Celebrate the change of seasons this fall with Harvest Days at VanDusen Botanical Garden. As the leaves tumble and crunch underfoot, enjoy seasonal activities, a veggie garden, fun photo areas, tasty treats, and more.
Miss604 photo
Fall at VanDusen Botanical Garden
Dates: Weekends September 28 to October 20, 2024 10:00am to 4:00pm
Including Thanksgiving Day October 14, 2024
Location:VanDusen Botanical Garden (5251 Oak St, Vancouver)
Tickets:Available online in advance. Harvest Days is included with regular Garden admission tickets on event days.
Find your way through the hedge maze and take part in creating a seasonal craft. Enjoy snacks from a selection of food vendors that will be on site including Popcorn at the Park, Coffee & Cookie Truck, Bistrotvan, and Melt City Grilled Cheese.
Bluegrass and family folk live music sessions will be held daily from artists such as Loon Lake Holler, the Contingency, and Oh Clementine. Explore the garden’s autumn highlights like the sugar maples, ginkgo trees, bald cypress, and the stunning Autumn Stroll.
This year’s displays will feature the works of local artist, Nickie Lewis, who specializes in eco-friendly art created entirely out of natural, organic, and 100% biodegradable materials. Take a walk down Sculpture Stroll to spot her nature-inspired artwork.
Stay tuned for more seasonal activities from the City of Vancouver including the Stanley Park Ghost Train.
Savour the flavours of the Fraser Valley at the Taste of Abby in Abbotsford this month, with a night market followed by nine days of delicious experiences.
Taste of Abbotsford Fall Food Festival
Taste of Abby Fall Food Festival in Abbotsford
Dates: September 13-22, 2024
Location: Various venues in Abbotsford
Tickets: Tickets/registration required, some free events as well
The night market will be held at Jubilee Park in Historic Downtown Abbotsford uniting food trucks, restaurants, farmers, chefs and winery, brewery, and cidery owners. The evening ends with the Food and Farm Excellence Awards.
Other events include a paint and sip night, the free AgriCULTURE Symposium, Movies at the Vineyard at Cannon Estate Winery, the Abbotsford Farm and Country Market, the Silverbrook Farms Fish Fry, and an entire food festival at Tradex for a cause.
A unique event this year is Pickleball and Pints (Tuesday, September 17). Tourism Abbotsford has booked the courts at Jubilee Park and teamed up with TopSpin Pickleball Club to provide an afternoon of pickleball fun. Treat yourself afterwards at Old Yale Brewing with extra specials for Taste of Abby pickleball participants.
Singletree Winery will host a Harvest Dinner in the Vineyard (Saturday, September 21) featuring locally sourced cuisine by The Chef’s Acres, crafted by Red Seal Chef Craig Scherer. Enjoy your meal with lush vineyards and a serene forest as your backdrop.
Howesclere Evergreens & Gardens will host a unique event (Sunday, September 22) with a u-pick session in the dahlia patch and gardens, followed by an intimate long table dinner amongst the blooms by Heirloom and Maple.
The Fire Dragon Festival in Vancouver’s Chinatown hosts a day of cultural performances, culinary exploration, and heritage appreciation, culminating with a fiery procession through the historic neighbourhood at dusk.
Photo submitted – Fire Dragon Festival (2022)
Fire Dragon Festival in Chinatown
Date: Saturday, September 14, 2024 from 11:00am to 5:00, parade at 7:00pm
Location: Chinatown Plaza Mall (180 Keefer St) and 578 Carrall for the parade start
Performance and sound garden by Burnaby North Secondary Chinese Orchestra
Evening Ceremony and Parade
The main event will see the Fire Dragon with its glowing embers snaking its way through the streets of Chinatown. Follow the dragon and the team of hardworking performers as it twists and turns to the beat of their drums.
There will be an Indigenous welcome by Coastal Wolf Pack, an eye dotting ceremony of fire dragon, and the main parade led by Chau Luen Athletics.
About the Fire Dragon Festival
The Fire Dragon Festival is produced by the Chinatown Celebration Society: “The origin of Fire Dragon Dance can be traced to over hundred years ago in Tai Hang, Hong Kong. After suffering from a storm, the people of Pok Fu Lam Village were attacked by a snake that shattered the village’s peaceful existence.
The villagers caught and killed the snake, but in the days following the snake’s death, a nasty plague broke out in the region. A village elder proclaimed that Buddha came to him in a dream, advising that to stop the misfortune, they must perform a fire dragon dance around the village for three days and three nights. The villagers obliged and miraculously, the plague went away. Thus began the tradition of the Fire Dragon.“
To this day, the Fire Dragon Dance is the main activity of the Mid-Autumn celebration in Pok Fu Lam, and is a traditional custom of the Hakka ethnic group from China.
Join the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation event in Maple Ridge this year, presented by PLEA Community Services, Katzie First Nation, Fraser River Indigenous Society, BC SPOKES and the City of Maple Ridge.
This year’s theme is “Acknowledging Indigenous Resilience” and is being planned by a large group of local organizations who believe strongly in bringing this event and its important message to Maple Ridge and the surrounding communities.
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Date: Sunday, September 29, 2024 from 10:00am to 3:00pm
Motivational speaker and hiphop artist K.A.S.P. will be a guest speaker around 11:00am
This day honours the children who never returned home and the survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities. Public commemoration of the tragic and painful history and ongoing impacts of residential schools is a vital component of the reconciliation process.
In 2023, the event welcomed over 4,000 people who were engaged and informed by Indigenous speakers, dancers, drummers, food, orange t-shirt painting and more.
This year, organizers expect the event to grow to welcome even more members of the community to come together in solidarity, to honour Indigenous culture, and to listen and to show respect for the survivors and families affected by the residential school system.
The event will include an opening march along with Indigenous speakers, dancers, drummers, and artists who will share their cultural artistry. There will be the creation of a community art piece throughout the day as well.
More than 30 other local non-profit organizations, community support agencies and businesses who support the local Indigenous community are also on the planning committee.
As we welcome autumn, we’ve curated a list of our current warming culinary favourites, along with notable limited edition menus in Metro Vancouver, all in one spot for our Vancouver Eats September feature. Here’s your restaurant news, menu updates, special events and more exciting tidbits for all food enthusiasts and those who love a good time:
Vancouver Eats: Autumn Harvest Tea, September Dinner Series
Pork Ramen at Kinton Ramen Surrey, photo submitted
Upcoming Themed Events
Kinton Ramen Surrey 1st Anniversary Specials
When: September 22nd from 11:00am to 10:00pm
Where: #103 – 13639 George Junction, Surrey
Details: Kinton Ramen is pleased to announce they will be celebrating their 1st year anniversary on Sunday, September 22nd by offering all signature ramen bowls for just $9.99 from 11:00am – 10:00pm at their Surrey location located at #103 – 13639 George Junction. This offer includes all of Kinton Ramen’s popular signature ramen varieties, featuring pork, chicken, beef and vegetarian options in Original, Miso, Shoyu and Spicy broths. The event is a gesture of gratitude to the Surrey community for welcoming Kinton Ramen to the neighbourhood and ongoing support.
