The Come Toward the Fire Festival wraps up its 5th anniversary run at the Chan Centre with three days of free and ticketed Indigenous programming, Foo Fighters headline a massive stadium show at BC Place, and Bring Me The Horizon and comedian Jimmy Carr both hit Rogers Arena on back-to-back nights. Add the final weekend of the Vancouver International Fringe Festival, the opening of Arts Club’s new mainstage thriller HEIST, the Terry Fox Run, and a new heist-thriller-turned-horror-reboot at the movies, and there’s genuinely something for everyone this weekend.
This Weekend at a Glance
| Date | Event | Category | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 18 @ 12:30 PM | Come Toward the Fire: Day of Knowledge Sharing | Free / Arts & Culture | Chan Centre & UBC Campus |
| Sep 19 @ 12 PM | Come Toward the Fire: Festival Day | Free / Family & Kids | Chan Centre & UBC Campus |
| Sep 10–20 | Vancouver International Fringe Festival | Arts & Culture | Granville Island & venues across Vancouver |
| Sep 1–19 | Bard on the Beach: Final Performances | Arts & Culture | Sen̓áḵw / Vanier Park |
| Sep 17 – Oct 18 | HEIST | Arts & Culture | Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage |
| Sep 18 – Oct 10 | Avenue Q | Arts & Culture | Metro Theatre |
| Sep 18 @ 8:00 PM | Jimmy Carr | Music | Rogers Arena |
| Sep 20 @ 7:00 PM | Bring Me The Horizon | Music | Rogers Arena |
| Sep 20 | Foo Fighters: Take Cover Tour | Music | BC Place |
| Sep 20 @ 6:00 PM | Come Toward the Fire: Closing Concert | Music | Chan Centre for the Performing Arts |
| Sep 20 | Terry Fox Run Vancouver 2026 | Free / Sports | Stanley Park (Ceperley Meadow) & Metro Vancouver sites |
| Sep 12–27 (weekends) | Playland at the PNE: Autumn Weekends | Family & Kids | Playland Amusement Park |
| Sep 1 – Oct 12 (weekends) | Richmond Night Market | Food & Drinks | 8351 River Road, Richmond |
| Sep 18 | Resident Evil | Movies | Select Vancouver theatres |
| Sep 18 | Practical Magic 2 | Movies | Select Vancouver theatres |
Free Events
Come Toward the Fire: Day of Knowledge Sharing
Date: September 18, 2026 @ 12:30 PM
Venue/place: Chan Centre & UBC Campus Grounds
The opening day of the 5th annual ʔəm̓i ce:p xʷiwəl (Come Toward the Fire) Festival is a free day of learning built around storytelling, film screenings, and cultural workshops on Indigenous history and knowledge systems.
Who is it for: Anyone curious about Indigenous history, students, educators, and community members
Why worth checking out: It’s a thoughtful, free way to kick off the weekend before the festival’s bigger programming on Saturday and Sunday
Price: Free
Link: chancentre.com/events/come-toward-the-fire-2026-day-of-knowledge-sharing
Come Toward the Fire: Festival Day
Date: September 19, 2026 @ 12 PM
Venue/place: Chan Centre & UBC Campus Grounds
Saturday’s Festival Day is the family-focused centerpiece of the ʔəm̓i ce:p xʷiwəl festival, with outdoor musical stages, an Indigenous artisan market, dance performances, hands-on craft stations, and food trucks spread across UBC campus grounds.
Who is it for: Families, students, youth groups, and anyone wanting a full day out
Why worth checking out: It’s free, outdoors, and genuinely built for kids — craft stations and live performances all afternoon
Price: Free admission / pay-what-you-can donation
Link: chancentre.com/events/come-toward-the-fire-2026-festival-day
Terry Fox Run Vancouver 2026
Date: September 20, 2026
Venue/place: Stanley Park (Ceperley Meadow) & community sites across Metro Vancouver
Join thousands of Vancouverites continuing Terry Fox’s Marathon of Hope. The non-competitive 3k/10k run, walk, roll, and bike event welcomes participants of all ages and abilities to raise funds for cancer research.
Who is it for: Families, runners, walkers, and community supporters of all ages
Why worth checking out: One of Canada’s most meaningful community traditions, and a great way to start a Sunday before the evening’s concerts
Price: Free registration (donations encouraged)
Link: activevancouver.ca/events/terry-fox-run-vancouver
Arts & Culture
Vancouver International Fringe Festival
Date: September 10–20, 2026 (final weekend)
Venue/place: Various venues across Granville Island and Vancouver
This is closing weekend for the Fringe — 11 days, over 600 performances, and your last shot at catching whatever’s been generating buzz across theatre, dance, comedy, drag, and spoken word. Shows are chosen by lottery, so the lineup is a genuine grab bag of global touring acts and local newcomers sharing the same stages.
