discover BC while not worrying about the ride. There are also more buses added onto routes to allow for more travel in certain regions.
Regardless of what you do, we hope you enjoy your weekend activities! If you catch a shot you want us to feature, make sure to tag us on Instagram using #604Now.
For more places to explore in beautiful BC, check out our Travel & Outdoors section.