10 + 2 Things to Do in Vancouver This September

With so much going on this month, we had to make it 12. —Noa Nichol

1. On September 1 check out gorgeous Northwest Coast Art for free from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. thanks to Bill Reid Gallery’s partnership with YVR.

2. Two Asian-focused extravaganzas—TaiwanFest along Granville Street downtown and the Nikkei Matsuri Japanese festival in Burnaby—take place over the Labour Day long weekend.

3. How did we not know Mariah Carey was coming to town?! Well, she is, as Lionel Richie’s VERY special guest, September 3 at Rogers Arena.

4. We look forward to its fringe-iness every year. Vancouver’s own Fringe Festival takes place September 7-17. One special show to check out: FIN, which hilariously manages to tell the story of a single town on the edge of disaster (September 8-17 at The Improv Centre).

5. Help raise money to support Big Sisters via Vancouver’s Big Yoga for Big Sisters fundraiser on September 9—raise pledges and participate in a six-hour yogathon or three-hour half yogathon.

6. Moms, here’s one not to miss. Surrey’s Sky Zone is having an open house on September 9 from 9 a.m. til noon. Let your toddlers jump for free (translation: totally tire themselves out for a nice, long nap).

7. Hungry? It’s the Vancouver Street Food Festival to the rescue, with nearly 30 food trucks, live music and market vendors at 88 Pacific Boulevard, September 10.

8. First Pick Handmade is our kinda clothing and accessories market: a fall pop-up featuring designs by local and other Canadian designers at Heritage Hall on Main, September 16 (we’re for sure snagging a hat by Vancouver’s own Claudia Schulz).

9. Throwback to our westside childhood: the Southlands Country Fair, September 17, shows that horses and rural life really do have a place within city limits.

10. We are, to state the obvious, fans of the written word, and will most certainly be attending this annually held free festival of literature between September 19 and 24.

11. Move over Mariah—Janet Jackson rounds out the month’s concert listings with her State of the World tour at Rogers Arena on September 26.

12. TIFF is tough to beat, but the Vancouver International Film Festival, starting September 28, gives it a run for its money (bonus: no multi-hour flights involved).