There’s a chill in the air and the tree tops will soon be ablaze in fiery foliage splendor. Summer weather in Vancouver may be coming to an end, but some would argue that autumn is the most wonderful time of the year. It’s a season full of colour, transformation, abundance, and treats made of pumpkin! So ditch the flip-flops, grab a sweater (and a sturdy umbrella), and embrace fall with these fun autumn events.
Where: Various venues around Vancouver
When: September 7-17th, 2017
Cost: $5 one time membership fee + cost of show (regular tickets are around $14). If you plan to check out more than one show, think about getting a frequent fringer card to save some bucks. Also, keep a look out for the 1/2 price symbols for certain performances.
Even though we might be a little sad at the fact that we have to start wearing socks again, the good news is that the Fringe Festival is on! With more than 700 off-beat, zany, poignant and funny as hell shows to choose from, you’ll be pleasantly distracted from the fact that you will soon be buying vitamin D in bulk.
Where: Slocan Park and Renfrew Park
When: Saturday September 30th, 2017 from 4:00pm to 8:30pm
Cost: Free
Starting with the Harvest Fair at Slocan Park (at 4 pm), this festival kicks off with music and food to get you fired up for the lantern parade at 7:15 pm. The procession winds its way down to the ravine in Renfrew park, which will be all aglow. Light installations, lanterns and performances line the ravine making for a beautiful dark-meets-light event.
The Renfrew Ravine Moon Festival is presented by the Still Moon Arts Society.
Fort Langley Cranberry Festival
Where: Village of Fort Langley
When: October 7th, 2017 8am to 5pm
Cost: Free
This free festival takes place in Fort Langley, which in itself is a great place to experience fall. Like something out of a movie scene (or the Gilmore Girls), it is the very picture of nostalgia. With vintage style buildings and old oak and maple trees in full fall bloom, you will glow with glee under your scarf and sweater. The cranberry festival is fun family event where you can buy goodies of all kinds made of-you guessed it-cranberries. You can even visit a cranberry bog. That’s right. Get ready to tick that off your bucket list.
Where: UBC Botanical Gardens
When: October 14th-15th 2017, 11 am – 4 pm
Cost: $5 (cash only) Kids under 12 are free
Apples are the fruit mascots of fall and nowhere else in Vancouver will you see more of them than at the UBC Apple Festival. Over 60 varieties and around 40 000 pounds of this physician-repelling fruit will be available for sale and tasting. A beautiful setting for it, the botanical gardens at UBC hosts this event and for $5 admission (cash only) you can tour the gardens and get your fill of fibre-rich apples. With an apple cider in one hand and a slice of old fashioned apple pie in the other, you will feel that you have truly embraced autumn. The canopy walk high above the gardens is the ideal place to witness the foliage colour changes from a bird’s eye view. Get there early because in previous years the apples have sold out! Kiddies will enjoy the children’s area with longest apple peel contests and storytelling.
Where: The Roundhouse and Surrey City Hall
When: Main celebrations are at Surrey City Hall on October 1st, 3-6pm and the Roundhouse Community Centre on October 14 th, from 3 – 7:00 pm.
Cost: Free and by donation ($5 recommended). Check website for each event/venue.
One of the most important holidays on the Hindu calendar, Diwali is known as the festival of lights. The name ‘Diwali’ or ‘Divali’ comes from the word ‘deepavali’ which translates as : ‘row of lamps’. Diyas (small clay lamps) and candles are lit for the multi-day holiday as a symbolic gesture of the inner light that protects from spiritual darkness or the triumph of good over evil. Concerts, dance performances, rangoli displays, and henna art are just some of things seen at Vancouver’s Diwali Fest. There are multiple venues and events but the main celebrations happen at the Roundhouse Community Centre and Surrey City Hall.
Where: It’s a secret…(but somewhere in the Commercial Drive area).
When: Usually the Saturday before Halloween so this year would be October 28th, 2017.
Cost: A range of prices depen
Hosted by The Dusty Flowerpot Cabaret, Parade of the Lost Souls is a wildly creative Halloween/ Day of the Dead fusion-style festival with performing arts, fire dancing, and a lot of impromptu costumed fun. The location of the parade is revealed at midnight the night before on the Dusty Flower Pot Website. **Spoiler alert** There will most likely be babies and pets dressed up in ridiculously adorable get-ups.
Where: The Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Vancouver (50 E. Pender St.)
When: November 4 – 5, 2017. 10 am – 5 pm
Cost: There are a variety of ticket prices, including early bird and family rates. Check here for more info. Kids under 5 are free.
Tea lovers unite! Presented by the Vancouver Tea Society and Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, the Vancouver Tea Festival invites guests to interact with other enthusiasts, visit a marketplace, and partake in tea tastings, presentations and workshops throughout both days. I haven’t been to this yet so am looking forward to taking a peek (and some sips) this year.
Do you have any Vancouver area fall festivals or events to recommend? Add it below!
Gypsy Shutterbug 
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