Upcoming Family Friendly Events in Vancouver

Spring has definitely sprung in Vancouver, with warmer days that bring a bounce to everyone’s step. If you’re in the mood to get outdoors and do more things, you’re in luck because this is the time of year when a ton of fun, family-friendly events happen across the city.

Here are events to put on your calendar for experiencing Vancouver’s natural beauty and celebrating its lively arts and culture scene.

100 Years at the Peak of Vancouver

Bring out a big sheet cake that can fit lots of candles, one hundred to be exact. Grouse Mountain is celebrating 100 Years at the Peak of Vancouver with a packed schedule of events to celebrate its milestone birthday. The Peak of Canada, which will run June 11 to July 19, gets you into the FIFA World Cup™ spirit on game days, Canadiana-style with poutine, BeaverTails, and lumberjacks. They’ll then swing into full party mode during Grouse Centennial Festival, taking place July 23 to August 3. The whole family can enjoy live music, shop for artisan goods at a mountaintop marketplace and dig into a slice of that cake. Aren’t birthdays the best?

Canada Together

While Canadians tend to be modest about patting themselves on the back, Canada Together, the annual Canada Day event at Canada Place, is the chance for everyone to have a good time. This year is the 40th anniversary of the event so it’s going to be a huge bash. The 2026 theme is “Weaving together the fabric of the nation,” highlighting Indigenous cultures and the diversity across the country. You and the kids will have a blast taking in live music, playing in the Kids’ Zone and browsing crafted items at the Indigenous marketplace.

Fleur de Villes WONDER

VanDusen Botanical Garden is lovely on any given day but add in floral displays from Fleurs de Villes, and wow, strolling around really becomes magical. From May 22 to 31, Fleurs de Villes’ new show WONDER takes over the garden, with 20 installations and mannequins that celebrate what makes the natural world awe-inspiring. Besides lots of chances to take selfies with the whole family, you can buy fresh flowers at the weekend floral market or try your hand at floral arranging during one of their workshops.

Spring Strings at VanDusen Botanical Garden

If you like Bridgerton’s instrumental versions of your favourite pop songs, VanDusen Botanical Garden has a concert for you. Spring Strings is in honour of all the moms in our lives, happening on Mother’s Day weekend on May 9 at noon and 3:30pm. Wander around the Garden and then claim a spot on the Great Lawn where 8 string artists from the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra will serenade you with hits by artists like Adele and Coldplay. See who in the family can recognize each song first!

Vancouver International Children’s Festival

The Vancouver International Children’s Festival has become an annual tradition in the city, with parents who went when they were little, attending the fest with their kids. Now in its 49th year, this feel-good event with local and international performers is taking place May 25 to 31 at Granville Island. This year’s theme is South Korean arts and culture, with shows like Doodle Pop, a playful twist on K-pop with whiteboard drawings coming to life through animation and sound. Make sure to get your face painted before you head home!

Vancouver International Jazz Festival

For over two weeks from June 19 to July 5, the Vancouver International Jazz Festival fills the streets and venues across the city with joyful music. The Fest is all about getting everyone appreciating what makes jazz so incredible and diverse. You’ll find yourself dancing to the beats of local and international artists (even if you usually can’t find the rhythm to songs). Plus, many of the shows are free, making it a perfect way to introduce the kids to jazz.

Vancouver Folk Music Festival

The world really slows down when you’re sitting in Jericho Beach Park with the water next to you, and local and international folk artists singing on stage. The 49th Vancouver Folk Music Festival, set for July 17-19, is heartwarming, with kids, their parents, and even grandparents attending together. While the music is the first thing that connects everyone, the fest is a whole experience, with tasty healthy food, an artisan market, as well as a community village for learning about important social causes.

Greek Day on Broadway

Summer is when the city’s cultural fests became big block parties. If you’re Greek or want to become an honourary Greek, head to Greek Day on Broadway June 28. At this annual event, the street, known for its vibrant Greek community, features live entertainment and an agora (marketplace) for shopping for traditional goods. And the food! Vendors will be grilling souvlaki and lamb chops while also serving spanakopita and baklava. Get in line for the loukoumades, donut holes soaked in honey syrup. Make sure you get one before the kids gobble them up.