Grouse Mountain Skyride. Photo: Destination Vancouver/Grouse Mountain
For some people, Labour Day weekend marks the end of summer. While there are still a few weeks of warm weather left, it’s the perfect time to bask in the summer sun. In 2024, you can spend time in nature, hit the beach, visit a festival, and more on the August 31 to September 2 long weekend.
PNE Fair
Labour Day weekend is the final weekend of the two-week-long PNE Fair. This annual summer tradition includes agricultural displays, Indigenous carvers, classic fair food, concerts, the famous Super Dogs show, and lots more. You can also take on rides and games for all ages at Playland. Don’t miss the summer nights concerts. On Labour Day weekend you can catch Punjabi Virsa Night on August 31, Barenaked Ladies on September 1, and I Love the 90s Tour featuring Vanilla Ice on September 2. Our guide to the 2024 PNE has all the details.
The Sea to Sky Swinger. Photo: PNE
Nikkei Matsuri Japanese Festival
In Japanese, matsuri means festival. The annual Nikkei Matsuri celebrates Japanese culture, art, music, and food in Burnaby. The event takes place on August 31 and September 1 this year and is a fundraiser for cultural programming at the Nikken National Museum and Cultural Centre. Purchase tickets in advance.
Photo: Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre/Manto Artworks
Hit the Beach
Labour Day weekend is one of your last chances to indulge in some beach time. With stretches of sand downtown, on remote coastlines, and everything in between, our guide to Vancouver’s beaches has a beach for everyone.
English Bay Beach. Photo: Destination Vancouver/Tanya Goehring
TAIWANFest Vancouver
TAIWANFest Vancouver is an annual multicultural celebration that dates back to 1990. This year’s event takes place from August 31 to September 2 and includes performances, films, talks, exhibits, a market, and more. Some performances are ticketed, but there are free events taking place at šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl’e7énk Square at the Vancouver Art Gallery and on Granville Street.
Bard on the Beach
Bard on the Beach is one of Vancouver’s oldest theatre festivals, staging Shakespeare plays in specialized theatre tents in Vanier Park since 1990. On Labour Day weekend you can catch both matinee and evening performances of A Comedy of Errors and Twelfth Night on Saturday and matinees of Twelfth Night and Measure for Measure on Sunday. Purchase tickets in advance.
Photo: Bard on the Beach
Take a Hike
Get in one last summer hike before the temperatures cool down. You can hike to mountain tops, rainforests, and viewpoints. If you’re new to hiking, start with one of our favourite beginner hikes near Vancouver. Or cool off on one of our summer hikes with a splash.
Elfin Lakes in Garibaldi Provincial Park. Photo: Pranav Prashar/Unsplash
Bands on the Beach in Harrison Hot Springs
Head to Harrison Hot Springs for the 15th annual Bands on the Beach event. Enjoy live music each afternoon on Saturday and Sunday as musicians take the lakeside stage in front of an incredible mountain backdrop. There’s also an evening performance on Saturday night from Totally Toby, a Toby Keith tribute band.
Photo: Tourism Harrison/Graham Oborne
Shop at an Outdoor Market
As we head into harvest season, it’s a great time to shop at an outdoor market.
Vancouver’s farmers’ markets have a harvest bounty at this time of year. Look for locally grown fruit and veggies, artisan baked goods, and prepared foods like jams and beverages. On the Labour Day long weekend, you can visit the West End, Riley Park, and Trout Lake markets on Saturday and the Kitsilano and Mount Pleasant markets on Sunday.
The Richmond Night Market, located next to Bridgeport Skytrain Station on the Canada Line, is open on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday nights on the Labour Day long weekend. Modelled after outdoor night markets in East Asia, and Hong Kong in particular, it is the largest night market in North America.
Head to the Shipyards Night Market on Friday night in North Vancouver, just one block east of the Lonsdale Quay for one of the last markets of the season. You can listen to live music and DJs, hang out with friends in the beer garden, grab a snack from one of the food trucks, or browse the stalls at the artisan market.
Shipyards Night Market; Destination Vancouver/Vision Event Photography Inc.
Burnaby Village Museum
The 10-acre Burnaby Village Museum includes a collection of historical buildings, many of which have on-site interpreters. On Labour Day (September 2nd) they will have special activities, displays, and entertainment to learn more about the history of the labour movement. Admission to the museum is free, but there is a small charge for rides on the beautifully restored antique carousel.
Visit the Mountains
In a few short months, Vancouver’s mountains will be blanketed in snow. But on Labour Day weekend you can experience them in the sunshine. Grouse Mountain, Cypress Mountain, the Sea to Sky Gondola, and Mount Seymour all have options for sightseeing, hiking, biking, learning about nature, getting your heart pumping, grabbing lunch, and more. Our guide to summer on the local mountains has all the details.
Panorama Trail at the Sea to Sky Gondola. Photo Credit: Tara O’Grady