Photo via @coastaljazz / Instagram
Great news, Vancouver! The city is finally heating back up again just in time to ring in Canada Day festivities. So there’s no reason not to enjoy the long summer hours and check out all that the weekend has to offer. From Vancouver’s Queer Arts Fest to a free summer market, to a second weekend of the Vancouver International Jazz Fest, here are 10 of the best things to do in Vancouver this weekend (June 27-29).
Starting Saturday, June 28, 2025, Playland is officially kicking off its extended summer hours, now open five days a week, Wednesday through Sunday. So get ready for some classic summertime fun with over 30 rides and attractions to check out.
When: Open Wednesday to Sunday starting Saturday, June 28, 2025
Time: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and until 7 p.m. on select days this July and August
Where: 2901 East Hastings St.
Cost: $36.70 to $42 per person
One of Portobello West’s summer markets at VanDusen Botanical Garden takes place this weekend! The free-to-enter market will feature 39 B.C. artists, designers, and producers, allowing visitors to get the inside scoop on their creative processes. You’ll be able to peruse jewellery, home decor, skincare, and much more.
When: Saturday, June 28, 2025
Time: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: 5251 Oak St.
Cost: Free admission
The Vancouver International Jazz Fest is now underway, and there’s still time to check out a final weekend of free, pay-what-you-can, and ticketed concerts. The 40th annual celebration showcases jazz in all of its forms, with local and internationally renowned artists taking the stage at venues across the city.
When: Friday, June 20 to Sunday, June 29, 2025
Time: Varies per show
Where: Locations across Vancouver
Cost: Free and ticketed events
MONOVA is hosting two historical walking tours in North Vancouver from Thursday, June 26 to Sunday, June 29, 2025: Shipyard Pal, which uncovers the stories of shipyard workers at Burrard Drydock during World War II, and Lower Lonsdale, which explores the neighbourhood’s most iconic sights and figures.
When: Thursday, June 26 to Sunday, June 29, 2025
Time: Varies per tour
Where: 115 West Esplanade, North Vancouver
Cost: Free admission
You still have a few days to check out Vancouver’s summer Queer Arts Festival (QAF), an annual artist-run celebration of queer and trans experiences. This year, Portals is the curated visual exhibition, which explores the themes of queerness, migration, and belonging at a time of rising anti-trans rhetoric. There are tons of events taking place across the city until Saturday, June 28, 2025, primarily at the SUM gallery at the Sun Wah Centre.
When: Now until Saturday, June 28, 2025
Time: Varies per event
Where: 268 Keefer St., Unit 205
Cost: Varies per event
Cheer on the Vancouver Canadians at the Nat this weekend long as they face off against the Tri-City Dust Devils, with games on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
When: Friday, June 27, Saturday, June 28, and Sunday, June 29, 2025
Time: 1:05 p.m.
Where: 4601 Ontario St.
Cost: $22+
The 2025 Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival is kicking off with Much Ado About Nothing and The Two Gentlemen of Verona at Vanier Park. So get ready for an outdoor theatre production like no other.
When: Tuesday, June 10, 2025 to Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Where: 1695 Whyte Ave.
Cost: $35 to $88 per person
The beloved Shipyards Night Market is back every Friday until September, providing the perfect opportunity to hit some patios or breweries after work, enjoy some live music, and snag some food truck eats at Shipbuilders Square.
When: Every Friday until Sept. 12, 2025
Time: 3 to 10 p.m.
Where: The Shipyards, North Vancouver
Cost: Free admission
Vancouver’s self-guided Ice Cream Fest is back this summer with over 30 participating ice cream spots across Metro Vancouver, from BETA5 to Bella Gelateria. So if you’re looking to beat the heat and want to try a new spot, this is a great opportunity to do both.
When: Friday, June 20 to Aug. 4, 2025
Time: During operating hours
Where: Over 30 participating locations in Metro Vancouver performance venues
Cost: Varies per location
The beloved Richmond Night Market is in its 25th year, complete with hundreds of international street food booths, local retail vendors, and a first-of-its-kind zipline.
When: Open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays
Time: 7 p.m. to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, and until 11 p.m. on Sundays
Where: 8351 River Rd., Richmond
Cost: $7 for GA
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