Tag: Free things to do

Experience the Best of Vancouver’s Summer Markets, Festivals, and Events

Summer in Vancouver is the perfect time to explore the city’s vibrant culture and numerous exciting events. In August, the city comes alive with festivals and markets, and there’s no better way to experience the best of Vancouver than with a stay at one of StayVancouverHotels’ 42 downtown properties. Here are just a few of the must-visit events happening this August in Vancouver and the surrounding communities.

EXHIBITIONS AND MARKETS

Vancouver is known for its thriving markets and exhibitions, showcasing local artisans, food vendors, and more. One of the most popular markets in the city is the Granville Island Public Market, where visitors can browse through hundreds of stalls offering fresh produce, seafood, and unique souvenirs. Another must-visit market is the Richmond Night Market, located just a short drive from downtown Vancouver. Here, visitors can sample a variety of Asian-inspired cuisine, browse through vendor booths, and enjoy live entertainment.

THE PACIFIC NATIONAL EXHIBITION (PNE)

For those looking to experience all the best markets in Vancouver, be sure to check out the Pacific National Exhibition (PNE) Fair, which runs from August 19th to September 4th. This annual event features live entertainment, carnival rides, and a showcase of local vendors. 

NORTH VAN SHIPYARDS

If you’re looking to venture outside of downtown Vancouver, visit the North Van Shipyards, located in North Vancouver. This waterfront destination offers stunning views of the city skyline, as well as a variety of food trucks, craft breweries, and artisan markets. Visitors can also enjoy live music and entertainment throughout the summer months.

PRIDE PARADE

For those looking to embrace and celebrate diversity and inclusivity, the Vancouver Pride Parade is a not to be missed event. This year, the parade will take place on August 6th and will feature a new route along the Seawall. Visitors can expect to see colourful floats, live music, and thousands of participants celebrating the LGBTQ2+ community.

RBC GRANFONDO WHISTLER

StayVancouverHotels offers a great deal for those who want to participate in the RBC GranFondo Whistler, one of the most popular cycling events in North America featuring thousands of participants as they travel from sea to sky. With the GranFondo promotion, guests can save $75 on their registration for the event with a one-night stay, or receive $75 off of 2 registrations when reserving 2 or more nights. This is a great opportunity to stay in one of the downtown Vancouver hotels and enjoy the city’s summer events while preparing for this exciting and grueling cycling challenge.

VANCOUVER MURAL FESTIVAL

An event for the art lover in everyone! The Vancouver Mural Festival takes place from August 4th to 13th. This annual festival showcases the city’s vibrant street art scene, with over 60 new murals painted throughout the city. Visit the website for details and locations.

Regardless of what you decide to do this month, make the most of your Vancouver vacation or staycation by booking with StayVancouverHotels. With a variety of locations to choose from, guests can find the perfect accommodation to suit their needs and budget. Book your stay today and experience the best of Vancouver’s summer markets and festivals – Learn more

Posted on by Jennifer Osmann

Venture into the Great Outdoors! (Your May 2023 Guide To Vancouver)

In May we celebrate mothers, the Canadian baseball season begins, we venture outdoors as the weather turns much warmer, and some of us run through the city some 42 kilometers . . . for the fun of it! Now that Spring has officially sprung, it’s time to take full advantage of everything our fair city has to offer. Events and activities are aplenty as we kick off with warmer weather and the opportunity to venture outside. 

MOTHER’S DAY

One single day to celebrate mothers is simply not enough, but at this time of year it’s important that we recognize those who have helped raise and shape us and turn us into the (mostly) functioning humans we are today. Vancouver offers a variety of things to do to celebrate your mom on May 14th. The Pacific Arts Market at 1448 West Broadway holds a mom-centric event featuring mimosas, food, activities, and prizes. Toby’s Social Club on Main street will be hosting the Mother’s Day Comedy Night starring comedian John Cullen. Many restaurants in the downtown core are sporting special menus for the occasion. So, no excuses! Make plans with your mom on May 14th!

