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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!

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Vancouver Takes Entertainment Outdoors

July in Vancouver is crammed full of amazing outdoor activities and events that are fun for all ages! If you’re a Vancouver resident or traveling to our magnificent city this month, you’ll find there’s more than enough to occupy your time. The arts and entertainment scene comes alive in the early summer on the west coast and visitors can revel in everything from outdoor cinematic experiences to world-class fireworks displays. Here’s a look at several different entertaining ways to spend your time throughout the month of July: 

Feature Movies in the Park Stanley Park

The annual Summer Cinema event at Stanley park is returning in 2022 with movie screenings taking place every Tuesday (weather permitting) after sunset. As in past years, the public gets to vote on what movies they’d like to see. This annual series invites visitors to bring their own chair or blanket and enjoy a free outdoor movie experience. No tickets or reservations required. Those wishing to attend are asked to show up at the Grand Lawn at Ceperley Meadow in the park (near Second Beach). The space can accommodate up to 5,000 people. Anyone wanting to make it an extra special experience can purchase a general admission ticket to the VIP seating area at the front of the lawn. The movies for July include The Lion King, Zoolander, Jurassic Park, and Top Gun. 

Downtown Vancouver BIA Summer Movie Nights and Activations

If an outdoor movie in the park isn’t your scene, then you could always stay closer to the city and take in the Summer Movie Night series outside the šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl’e7énḵ Square

(formerly known as the Vancouver Art Gallery North Plaza) located on Hornby Street. From July 7th to August 18th, you can check out amazing activations from 4pm followed by an outdoor movie screening at 9pm. The activations this year include hula-hooping, drum circles, choirs, music, and more. On Thursday July 28th, there will be a special Pride takeover with drag performances and music by DJ Black Cat. Food trucks are also on-site and attendees are encouraged to bring their own seating. The movies for July include Mean Girls, Jumanji, Spiderman: No Way Home, and Moulin Rouge.

Bard on the Beach at Vanier Park 

What light through yonder window breaks? If you’re into live performance and passionate about Shakespeare, you have to take in a performance of Bard on the Beach at Sen̓ákw/Vanier Park. Performances run through until September and take place in two modern performance tents against a spectacular backdrop of mountains, sea and sky. Get whisked away into the magical worlds of the bard with this year’s theatrical performances of Romeo & Juliet and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Tickets are available from the Bard on the Beach website and the site also offers additional activities and educational opportunities offered throughout the season. 

Celebration of Lights

On July 27th, the Honda Celebration of Light returns to Vancouver. You think you may have seen a fireworks display, but you’ve seen nothing until you’ve seen the Celebration of Light. Taking place at English Bay, this fireworks show accompanied by music that’s streamed across the bay and numerous outdoor seating lounges are sure to delight as the sky is lit up in spectacular fashion. You can either view the program from various locations around Vancouver (it’s highly visible) or purchase tickets and enjoy a seating in one of the lounges. Learn more.

Patio Vancouver

In 2021, the City of Vancouver approved special permits to expand patios throughout the city of Vancouver making it easier to be social outdoors and come together with friends and family to enjoy all the eats and treats Vancouver has to offer. This year, Patio Vancouver has launched a fun and interactive campaign to get residents and visitors alike to experience more than 400 patios in and around the city. Simply check out the Patio Map and start exploring!

No matter whether you’re heading into town for business, pleasure, or both, be sure to book with stayvancouverhotels.com for the absolute best deals in town! Not only do we offer great places to stay, but we provide exclusive offers including bike rentals, event tickets, and gift certificates for Amazon, Starbucks, iTunes, and shopping. Until the end of July, you can even pick up a $75 GC to spend on shopping at the CF Pacific Centre. Learn more.

