A lot happens in Vancouver on the September Labour Day long weekend including concerts, multicultural festivals, markets and the PNE Fair.
In 2026 Labour Day takes place on Monday, September 7th. Most special events are on the Saturday and Sunday of the long weekend. Events that still happen on the holiday Monday include the PNE Fair and TAIWANfest.
Click on the blue links that interest you below, or scroll further down for details about all of the various activities. Alternatively, check out our article about What’s Happening in Vancouver This Weekend.
Events that usually happen on the September long weekend include the following:
The PNE Fair | TAIWANfest | Nikkei Matsuri | Nativity of the Theotokos Antiochian Orthodox Church Festival | Carnavalito on the Road | Vancouver Boat Parties | Shipyards Night Market | Flower Festivals & Farm Activities | Bands on the Beach at Harrison | Victory Square Block Party | Polish Festival Vancouver | Other Events
There are a number of great Labour Day weekend activities to enjoy in the final days of the summer.
Annual events that take place on the Labour Day weekend include the PNE Fair, TAIWANfest, Nikkei Matsuri, and Harrison Hot Spring’s Bands on the Beach. There are also nightclub-style events with Vancouver Boat Parties in the waters around Vancouver. There is the Shipyards Night Market in North Van, and farm-themed events at places like Greendale Acres, Taves Family Farms and Maan Farms in the Fraser Valley. In 2026 there’s also Carnavalito in Langley and the Nativity of the Theotokos Antiochian Orthodox Church Festival in New Westminster.
See below for details about the above and other holiday weekend activities. For even more complete lists of what to do in the Lower Mainland, see our September Calendar.
The Pacific National Exhibition (PNE)
In Vancouver
Without a doubt, the PNE Fair is a weekend favourite for hundreds of thousands of Vancouverites. It’s arguably the best annual fair deal in Canada. Ticket prices range between $7 and $25 depending on your age and how you purchase your tickets. For what you get, that’s a terrific deal!
In 2026 the PNE runs from August 22nd until September 7th, so it takes place throughout the Labour Day long weekend.
To learn more about the great events offered and activities that you can enjoy at the PNE every year, see our article about the PNE Fair.
TAIWANfest
In Vancouver
TAIWANfest is a multicultural festival in downtown Vancouver. In 2026 it takes place on the Saturday, Sunday and Monday of the Labour Day long weekend, so from September 5th to 7th.
The festival features a number of events including a street party on Granville Street and in the plaza in front of the Vancouver Art Gallery. There are also live music performances and other events at nearby venues like the Annex Theatre.
For full details about the event, visit vancouvertaiwanfest.ca.
The Nikkei Matsuri
In Burnaby
The Nikkei Matsuri is a great Japanese-themed festival at the Nikkei Centre in Burnaby. The event features live entertainment, market vendors and cultural displays. This is very much an authentic event. It’s like a real small town Japanese festival! It’s awesome!
The Nikkei Matsuri happens on the Saturday and Sunday of the long weekend. If you like Japanese food and culture, or want to experience it for the first time, we recommend this event!
To learn more, see our article about the Nikkei Matsuri or visit nikkeimatsuri.nikkeiplace.org.
The Nativity of the Theotokos Antiochian Orthodox Church Festival
In New Westminster
The Nativity of the Theotokos Antiochian Orthodox Church Festival is a community event with a large focus on Mediterranean food. In 2026 it takes place from 2:00 to 7:00 pm on Sunday, September 6th. Admission is free.
Held outside the Holy Eucharist Ukrainian Cathedral in New Westminster, guests can purchase Falafel, Shawarma, Tabuleh and a variety of other mains and desserts. There are Middle Eastern drinks to enjoy as well. The festival also includes a Kids’ Zone, live music and more.
For additional information about the festival, see our article about the Nativity of the Theotokos Antiochian Orthodox Church Festival.
Carnavalito on the Road
In Langley
Carnaval del Sol is a big Latin festival that takes place in Vancouver in July. Carnavalito, meanwhile, is like Carnaval del Sol’s little cousin. It’s hosted by the same organization, Latincouver, but it’s smaller and has more of a kid and young family focus.
In 2026 Carnavalito takes place on Sunday, September 6th, at Douglas Park in Langley. Admission is free.
For details about this event, see our article about Carnavalito on the Road.
Labour Day Boat Parties
Vancouver Boat Parties is a popular party boat company. It runs two nightclub-style events on the Burrard Queen vessel over the Labour Day weekend.
On September 5th in 2026, there’s the Labour Day Weekend Hip Hop x EDM Boat Party which features dancing and music with DJ Ignite and DJ EM1. Then on September 6th, there’s the Latin Vibes Labour Day Weekend Boat Party with Latin and Hip Hop tunes. Expect to see DJ EM1, DJ Ignite and other guest DJs. Both events are lots of fun and typically sell out (so book your tickets while you can if you plan to attend)!
To learn more about this event, see our article about Vancouver Boat Parties or visit the vancouverboatparties.com website.
Shipyards Night Market
The Shipyards District is an area in North Vancouver that stretches from Lonsdale Quay (by the SeaBus terminal) to the Burrard Drydock (which is also known as Shipbuilders’ Pier). It’s an interesting place to visit any time of year, but especially so on weekends and in the summer. The Labour Day weekend is no exception.
