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-flavoured everything, and the farm bounties of apples and corn. Metro Vancouver also offers a ton of family-fun events throughout the month. Here are the top September picks from Family Fun Vancouver!
Car Free Day Commercial Drive | September 5
Free: 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 residents and businesses to reimagine spaces usually reserved for cars.
Bands on the Beach | September 5 & 6
Bands on the Beach brings the best local musicians in the Fraser Valley to the shores of Harrison Lake. Don’t miss your opportunity to celebrate the end of summer with beautiful lakeside views and great music!
Vancouver Fringe Festival | September 10 – 20
Bigger, bolder, and better than ever before, this year’s Vancouver Fringe Festival will be parading its fine wares all across Granville Island and beyond – from rollicking new theatre to belly-bursting comedy, awe-inspiring dance to lip-splitting spoken word and more.
Hope Brigade Days | September 11 – 13
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 12
Free: 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 12
Free: The 11th annual Polish Cultural Festival at the Shipbuilders’ 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.
Baby Rave at Club Carousel | September 13
Free: Join Carousel Theatre for Young People for the popular “baby rave” – 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.
Car Free Day Main Street | September 13
Free: Celebrate the vibrant Main Street community and businesses during this fun event! Car Free Day on Main Street is one of the largest events and is full of kid-friendly entertainment, shops, vendors and activities for all ages.
North Shore Kids Fest | September 13
Free: North Shore Kids Fest is back —bigger, 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 Days | September 18 – October 4
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 advance registration.
Harvest Fair | September 19
Free: Celebrate Fall with live entertainment, carnival games, heritage demonstrations, harvest photo ops, seasonal food and artisan vendors. Best of all? Admission is FREE!
Festivibe (formerly the Shipyards Festival) | September 19
Free: 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.
RiverFest | September 19, 26 & 27
Free: RiverFest is a FREE family-friendly festival and a great way to learn more about the mighty Fraser River. On September 19th, workshops and guided talks are offered throughout the day, with the main festival taking place at the Fraser River Discovery Centre on September 26 & 27.
Mid-Autumn Melodies | September 20
Free: Bring the family and celebrate the full moon and the fall season at Gateway Theatre’s annual celebration, Mid-Autumn Melodies. A wonderful afternoon of music, followed by arts and crafts for all ages, will take place on September 20th, starting at 2 PM.
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation | September 30
The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is on September 30, 2026. 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 above 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. Check out these awesome after-school programs being offered around Metro Vancouver. For more information, click here.
Birthday Party Guide
We want to take the stress out of party planning for *all* budgets by rounding up some of our favourite places to host a birthday, party favor ideas, and places to get special sweet treats. Keep reading for everything you need to plan a fun birthday for your kids! For more information, click here.
Mid-Autumn Moon Festival Guide
Coming Soon!
Apple Picking Venues & Events
Families everywhere are heading to orchards and farms to enjoy the simple joy of picking apples right from the tree. From tractor rides and apple treats to fun festivals filled with games and music, these events are the perfect way to spend time together and make lasting memories. For more information, click here.
Farm Fun – Coming Soon!
Metro Vancouver Pumpkin Patches
There’s nothing better than Fall days spent picking pumpkins, winding through cornfields, saying hello to the animals, and sipping warm apple cider. Fortunately, there are oodles of options across Metro Vancouver to check out. For more information, click here.
Pump Tracks
Pump tracks are for more than just those who need speed and thrill– 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 2026 – 2027
Starting a new school year involves more than buying school supplies and updating wardrobes; it’s 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 it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. That’s why we’ve 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 Wait… There’s More!
Love seeing the Family Fun Events in Vancouver in September, but want MORE? Keep tabs on everything happening in #YVR with our calendar, and stay tuned to all the best local family events through our Facebook, Instagram and TikTok!
Did you know you can submit your family-friendly event to us? Fill out the form with your event details, and we’ll do our best to get your event added to our busy events calendar.
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