Vancouver events: Fringe Festival and Car-Free Days highlight busy weekend

The entrance to a previous year's Car Free Day event in Vancouver is seen in this photo from the event's website. (carfreevancouver.org)

The unofficial end of summer has come and gone, but the first full weekend of September is still chock full of events across Metro Vancouver.

From the annual Granfondo bicycle race to Whistler to the Vancouver Fringe Festival and multiple Car-Free Days, here are more than a dozen things to do in the region this weekend.

Vancouver Fringe

Now in its 41st year, the Vancouver Fringe Festival began Thursday and will run through Sept. 14.

There are 87 shows happening this year, encompassing “theatre, comedy, dance, drag, music and more, according to organizers.” A full schedule and ticket information can be found on the Vancouver Fringe website.

• Read more: Vancouver Fringe Festival returns with bolstered line up after 2024 government funding

Gran Fondo

The annual RBC Gran Fondo Whistler race will take place Saturday, bringing road closures to Stanley Park and the Lions Gate Bridge as cyclists begin their 122-kilometre journey up the Sea-to-Sky Corridor.

Before the race, the free VeloSpoke Bike Expo is taking place at the Vancouver Convention Centre on Friday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Car-Free Days

No fewer than three Car-Free Day events are taking place across the region on Saturday. The Commercial Drive event is the longest-running of the bunch, dating back to 2004. On Saturday, it will close the street from North Grandview Highway to First Avenue from noon to 7 p.m.

Port Coquitlam will also hold its Car-Free Day on Saturday, closing parts of McAllister Avenue and Donald Street from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.

In Maple Ridge, Car-Free Day coincides with the city’s Our Neck of the Woods festival, which takes place from 2 p.m. to 10:45 p.m. in and around Memorial Peace Park.

Everything Electric

People who prefer a car-full day may be heading to the Vancouver Convention Centre this weekend for Everything Electric, which describes itself as “the world’s number one home energy and electric vehicle show.”

The event runs Friday through Sunday, featuring more than 100 exhibitors, more than 30 automakers, and more than 50 electric vehicles available for test drives. Schedule and ticket information can be found online.

Picklefest

Toronto’s annual celebration of all things pickled and fermented is making its way to the West Coast for the first time this year.

Picklefest Vancouver will take place from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday at City Centre Artist Lodge on Main Street, featuring dozens of vendors and live music.

Flats Fest

Just a short walk away, developer Low Tide Properties is hosting Flats Fest at 565 Great Northern Way from noon to 9 p.m. Saturday.

Featuring multiple stages of live music, a kids zone, an artisan market, food trucks and a beer garden, the free event also aims to showcase businesses and organizations based in the False Creek Flats neighbourhood through its “innovation zone.”

Vancouver Vegan Festival

Head to Kits Beach on Saturday between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. for the Vancouver Vegan Festival, a free event celebrating sustainable, plant-based foods and products.

In addition to food and marketplace vendors, the festival features free yoga classes, talks, workshops and musical performances.

Recovery Day

Recovery Day B.C. returns to New Westminster’s Uptown neighbourhood on Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.

The event will take over 6th Street from 4th to 6th avenues, featuring more than 200 community booths from local businesses, artisans and non-profit groups, as well as multiple stages with live music, food trucks, a kids zone and more.

Organizers describe it as “North America’s largest addiction and mental health recovery event.”

Polish Festival

Belweder North Shore Polish Association is hosting its 11th annual Polish Festival Vancouver at the Shipyards in North Vancouver on Saturday.

The free celebration of Polish culture, cuisine, music and more takes place from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Public Disco Block Party

Public Disco is hosting a free downtown block party at šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl’e7énḵ Square, the north plaza of the Vancouver Art Gallery, from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday.

In addition to the dance party, the event will feature a vintage market, a vinyl record sale, food trucks and a kids zone.

Friends of the VPL book sale

The Friends of the Vancouver Public Library are holding their annual fall used book sale this weekend.

From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Sunday, the group will be set up in the Alice MacKay room on the lower level of the VPL’s central branch on West Georgia Street, offering “gently used books, CDs, and DVDs at great prices.”

Walk for the Kitties

Vancouver Orphan Kitten Rescue Association is celebrating its 25th anniversary with an ambitious fundraising goal of $250,000.

On Sunday, VOKRA will host Walk for the Kitties, a five-kilometre “fun walk” and fundraiser at Locarno Beach. The walk runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and all money raised goes toward medical treatment, food and supplies for the cats in VOKRA’s care.

‘Ducktona 5000’

A different kind of fundraiser is planned for Saturday at Surrey’s Crescent Beach.

Beginning at 1:30 p.m., 5,000 rubber ducks will be released onto a sheltered race course for the "Ducktona 5000." Spectators can purchase a duck ticket for $5, and the sponsor of the winning duck wins $1,000, with additional prizes for ducks finishing in places 2 through 10.

Proceeds from the spectacle benefit Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue 5 Crescent Beach, a local volunteer search and rescue team.

For the sports fans

Several of Vancouver’s local sports teams are in action at home this weekend, including the Vancouver Canadians – who are wrapping up a series against Everett – and Vancouver Rise FC, who will host Calgary on Saturday at 4 p.m. at Swangard Stadium.

The Canadian Premier League’s Vancouver FC is also in action, hosting Valour at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Langley Events Centre.

The BC Lions are in Ottawa this weekend, and the Vancouver Whitecaps are off.