CANADIAN BASEBALL SEASON

The Canadian baseball season officially begins in May, with minor league and major league regular season games taking a swing for victory. The Vancouver Canadians, a minor league baseball team play throughout the season in Vancouver at Nat Bailey Stadium (next to Queen Elizabeth Park). Tickets are available online through Ticket Smarter. Learn more.

BMO MARATHON

Not for the faint of heart, the Vancouver BMO marathon takes place on May 7th, drawing participants from all over Canada and beyond as they take part in Western Canada’s biggest running race. With 8km and half marathon race lengths available, the real stretch of the legs (and mind) is the full 42km marathon that has athletes running through Vancouver’s downtown, UBC campus, and along the Stanley Park Seawall. There’s even a kids run that takes place on Saturday May 6th for younger participants. Book your stay with stayvancouverhotels.com and receive a $75 discount on your BMO marathon registration. Learn more. 

STANLEY PARK

The 405-hectare sprawling park nestled in the heart of the city, with a road along the seawall that loops for approximately 9.5 kms leaves a lot of ground to explore in Stanley Park. Over 500,000 cedar, fir, and hemlock trees fill this natural habitat along with various other vegetation and wildlife. A pool, waterpark, miniature railway, the aquarium, and much more make Stanley Park the perfect way to spend a spring day! Book your stay with Stay Vancouver Hotels and you can even get two half day bike rentals—a great way to explore the park. Learn more.

Whether you’re taking your mother out for a nice dinner or you’re sweating from every pore through a grueling 42km run, always remember to book your stay with stayvancouverhotels.com. The best prices on hotels, and great promotional incentives to choose from, including discounts on the BMO marathon, $100 shopping spree at Pacific Centre, half day bike rentals, and more! Learn more.

Posted on by Jennifer Osmann

Vancouver Exhibitions, Markets, and More!

Vancouver is home to all sorts of attractions and delights, from world-class restaurants to internationally acclaimed concerts, to festivals, exhibitions, markets, and more—Vancouver is eternally a hotbed of activity for all to enjoy. Throughout the summer and, in particular, coming up in August, there’s lots to feast your appetite when it comes to outdoor events. Here’s our recommendations for some of the best things to do in August in Vancouver . . .

THE PACIFIC NATIONAL EXHIBITION (PNE)

Since 1910, the PNE has entertained millions of guests providing exhibits, shows, concerts, the annual summer fair, cultural experiences, and more. The PNE will arrive on August 20th this year and run through until September 5th. As always, the fair will take place at their location on Hastings, next to Playland so visitors can enjoy all the thrilling rides and take in the fair in one glorious location.

Hailed as the longest running and best attended annual ticketed event in BC, the PNE has hosted historic acts, including the Beatles, and continues to entertain every single year and this year is no exception. This year’s concert series includes The Barenaked Ladies, Blue Rodeo, Cake, and the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. Visit the PNE for some of the best entertainment in Vancouver—fun for the entire family.

GRANVILLE ISLAND MARKET

In operation since 1979, the Granville Island indoor market is home to around fifty merchants and is a massive draw for tourists and locals alike. The mix of vendors changes every week, offering a wide range of diverse selections when it comes to boutique shopping and tantalizing food offerings. The market is open seven days a week from 9am to 6pm and the indoor venue means it’s a great place to visit no matter the weather. The waterfront area outside the market has picnic tables and the surrounding area boasts art galleries and unique shopping experiences aplenty. 

DOWNTOWN FARMERS MARKET

Formerly known as the Yaletown Farmers Market, the Downtown Farmers Market takes place on Wednesday afternoons from 2pm-6pm in the plaza outside the Vancouver Art Gallery on Hornby Street and runs until October 5th. Here you’ll discover fresh fruits and vegetables, plus vendors selling art, toys, clothing, gifts, crafts, and more, all accompanied by live music. 

