September is a month of change. The summer temperatures dwindle (eventually!), the amount of sunlight decreases, school-aged children return to the classroom, and lengthy holidays end. September brings us Fall with its warm, frothy drinks, pumpkin-flavored everything, and the farm bounties of apples and corn. Metro Vancouver also offers up a ton of family-fun events throughout September. Here are the top September picks from Family Fun Vancouver!
Vancouver Fringe Festival | September 4-14
Bigger, bolder, and better than ever before, this yearās Vancouver Fringe FestivalĀ will be parading its fine wares all across Granville Island and beyond ā from rollicking new theatre to belly-bursting comedy, awe-inspiring dance to lip-splitting spoken word and more.
Hope Brigade Days | September 5-7
Plan a day trip or a weekend away to celebrate the annual Hope Brigade Days! What started as a community event in 1968 to celebrate the end of tourist season has become a popular annual tradition that sees people returning from all over for the celebration.
Good Times Cruise-In | September 6
Don’t miss this annual event that draws car aficionados, young and old! Thousands of cars – new, old, restored, hot-rodded – close off the streets. Have a wander and be sure to keep your hands to yourself!
Polish Cultural Festival | September 6
The 11th annual Polish Cultural Festival at the Shipbuildersā Square and the Pipe Shop in Lower Lonsdale will feature Polish music, singing and folk dancing, and a special program for children and youth with arts and games activities, sing-alongs, and more.
Car Free Day Main Street | September 14
Car Free Day Vancouver demonstrates what busy roads could look like with more pedestrians and fewer cars. This arts and culture celebration reflects each unique neighbourhood in Vancouver by highlighting local food, live music and artwork, and allowing local residents and businesses to re-imagine spaces usually reserved for cars.
North Shore Kids Fest | September 14
North Shore Kids Fest is back ābigger, brighter, and bursting with community spirit! This free event features live performances, hands-on activities, food trucks, and exciting new additions like a youth entrepreneur showcase and quiet zone. Come celebrate creativity, play, and childhood joy!
BC Culture DaysĀ | September 19 – October 12
Culture days raise awareness and accessibility to arts and culture in and around communities across Canada. This annual festival offers free and cheap workshops, performances, and demonstrations at various locations in each Metro Vancouver city. Some events require advanced registration.
Harvest Fair | September 20
Celebrate Fall with live entertainment, carnival games, heritage demonstrations, harvest photo ops, seasonal food and artisan vendors.Ā Best of all? Admission is FREE!
Shipyards Festival | September 20
The North Vancouver Shipyards Festival is a one-day, family-friendly event packed full of music, adventure, food and fun! Festival-goers will enjoy 4 stages, featuring 40 performers, a Family Zone, axe throwing, a beer garden as well as local food vendors. Explore Lower Lonsdale and take part in a music-packed, family-friendly festival.
Scarecrow Stroll | September 20 – October 31
Visit the expansive 10+ acre nursery anytime between Sept 20 and Halloween to enjoy a casual, outdoor stroll amongst 50+ scarecrows and fall photo opportunities. Enjoy the beauty of nature, the creativity of their scarecrow-building team, and give your support to the local businesses who make this event possible with their donations.
Vancouver International Flamenco Festival | September 20 – 28
The Vancouver International Flamenco Festival features 12 days of performances, workshops, and outdoor activities at various locations around Metro Vancouver. If youāve been wanting to learn flamenco or improve your existing skills, you will love the Masterclass options for beginners or intermediate dancers!
RiverFest | Sept 20, 27-28
RiverFest is a FREE family-friendly festival and a great way to learn more about the mighty Fraser River. Head to the Fraser River Discovery Centre in New Westminster.
Baby Rave at Club Carousel | September 28
Join Carousel Theatre for Young People for the popular ābaby raveā ā a free dance party where families can dance to music by a live in-house DJ, while getting connected to their own personal rhythm and creative movement.
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation | September 30
The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is on September 30, 2025. It is a day of public awareness and commemoration of the tragic and painful history of residential schools in Canada. This day is also meant to educate about the rich cultural traditions of Indigenous Peoples across Canada and in our local communities. Click on the link to access a variety of events occurring around Metro Vancouver.
Lessons for Kids Guide
Wondering what to do with the kids after school? Once the school day ends, kids have an opportunity to pursue their passions and connect with kids from other schools through engaging lessons and classes. Extracurriculars provide kids with a chance to spend more time doing what they love.Ā Check out these awesome after-school programs being offered around Metro Vancouver. For more information, click here.
Pump Tracks
Pump tracks are for more than just those who need speed and thrillā they are excellent ways to teach and practice skills. Balance, speed, problem-solving, and persistence are all needed when navigating a pump track, but the best thing is that they can be accessed by all levels and abilities because pump tracks allow for flexibility and choice. For more information, click here.
Rainy Day Guide
It’s not always sunshine in our temperate rainforest climate, and while those few days of rain are always a welcome pause for our forests, our kids still need to burn off energy! Check out our guide of totally unique and different rainy day activities in Metro Vancouver. For more information, click here.
School Calendars for 2025-2026
Starting a new school year involves more than buying school supplies and updating wardrobes; itās also a carefully choreographed dance of dates. If you have one child in the school system, you may be able to keep track of start and end dates, holidays, and Pro-D days, but add extracurricular classes, sports, and sibling schedules and itās easy to feel overwhelmed. Thatās why weāve compiled a list of school calendars across Metro Vancouver.For more information, click here.
StrongStart Programs for Kids
StrongStart is a FREE government-funded program running out of elementary schools across BC. The program is drop-in and run by qualified early childhood educators for children 0-5 years of age and their caregivers. Activities are laid out for kids, there is music and storytime, and community organizations are brought in on a rotating basis to provide support for families. For more information, click here.
But Waitā¦ Thereās More!
For a complete listing of all the best events around Vancouver, click on our Calendar,Ā and stay tuned to all the best local family events through our Facebook, InstagramĀ and Tik Tok pages. Or, get important information and deals delivered directly to your inbox by signing up for our e-newsletter.
Did you know you can submit your family-friendly event to us? Fill out theĀ form with your event details and weāll do our best to get your event added to our events calendar.