Who is it for: Theatre lovers, comedy fans, adventurous artsgoers, and supporters of independent artists
Why worth checking out: It’s Vancouver’s largest theatre festival, and the final weekend is when word-of-mouth hits have usually made themselves known — worth checking listings for what’s selling out
Price: Single tickets vary by show ($15–25 average) + one-time Fringe Membership
Link: activevancouver.ca/events/vancouver-international-fringe-festival
Bard on the Beach: Final Performances
Date: September 1–19, 2026 (closes Saturday)
Venue/place: Sen̓áḵw / Vanier Park
This is genuinely it — Bard on the Beach’s 37th season closes Saturday, September 19. Four productions run across two stages: a modern Vancouver-set take on The Merry Wives of Windsor, a dark and intense Macbeth, and the Studio Stage productions Antigone and Goblin: Oedipus.
Who is it for: Shakespeare enthusiasts, comedy lovers, and outdoor theatre patrons
Why worth checking out: Last chance before the tents come down for winter — waterfront sunset views paired with top-tier professional classical theatre
Price: Tickets start at $30
Link: activevancouver.ca/events/bard-on-the-beach-the-merry-wives-of-windsor-theatre
HEIST
Date: September 17 – October 18, 2026 (opens this weekend)
Venue/place: Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage, Arts Club Theatre Company
Arts Club’s mainstage season opens with Arun Lakra’s fast-paced heist comedy. When a carefully planned diamond heist goes off-script, a team of mismatched specialists has to navigate secret motives, unexpected twists, and high-tech security — all with plenty of comedy and clever stagecraft.
Who is it for: Fans of action comedies, suspense stories, and slick stage plays
Why worth checking out: A Hollywood-style heist story built specifically for live theatre, and this weekend is opening weekend
Price: Tickets start at $39
Link: activevancouver.ca/events/heist-theatre
Avenue Q
Date: September 18 – October 10, 2026 (opens this weekend)
Venue/place: Metro Theatre
Metro Theatre opens its season with the Tony Award–winning musical Avenue Q, following Princeton, a bright-eyed college grad who moves into a rundown New York apartment and meets an eclectic group of neighbours — humans and puppets alike — all figuring out life, love, and purpose. Sharp, witty, and unapologetically adult-oriented, it tackles big issues with heart and a fearless sense of humour.
Who is it for: Fans of irreverent musical comedy and anyone who grew up on Sesame Street looking for the grown-up version
Why worth checking out: A Tony-winning cult favourite opening weekend at one of Vancouver’s longest-running community theatre venues — note it contains strong language and mature themes, so it’s intended for adult audiences
Price: Tickets $38 to $62 + fees
Link: metrotheatre.com
Music, Nightlife, Concerts
Foo Fighters: Take Cover Tour 2026
Date: September 20, 2026
Venue/place: BC Place
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees Foo Fighters return to Vancouver for a massive stadium show as part of their 2026 Take Cover Tour. Dave Grohl and company deliver two-plus hours of high-octane rock anthems — think “Everlong,” “The Pretender,” and “Learn to Fly” — with Queens of the Stone Age opening.
Who is it for: Rock fans, arena concertgoers, and live music lovers
Why worth checking out: One of the largest and most energetic stadium rock shows coming to Western Canada this year — the clear headline event of the weekend
Price: Tickets start at $85 + fees
Link: bcplace.com/events-tickets
Jimmy Carr
Date: September 18, 2026 @ 8:00 PM
Venue/place: Rogers Arena
The famously deadpan British comedian brings his stand-up show to Rogers Arena to kick off the weekend, known for razor-sharp one-liners and a delivery that’s become instantly recognizable.
Who is it for: Comedy fans and anyone who wants a laugh-first start to the weekend
Why worth checking out: A rare arena-scale stand-up show in Vancouver, and a good counterpoint to the weekend’s heavier rock lineup
Price: Varies by seating
Link: rogersarena.com/event/jimmy-carr
Bring Me The Horizon
Date: September 20, 2026 @ 7:00 PM
Venue/place: Rogers Arena
The genre-bending UK rock act brings their arena show to Rogers Arena the same night as Foo Fighters play BC Place, making Sunday one of the biggest dual concert nights of the month for Vancouver rock fans.