RICHMOND NIGHT MARKET

Modeled after Asian night markets, the Richmond Night Market is the largest of its kind in North America. The food vendors alone are enough to warrant a visit, but you’d better bring an appetite. Food is cooked fresh in front of you and the air is filled with delectable smells of crab meat noodles, brazilian pastries, sausage, ice cream, ramen, and more. There are over 70 food stalls and over 100 retails stalls, plus live music and entertainment at the main stage and carnival stalls for everyone to enjoy.

NORTH VANCOUVER SHIPYARDS

The shipyard district in North Vancouver’s Lower Lonsdale is a functioning shipyard, but also plays host to boutique shopping, specialty food, galleries, restaurants, antique stores, and more. Steeped in history and full of shopping excursion possibilities, The Shipyard truly captures the spirit of Vancouver’s North Shore.

With the markets providing so many shopping and dining options, there’s simply no shortage of possibilities when you visit Vancouver. When you do visit, make sure you book with stayvancouverhotels.com for all the best deals in the city! We offer amazing accommodations for your stay and provide exclusive offers including bike rentals, tickets to the Capilano Suspension Bridge, and gift certificates for Amazon, Starbucks, iTunes, and shopping. Learn more!

Posted on by admin

Northern Lights in Vancouver

In addition to the gorgeous, interactive art tradition: Lumiere, lighting up Downtown Vancouver this November 5 – 30, 2020, our city’s very own BC Place will also be brightening lives this month with the stadium’s Northern Lights Display!

Photo Courtesy of  LumiereYVR/Instagram

In the following article, originally posted on BC Place.com, the stadium is honoured to be able to help bring awareness to events, charities and non-profit causes that are important to communities in British Columbia.

Here are the stadium’s lighting initiatives for November:

November 1st – Green and purple for LGS Awareness Day

November 2nd – Orange for CRPS/RDS Awareness

November 3rd – White for Lung Cancer Awareness Month

November 4th – Green for Show Your 4-H Colours Day

November 5th – Teal for the ‘Light the World in Teal’ campaign

November 6th – Lime green for Adoption Awareness Month

November 7th – Red for Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Month

November 8th – Purple for Pulmonary Hypertension Awareness Month

November 9th – Moustache design for Movember

November 10th – Teal for Cervical Cancer Awareness

November 11th – Poppy design for Remembrance Day

November 12th – Blue for World Pneumonia Day

November 13th – Blue in advance of World Diabetes Day on November 14th

November 14th – Rainbow animation for Diwali

November 15th – Rainbow for Multiculturalism Week in British Columbia

November 16th – Blue and gold for the Covenant House ‘Sleep Out’ event

November 17th – Purple for World Prematurity Day

November 18th – Light blue in advance of National Child Day on November 20th

November 19th – Special animation for the St. Paul’s ‘Lights of Hope’ celebration

November 20th – Blue, pink and white for Transgender Day of Remembrance

November 21st – Purple for Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month

November 22nd – Blue for National Addictions Awareness Day

November 23rd – Blue and green for Fall Prevention Month

November 24th – Purple for Osteoporosis Awareness Month

November 25th – Orange for the ‘Orange the World’ campaign

November 26th – Purple for Domestic Violence Awareness Month

November 27th – Northern Lights Animation

November 28th – Snowfall Animation

November 29th – Red for The Salvation Army Christmas Kettle Campaign

November 30th – Blue for Stomach Cancer Awareness Day

In addition to these lighting initiatives, the stadium will continue to light up with a heart animation at the top of each hour (between 7pm and 11pm) for 5 minutes every night to show support for health care professionals across the province who are working tirelessly to support our communities through the COVID-19 pandemic.

This article was originally published on BCPlace.com To learn more or to submit a lighting request, visit BC Place’s Northern Lights Display page.

Posted on by Jennifer Osmann