Vancouver Adventures: Our Picks for September 19 to 25

Steam Whistle Oktoberfest – September 19

Add a little oompah to your life at Steam Whistle’s Oktoberfest. This German-inspired celebration will feature live entertainment from the Rheinlander Band and the Edelweiss Dancers, as well as some fun takes on traditional German games. Enjoy authentic food and of course, lots and lots of beer out of your complimentary collectable beer stein. And the dress code? Leiderhosen are enthusiastically encouraged.

7 p.m.
4875 Victoria Drive, Vancouver

Wesbrook Village Festival – September 19

Something big is going on at Wesbrook Village at UBC this weekend, and it’s a full day of family fun that you won’t want to miss. The Wesbrook Village Festival has something for everyone with bouncy castles, face painting, crafts, art workshops, a free BBQ, and more. In keeping with the spirit of “something for everyone,” there’s even a diverse lineup of musicians set to play everything from music for kids to opera.

11:00 a.m. to 4 p.m.
3385 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver

Vancouver Island Feast of Fields – September 20

The last Vancouver Island Feast of Fields event of the season takes place in Shawnigan Lake this weekend on the 25-acre O.U.R. Ecovillage farm. Grab a glass of wine and wander the fields. There will be tents set up by local food producers so that guests can explore gourmet tastings while meeting the people who raised, grew, or made them.

1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
1565 Baldy Mountain Road, Shawnigan Lake, Vancouver Island

Vancouver Tweed Ride – September 20

If you need an excuse to break out the tweed, look no further than the most dapper biking event of the year, the Vancouver Tweed Ride. Participants will be donning “traditional British cycling attire” and making their way around the downtown core. The ride promotes bike culture and raises money for Power To Be, a foundation that provides adventure therapy for people living with disabilities.

12:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
915 W Hastings St., Vancouver

Dinner By Design – September 21

Raise the bar for dinner parties with a reservation at Dinner by Design. Vancouver’s top interior designers will be creating 15 stunning tablescapes for a magical night of drinks, dinner, and inspired design. The evening kicks off with cocktails while guests check out the tables, and then moves onto a four-course meal prepared by The Savoury Chef’s Taryn Wa. Tickets are available online.

6:30 p.m. to 1 p.m.
Studio 40, 700 Hamilton Street

Word Vancouver – September 23 to 27

This year’s Word Vancouver Festival celebrates writers and readers of all ages and abilities. There will be events in multiple venues around town over the course of the week with exhibits and readings by a lineup of internationally celebrated and recognized Canadian literary talents. Come out to support local art, engage kids in the literary scene, and maybe find your next book club suggestion.

Times and locations vary

Interior Design Show West – September 24 to 27

Whether you’re a seasoned design pro, or just looking to redo a room, the Interior Design Show West is the perfect place to find all your design inspiration. There is an extensive lineup of one-of-a-kind exhibitors to help you find the perfect fit for your home, as well as talks about design and lifestyle topics from people like Joy Cho, Tamara Taggart, and more.

8:30 a.m.
Vancouver Convention Centre West, 1055 Canada Place Way, Vancouver

Sins of the City Walking Tours

The city we all know and love has some seedy history, and the Vancouver Police Museum is giving you the chance to delve into the past with their Sins of the City Walking Tours. There are two different tours to choose from: Red Light Rendezvous, which explores Vancouver’s wild history of brothels and bawdy houses, and Vice, Dice, and Opium Pipes, which traces the path of a 1920s beat cop.

Check out dates and times online

Sea to Sky Sunset Dinners – September 19, 25 and 26

Head up to Squamish to enjoy dinner with a breathtaking view of B.C.’s world-famous Sea to Sky Corridor. A 10-minute gondola ride will take you up to the mountain-summit restaurant – located at 885 meters above sea level – for the Sunset Dinners for two weekends this month. You can choose to sit outdoors at one of the tables set up on the 84-square-meter viewing deck, or opt to eat indoors in the warmth of the cozy lodge. Walk-ins are welcome, but you may want to call ahead to reserve a table.

5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Summit Lodge 

Mid-Autumn Moon Festival – September 27

The Mid-Autumn Moon Festival is an evening festival that celebrates Chinese culture and the wonder of the cosmos. This year promises to be extra special since there will be a “special lunar eclipse” that takes place during the event. There will be storytelling, martial arts demonstrations, and a magic show, as well as food and refreshments throughout the night.

5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
578 Carrall Street, Vancouver