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The 5 Best Places to Hike, Bike, and Run in Vancouver

Whether you exercise for health reasons (mental or physical) or that wonderful rush of endorphins, it’s still important to get those exercise hours in when visiting a different city. If you’re going to be heading to the Vancouver area, you’re in luck! Western Canada’s biggest city has numerous opportunities to get your sweat on, and even better, it’s a beautiful place to work out. Here are 5 of the best places to hike, bike, and run in Vancouver:

1) The Grouse Grind

Operational since May 2017, the Grouse Grind has become a staple for hikers and runners wanting to prove their mettle against a trail that’s as challenging as it is steep. Located in North Vancouver, this trail has a 300 meter elevation and climbs 2.5 kilometers up Grouse Mountain. Rugged terrain, shifting weather, and a beautiful forest atmosphere round out this challenging trail that is not for the faint of heart. Like really, if you have heart problems, give it a miss. Remember to snap your picture at the top with your climb time! And then enjoy the gondola ride down (it’s mandatory as downhill hiking isn’t allowed due to the steep terrain).

2) Jericho Beach (by UBC)

Enjoy the sprawl of the University of British Columbia with this charming run or ride around the extensive campus—which is a self-contained city within a city. The trail takes you along the waterfront of Jericho Beach and then around the outskirts of the campus passing the Museum of Anthropology, the UBC Botanical Garden, and the Greenheart TreeWalk. 

3) Stanley Park Seawall Loop

It’s impossible to talk about the perfect running and biking route in Vancouver and not mention the seawall around Stanley Park. This 9.25 km loop is a runner/cyclist’s dream, winding around the outside of Stanley Park along the waterfront. There’s lots of opportunities to modify your route, take a forest trail, run along a beach, or even take a step further and head to English Bay after your workout and enjoy the restaurants and shops of this picturesque beach community. 

4) Pacific Spirit Regional Park

Close to UBC, the Pacific Spirit Regional Park sports unpaved bike and running paths that cut through beautiful forested areas. Located on the west side of Vancouver, the trail network spans more than 750 hectares of forest and is accessible year round. There’s no specific recommended route, simply because there’s so many trails to choose from. Be sure to check out a trail map and plan the best route to suit your wants and needs.

5) Yaletown (Kitsilano Beach)

If you’re looking for a more city-centric trail for running or biking, you can visit the upscale locale of Yaletown. This waterfront path leads you along the waterfront from the Yaletown Ferry Dock, through parks, across the Burrard Street bridge and through Kits Beach. You can enjoy breath-taking views along False Creek and pass by Vancouver landmarks including Science World. 

Bonus fun for Après Run!

Dragon Boat Festival in False Creek with Science World

In June, you can also see the world famous Concord Pacific Dragon Boat Festival. taking place at False Creek and surrounding parks as racers from around the world partake in North America’s flagship dragon boat festival.

Vancouver International Jazz Festival at David Lam Park

If you’re a jazz enthusiast, be sure to check out the 36th annual TD Vancouver International Jazz Festival. Taking place from June 24th to July 3rd. The 11-day festival features 700 artists and 200 performances at 19 venues, along with more than 60 free shows. 

If you’re heading into town, for business or pleasure, be sure to book with stayvancouverhotels.com for the best deals in town! You can get bike rentals and gift certificates for Amazon, Starbucks, or iTunes, receive a flight voucher, or grab a $75 GC to spend on shopping at the CF Pacific Centre. Learn more.

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COVID-19 Updates

With the world-wide focus on COVID-19, we at StayVancouverHotels have everyone’s health and safety top of mind.  We understand the necessity of prioritizing travel safety and travel flexibility. Please refer to our partners at Tourism Vancouver for the latest updates.

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10 Ways to Enjoy Vancouver this October!

It’s no secret that Vancouver offers never-ending entertainment for all ages and lifestyles – especially when the city promotes a natural splendour and dazzle that is so hard to resist!

In order to truly experience Vancouver this autumn, we thought we would dig a little deeper. The findings? Regardless of whether you are a tourist, a resident or perhaps just in need of a few envy-worthy snaps for your social media feed, mark your calendars and get ready to experience Vancouver like never before!

