Vancouver is ready to entertain and delight football fans attending the 111th Grey Cup, Canada’s largest sporting event. This guide to the best Grey Cup events in Vancouver will help you make the most of the festivities from November 10 to the 17th, the day of the game. Find incredible immersive experiences, live performances, fun-filled family events and culinary adventures. Don’t miss one of the largest drone shows in Canada on November 13 over Coal Harbour.
2024 Grey Cup Festival – November 10-17, 2024
Let the fun begin. Most of the activities will be on Canada Place Way. There will be a huge street festival, free outdoor concerts, food trucks, games, and activities, including two ziplines. Find out the details of all Grey Cup ticketed events here. To enjoy your time to the fullest, check out the full Grey Cup schedule and plan to take transit, as many streets will be closed, and parking is limited.
SaveOn Street Festival – November 13-16, 2024
The festival features two free ziplines 50 ft. and 70 ft. high along two different routes. Register in advance to ride.
Vancouver Convention Centre East has a dedicated free family fun zone for all ages, which includes a mini zipline, climbing wall, indoor mini football field, inflatable obstacle course and more.
Pixel Sky Drone Show – November 15 at 8:30 p.m.
One of the largest free drone shows in Canada should be spectacular, depending on the weather. Almost 1,000 drones will perform during Pixel Sky Animations’s free 3D drone show, which will take place directly after the Grey Cup Kickoff Party on Wednesday, November 15, beginning at 8:30 p.m. The show takes place on the waterfront of Coal Harbour between the Westin Bayshore Hotel and the Vancouver Convention Centre West. Please note: Views from Stanley Park is obstructed.
Vancouver Christmas Market – November 13 – December 24, 2024
Right in the heart of all the Grey Cup festivities, get into the holiday spirit with holiday entertainment at Vancouver’s beloved Christmas Market. Over 90 European and local artisan stalls are available. Ride the magical Carousel. Plus, there are lots of gourmet treats and winter drinks to try along the Gourmetstrasse.
Cirque du Soleil ECHO – October 9 – January 5, 2025
Cirque du Soleil ECHO invites audiences on a journey through a universe of colour, wonder, and infinite possibilities with bold visuals to delight any audience.
ECHO is a story of connection, intention, and the symbiotic unions between humans and the animal kingdom. Fueled by the power of change, the hope of the youth, and the value of empathy, Cirque du Soleil ECHO follows an inquisitive young woman named FUTURE as she wanders into a fantasy world that explores our sacred bond with animals and nature.
Under the Big Top at Concord Pacific, the show features vibrant characters, inspiring music, astounding lights and projections, never-before-seen acrobatic feats and more to thrill any audience. See a video from our visit.
Admission: Tickets must be purchased in advance online.
Uncover a Dark Truth – Murder Mystery Dinner Experience – October 4-December 22, 2024
Don’t miss this entertaining, immersive, and interactive event. In collaboration with Netflix, Secret City presents a one-of-a-kind murder
mystery dinner experience launching for the first time in Vancouver, Canada. The Perfect Bite, A Dinner Experience Inspired by Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery takes a biteout of the captivating and thrilling universe of the Knives Out film series. This immersive and interactive event will have guests on the edge of their seats as they dine together and work to uncover a dark truth.
Vancouver’s North Shore Craft Beer Week – November 1-15, 2024
Taste and sample Vancouver’s North Shore’s finest Craft Breweries in the Historic Shipyards District. There will be food trucks, live entertainment, prizes and games.
Bald Eagle Viewing in Squamish – Late October through February
Download a map of the best Bald Eagle viewing area. The Eagle Run viewing site, along the Squamish River, is open all year.
Chutzpah Festival – November 2-23, 2024
The Chutzpah Festival provides various entertainment performances by Canadian artists across Canada. Choose from concerts, new dance works, comedy, theatre, film, and storytelling, with opportunities to interact with creative artists.
Performances are held at the Norman and Annette Rothstein Theatre.
Golden Girls: The Laughs Continue – November 12-16, 2024
Following sold-out performances and rave reviews across the United States, Golden Girls: The Laughs Continue is making its debut in Canada with a brand-new stage show. Even more exciting than a trip to the Rusty Anchor, this professional tribute show will bring Miami’s sassiest seniors to the Vancouver Playhouse.
Tickets are now on sale at Ticketmaster.ca. A special VIP photo experience add-on is available, offering guests the chance to take photos with the actors on the Golden Girls set after the show.
Dolly Parton’s Smokey Mountain Christmas Carol – The Musical – November 14-December 24, 2024
Parton’s one-of-a-kind songwriting and Dickens’s classic characters make this musical a winning combination. Set during the 1930s in the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee, this heartwarming musical reimagines Ebenezer Scrooge as the owner of a mining company town, where his callous greed blinds him to the joys of the season. As a Christmas Eve snowstorm approaches, Scrooge is visited by his deceased business partner and three ghosts who compel him to see life and love anew.
This lively musical performance takes place on the Stanley Industrial Stage.
Broadway Across Canada – The Book of Mormon – November 12-17, 2024
The Book of Mormon is a nine-time Tony Award® -winning Best Musical.
What others say: The New York Times calls it “the best musical of this century.” The Washington Post says, “It is the kind of evening that restores your faith in musicals.” And Entertainment Weekly says, “Grade A: the funniest musical of all time.” Jimmy Fallon of The Tonight Show calls it “Genius. Brilliant. Phenomenal.”
Holiday Splash at The Vancouver Aquarium – November 12 – January 5, 2025
Activities: The Holiday Splash at the Vancouver Aquarium includes twice-daily dives by Scuba Claus until December 24 and the holiday favourite, Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer 4D Experience®. Holiday treats are available for purchase.
Admission: Book your tickets in advance. For November 12-24, buy one regular admission and get a child admission free.
Location: 845 Avison Way, Vancouver
Granville Island Festive Christmas and Holiday Lights – November 12 – January 5, 2025
Activities: Wander through the fresh air of almost 40 acres of Granville Island to see the light displays. Takeout hot drinks and treats available and other food options with patios.
Admission: There is no admission.
Hours: Starts November 12, 2024, from sunset to 10 pm. daily.
Closed: All businesses including Granville Island Market are closed on December 25 and 26, 2024, but lights will be on.
Location: 1661 Duranleau St.
About the Author:
Wendy Nordvik-Carr is a highly regarded travel writer who produces quality, well-researched articles with stunning photography and video.
She seeks out authentic experiences showcasing the people, culture and history that make each destination unique. Her focus is on solo, couple and multigenerational travel through cruising, air and road trip adventures.
Wendy is the editor & writer for LifesIncredibleJourney.com, an award-winning travel site that encourages exploration of destinations near & far.
She is a TMAC Director, Chair, National Governance Committee and Chair of TMAC's BC & Yukon Chapter, as well as a member of SATW, IFWTWA and NATJA.
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