The biggest and most significant event on the Labour Day weekend in North Vancouver is the Shipyards Night Market. It features artisan vendors, a beer garden and live music on the Friday. It’s an amazing event and admission is free.
Flowers Festivals & Farm Activities
A number of great farm and flower-themed activities happen in the Fraser Valley on the Labour Day Long Weekend. They include the Taves Family Farms, Maan Farms, and the Chilliwack Corn Maze at Greendale Acres.
Taves Family Farms & Applebarn
Taves Family Farms & Applebarn is a fun, family-friendly farm with tons of activities for kids in Abbotsford. The place is open all weekend, and then on select dates until October 31st.
Maan Farms
Maan Farms is another popular farm in Abbotsford with lots of kid-friendly things to see and do. There are farm animals and amazing play structures for families to enjoy. The attraction’s Fall at the Farm event doesn’t start up until the middle of September. The Barnyard Adventureland, however, is open daily this time of year (and kid love it)!
Chilliwack Corn Maze at Greendale Acres
Greendale Acres is a farm that’s home to the well-known Chilliwack Corn Maze. The venue has a terrific corn maze as well as lots of kid-friendly activities. This year the farm hosts a Summer Sendoff Festival from September 5th to 7th. The event features live music, face painting, a watermelon eating contest and more fun.
To learn more about this attraction, see our article about the Chilliwack Corn Maze.
Bands on the Beach
At Harrison Hot Springs
The beautiful resort town of Harrison Hot Springs hosts its annual Bands on the Beach event which features free live music by the lake. Bring your lawn chair and listen to the concerts on the beach on the Saturday and Sunday of the long weekend.
The music on the Labour Day weekend typically features everything from Indie to Country to Bluegrass. The event is organized by local musician Todd Richard.
TIP #1: While at Harrison Hot Springs, make the most out of your trip and check out some of the area’s attractions. Highlights include the famous beach in the resort town, Sasquatch Provincial Park, the Sasquatch Museum, Harrison Water Sports and boat rides with Shoreline Tours. Not far away there is also Kilby Historic Site.
TIP #2: Arrive well before noon if you want to find convenient parking.
TIP #3: Don’t forget your swimsuit!
See our article about Bands on the Beach for more information.
Victory Square Block Party
In Vancouver
The Victory Square Block Party is a free event with live music. The event is held outdoors at 200 West Hastings Street in downtown Vancouver (which is part of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside) and is free to attend. Last year it happened on the Friday of the Labour Day Weekend. 2026 details are to be confirmed as of late July.
For additional information about this free event, click Victory Square Block Party.
Polish Festival Vancouver
In North Vancouver
The Polish Festival is a free event at the Shipyards in North Vancouver. In 2026 it takes place on Saturday, September 12th, so on the weekend after Labour Day.
The festival features Polish food, beer, vendors, cultural displays and more. This year, there are live performances by Gustavo Hererra, Slovak Sound Band, the Zornitza Dance Ensemble and more. The festival is a great family-friendly event in a wonderful location and admission is free.
To learn more about this event, see our article about the Polish Festival Vancouver, or visit polishfestivalvancouver.com.
Other Events
Many of Vancouver’s regular weekly summer events also occur over the September long weekend. See below for more details.
- Richmond Night Market – on all four days of the long weekend.
- Bard on the Beach – Vancouver’s famous Shakespearean theatre.
- Saturday Farmers Markets – great places to pick up long weekend picnic supplies on the Saturday can be found in Abbotsford, Burnaby, Fort Langley, Maple Ridge, Squamish, Trout Lake, Vancouver’s West End and other locations.
- Sunday Farmers Markets – taking place as they do most weekends in the summer at Ambleside, Brentwood, Coquitlam, Kitsilano, Mt. Pleasant, White Rock and Whistler.
- Live Theatre at The Improv Centre – theatresports-style shows take place at the theatre on Granville Island.
- Cultus Lake Adventure Park – amusement rides and more at Cultus Lake.
- Railway of Museum of BC – a cool museum in Squamish about trains and the history of locomotives in the province.
- WildPlay in Maple Ridge – ropes course adventures and ziplining happen in the forest in Maple Ridge. (TIP: Use the promo code VBP15 and save 15%.)
- Cultus Lake Waterpark – water slides and other fun activities at Cultus Lake.
- Vancouver Mysteries Games – outdoor adventure games take place in downtown Vancouver. (TIP: Use promo code BESTPLACES to save 10%.)
- Forbidden Vancouver – guided walking tours take place in both Stanley Park and downtown Vancouver.
Other Things to do in September
Looking for other things to do in September in the Lower Mainland on different days and weekends? Then check out Vancouver’s Best Places’ September Calendar of Events. Or, if you just want to find a beautiful place to hang out, check out Vancouver’s best places in parks and nature.
Happy end of summer holidays!
Other websites you might also find of interest are VancouverForKids.ca and VancouverFoodFestivals.ca. Later in the year, you might also like VancouverHalloweenEvents.ca and VancouverChristmasEvents.ca.
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