It’s been a busy week, and the best way to reconnect as a family is to get out this weekend for a little family fun! Festivals and free events are abundant as we collectively try to soak up the last few good-weather weekends before the rain returns and the days get dark and grey.
Here are our top picks for family-friendly events for the weekend of September 11 – 13, 2026
North Shore Kids Fest | September 13 | FREE
North Vancouver
North Shore Kids Fest is back for its second year—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 a quiet zone. Come celebrate creativity, play, and childhood joy!
Hope Brigade Days | September 11 – 13
Hope
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.
Vancouver Fringe Festival | September 10 – 20
Vancouver
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. As ever, expect an array of returning favourites alongside a whole host of pioneering new acts, guaranteed to blow your bloomin’ socks off!
Barnside Harvest Festival | September 11 – 13
Ladner
This is a Fall music festival you don’t want to miss! Featuring incredible musicians like Smash Mouth, Tom Cochrane, Marianas Trench, The Washboard Union, and more, your whole family will be dancing up a storm! There will also be a special kids & family zone presented by JRFM featuring games, a hay maze, crafts, and family entertainment. Kids 10 & under are FREE with a paying adult ticket.
Stɑl̓əw̓ Pow Wow | until September 11 – 13
Langley
Bring your family to experience the rich Indigenous history and culture at the annual Stɑl̓əw̓ Pow Wow at the Langley Events Center. The aim of this 3-day event is to celebrate Indigenous culture, music, dance, art, and regalia. All families are welcome to attend and learn the important role tradition plays and how these traditions define Indigenous culture.
Filipino Fest | September 12 | FREE
Surrey
Come celebrate and learn more about Filipino Culture during Filipino Fest! Take in a storytelling session in both Tagalog and English, a live poetry reading, make an art collage, and enjoy live performances
Willoughby Dayz | September 12 | FREE
Langley
Join this fun family event and get your face painted, grab a special balloon made for you by a balloon twister, participate in games, and be sure to visit the ‘crazy hair station’. Edward the Magician will be on hand to amaze and delight audiences with his awe-inspiring tricks.
Polish Cultural Festival | September 12 | FREE
North Vancouver
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.
Recovery Day BC Festival | September 12 | FREE
New Westminster
Many families know someone or love someone who has struggled with mental illness or addiction. The Recovery Day BC Festival is North America’s largest addiction and mental health recovery event, offering resources, mental health information, and TONS of activities for families and kids, including a massive Kids’ Zone with bouncy castles, face paint, all-day entertainment, and more. In 2026, Jann Arden and Cameron Whitcomb are the headline performances
Vancouver Car Free Day – Main Street | September 13 | FREE
Vancouver – Main Street
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.
Don’t Miss Out!
Love our weekend guide? Explore the Family Fun Events in Metro Vancouver in September and bookmark the Metro Vancouver Events Calendar to never miss a family adventure.
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