Family Fun

Head Down to Harvestland

The whole family is Willkommen to this traditional Bavarian event… learn more

Video courtesy of Harvestland Festival

Fifth Annual Scarecrow Festival

Have you ever attended a scarecrow festival? Come on down for this family fun event, full of hayrides, scavenger hunts, and lots of activities… learn more

Photo courtesy of Art’s Nursery Garden & Home

Big Day BBQ Tailgate Pop-up

Already missing those summer BBQs? Well, this is the ultimate fall BBQ party! Every Sunday until December 29th, 2019 at The American…learn more

Photo courtesy of The American

Celebrate Diwali

Experience everything from cooking classes to dancing and massive performances at the Vancouver Public Library…learn more

Photo courtesy of Vancouver Indian Boat Parties

Stanley Park Horse-Drawn Tours

Discover the natural beauty of Vancouver’s Stanley Park aboard a horse-drawn carriage on this charming 1-hour tour. Sit back….learn more

Photo courtesy of Stanley Park Horse-Drawn Tours

Vancouver Fall Home Show

Looking for cozy inspiration this fall? “Leave it to” the Vancouver Home Show — and HGTV’s Bryan Baumler to help you find the latest trends… Learn more

Photo courtesy of Vancouver Home Shows

Halloween Happenings

Gastown Ghost Tour 

Craving some ghoulish fun? This Gastown walking tour takes you to the heart of Vancouver’s paranormal activity… Do you dare to learn more?

Photo courtesy of Gastown Ghost Walking Tour

The Forbidden Downtown & Chinatown

Few may remember how far north prohibition spread, but the speakeasies and bootleggers from Vancouver’s rum-running past have yet to be forgotten – if you know where to look that is…learn more

Photo courtesy of Prohibition City Walking Tour

Dare to Enter Potter’s House of Horrors

Looking for family fun? Potter’s House of Horror is back and they’ve added a second haunted house! Bring your family and friends this Halloween… learn more.

Photo courtesy of Gord Goble/Surrey Now

Fright Nights at Playland

Fright Nights is back again! Leave it to Playland to make sure all your screams come true…learn more.

Photo courtesy of Erik Andersen

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StayVancouverHotels.com wants to help send you to these fun events! Beginning October 15th, receive up to $125 in FREE Visa Reward Cards when you book your stay (or staycation) at any of our 39 Vancouver properties! Staying for more than a night? Earn an additional $50 for each night of your stay. Limited time offer.

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September Fun in Vancouver

For those of you still in “staycation” mode, summer may be ending soon, but that’s no reason to not get out and enjoy all of the wonderful offerings that Vancouver provides. Spending those remaining summer days having fun on amusement rides or experiencing live theatre entertainment, is a win-win for everyone!

This September, go check out the Pacific National Exhibition (PNE) – an icon of Vancouver entertainment, culture & events for over a century. The PNE hosts the popular summer fair each summer, yet the true spectacle is their selection of amusement rides at Playland.

Once you’ve had your carnival thrills, explore Vancouver’s Fringe Festival – every theatre lover’s dream come true. Featuring over 700 performances by approximately 100 artists, the festival is expected to draw over 40,000 attendees again from September 5th – 15th this year.

Check out some of our favourite rides at Playland, along with some highlights happening at the 35th annual Vancouver Fringe Festival.

Continue reading “September Fun in Vancouver” →

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Top 5 Beaches in Vancouver

August is the warmest month in Vancouver, BC and an exciting time to be out enjoying the summer weather! Lucky for us, we have excellent beaches that are easily accessible from the best hotels in downtown.

Here are 5 beaches in Vancouver that we highly recommend and which you will absolutely love  – yet another reason to have yourself a staycation in this beautiful city!

 

Continue reading “Top 5 Beaches in Vancouver” →

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Best Hotels To Stay In Downtown Vancouver

The great thing about staying in downtown Vancouver is how easily accessible everything is: from dining, to entertainment, attractions, culture & luxury – all within a short radius. And of course, we also have gorgeous panoramic views of the North Shore mountains, an impressive 400-hectare natural West Coast rainforest (called Stanley Park) & the majestic waters of Vancouver Harbour & English Bay – truly breathtaking!

We understand that it’s not always easy to know where all of the sweet stays are in relation to the local happenings around town. That’s why we’ve selected a few of our favourite neighborhood recommendations for downtown Vancouver to help you out.

Continue reading “Best Hotels To Stay In Downtown Vancouver” →

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