The weekend is coming up and luckily there are a lot of fun events happening from May 3 to 5 in Vancouver.
Whether you want to go check out the new installations at the Vancouver Art Gallery, tour a Royal Canadian Navy ship or go to a food festival, a lot is going on in the city.
The best part? All the activities listed below are free so you can enjoy your days off and not have to worry about spending too much.
Here are 11 free things to do in Vancouver this weekend.
Free night at the Vancouver Art Gallery
Price: Free admission
When: May 4 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Address: 750 Hornby St, Vancouver
Why You Should Go: The Vancouver Art Gallery is hosting a free night on the first Friday in May, meaning you can check out the gallery’s latest installations and programs without spending a dime.
The gallery recommends reserving a spot in advance so you’re guaranteed a free spot.
Royal Canadian Navy Fleet Week
Price: Free admission
When: May 3 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., May 4 from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. and May 5 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Address: The Shipyards, 15 Wallace Mews, North Vancouver
Why You Should Go: You can meet the sailors and divers of Canada’s Navy during Royal Canadian Navy Fleet Week at the Shipyards on the Burrard Dry Dock Pier.
You can also take a tour of the vessels and take a fitness test to see if you have what it takes to serve in the Canadian Armed Forces.
Tian Jin (TJ) Festival
Price: Free admission
When: May 4 and 5 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Address: 3426 Smith Ave, Burnaby
Why You Should Go: Burnaby’s TJ Fest will be serving authentic Taiwanese street foods at the annual community event.
The festival will also have outdoor performances showcasing the community’s diverse cultures and free carnival-style games.
Cheer on runners of the BMO Vancouver Marathon
Price: Free admission
When: May 5 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Address: The start line is at Queen Elizabeth Park – Midlothian Ave and the finish line is at W Pender St between Bute & Thurlow St.
Why You Should Go: The BMO Vancouver Marathon will take over the city streets this weekend.
While taking part in the race is not possible since it’s at max capacity, you can still head to the event and cheer on the racers.
The marathon and half-marathon starts near Queen Elizabeth Park and will finish in downtown Vancouver. You can find the race map online.
Chilliwack Party in the Park
Price: Free admission
When: May 4 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and May 5 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Address: Central Community Park, 45951 Victoria Ave, Chilliwack
Why You Should Go: A two-day community party is coming to Central Community Park the first weekend of May.
The Chilliwack Party in the Park will blend the magic of Star Wars and the vibrant spirit of Cinco de Mayo for a fun celebration. Organizers encourage you to show up in your best costumes for a chance to win $50 in food truck dollars.
There will also be live entertainment, a beer garden, an artisan market and a kid zone.
Meditation for beginners
Price: Free
When: May 4 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Address: 201 1678 West Broadway Vancouver
Why You Should Go: If you need to unwind after a long work week, you can take part in a free guided meditation.
A trained instructor will lead a group for an Isha Kriya meditation. The meditation will take about 20 minutes and is said to be a process you can easily learn to do at home.
Live music at The Park Pub
Price: Free
When: May 3, starts at 8:30 p.m.
Address: The Park Pub, 1755 Davie St, Vancouver
Why You Should Go: End the work week by heading to The Park Pub to enjoy free live music.
This event will happen every Friday with rotating bands and musicians taking part. The performances will start at 8:30 p.m. and will run until late.
Vancouver Hong Kong Fair
Price: Free admission
When: May 5 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Address: The Shipyards, 125 Victory Ship Way
Why You Should Go: A large Hong Kong celebration is happening at The Shipyards in North Vancouver this weekend.
The Vancouver Hong Kong Fair will have a cultural market with over 68 booths led by Hong Konger artisans, creators and small businesses.
There will also be street food stalls, performers, face painting and a Cantonese storytelling area.
Tai Chi Class
Price: Free
When: May 4 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Address: Robson Square, 800 Robson Street Vancouver
Why You Should Go: If you’ve ever been curious about Tai Chi, you can take a free class this weekend.
The class is organized by Alexander Litvinoff, who practices traditional Chinese martial arts.
He runs classes at Robson Square on Saturdays and Kitsilano Beach on Wednesdays.
The first class is free.
BC Buddhist Festival
Price: Free
When: May 5 from 10:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m.
Address: Vancouver City Hall, 453 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver
Why You Should Go: The BC Buddhist Festival happening this weekend will bring together Buddhist temples and groups from across the province to celebrate the special day of Vesak.
The event will have traditional multicultural and arts events like a Buddha bathing ceremony, viewing of rare Buddha relics, Tibetan Thangka painting, music, art and dance.
There will also be guided meditations and a chance to meet abbots from various Buddhist traditions.
Mt. Pleasant Street Art and Mural Tour
Price: Free
When: May 5 from 11 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.
Address: 156 W 8th Ave. Vancouver
Why You Should Go: Vancouver’s Mount Pleasant neighbourhood is filled with street murals and now you can go on a free public tour to check out all the amazing artwork.
The 1.5 to 2-hour tour hosted by DeTours will take you to see over 25 stunning murals as organizers explain their meaning and creation.
If you can’t make it this weekend, no worries because these tours will be happening every Sunday in May.
This article’s cover image was used for illustrative purposes only.
From Your Site Articles