Who is it for: Rock and metalcore fans, and anyone who likes their live shows loud and heavy
Why worth checking out: Two major stadium/arena rock shows in the same city on the same night is a rare scheduling quirk worth planning around
Price: Varies by seating
Link: rogersarena.com/event/bring-me-the-horizon
Come Toward the Fire: Closing Concert
Date: September 20, 2026 @ 6:00 PM
Venue/place: Chan Shun Concert Hall, Chan Centre for the Performing Arts
The ʔəm̓i ce:p xʷiwəl (Come Toward the Fire) Festival closes with a mainstage concert hosted by actor and comedian Dallas Goldtooth (Reservation Dogs), headlined by two-time JUNO Award-winning Oji-Cree artist Aysanabee. The lineup also includes Two-Spirit Cree pop singer Siibii, Boslen, Logan Staats, and the Coastal Wolf Pack.
Who is it for: Fans of contemporary Indigenous music, folk, R&B, and world-class acoustics
Why worth checking out: A meaningful, high-caliber closer to the festival at one of Vancouver’s best-sounding concert halls
Price: $29 (Indigenous/Student), $49 (Regular), $79 (Premium)
Link: chancentre.com/events/come-toward-the-fire-closing-concert
Family & Kids
Playland at the PNE: Autumn Weekends
Date: September 12–27, 2026 (weekends)
Venue/place: Playland Amusement Park
With the main PNE Fair wrapped up, Playland reopens for weekend-only fun through the rest of September. Ride the historic 1925 Wooden Roller Coaster, Atmosfear, and the Carousel, plus classic carnival games and mini donuts — with noticeably shorter lines now that the summer crowds have thinned.
Who is it for: Thrill-seekers, kids, teens, and weekend family outings
Why worth checking out: Shorter lines and crisp fall weather make September one of the best times of year to hit the rides
Price: Ride passes start at $33.50 (Junior) to $47.50 (Thrill)
Link: activevancouver.ca/events/playland-at-the-pne-spring-season-opens-amusement-park
Food & Drinks
Richmond Night Market
Date: Open through October 12, 2026 (weekends)
Venue/place: 8351 River Road, Richmond (near Bridgeport Station)
North America’s largest night market is still going strong, with over 600 food stalls serving grilled squid, tornado potatoes, dim sum, dragon’s breath desserts, and bubble tea, alongside vendors selling accessories, gadgets, and lifestyle goods.
Who is it for: Foodies, night owls, families, and street-food lovers
Why worth checking out: The region’s premier outdoor night market, with only a few weekends left before it wraps up in October
Price: $8.50 general admission (free for seniors 60+ and kids under 7)
Link: activevancouver.ca/events/richmond-night-market-market
Movies (What’s On)
Resident Evil
Date: Opens September 18, 2026
Venue/place: Select Vancouver theatres
Horror filmmaker Zach Cregger takes the helm for this reboot of the Resident Evil franchise, with a cast led by Austin Abrams, Paul Walter Hauser, Zach Cherry, and Kali Reis. Early buzz suggests it leans much closer to the tension and atmosphere of the video games than past adaptations.
Who is it for: Horror fans and longtime Resident Evil players curious about a tonal reset
Why worth checking out: A genuine creative swing on a franchise that’s had a rocky run on screen, from a director with a strong recent horror track record
Price: Standard cinema admission (~$15–18)
Practical Magic 2
Date: Opens September 18, 2026
Venue/place: Select Vancouver theatres
Nearly 30 years after the original became a cult classic, Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman reunite as the Owens sisters in this long-awaited sequel, directed by Susanne Bier.
Who is it for: Fans of the original, and anyone after a cozy, witchy counterprogramming pick
Why worth checking out: One of the biggest female-driven releases of the fall, and a nice change of pace from the weekend’s heavier movie and concert lineup
Price: Standard cinema admission (~$15–18)
TV Show of the Week
The Gentlemen (Season 2)
Date: New season now streaming
Guy Ritchie’s stylish crime-comedy series returns for a second season, following the aristocratic weed-empire chaos that made the first run a sleeper hit. Sharp dialogue, big personalities, and plenty of double-crosses make it an easy weekend binge between festival outings.
Who is it for: Fans of British crime comedy, Guy Ritchie’s film work, and ensemble heist-adjacent plots
Why worth checking out: A perfect wind-down watch after a day at the Fringe or a night at Rogers Arena
Book of the Week
Taipei Story by R.F. Kuang
Date: New release, September 2026
The latest from R.F. Kuang (Babel, Yellowface) is a wryly humorous, deeply moving coming-of-age novel set against an unforgettable summer in Taipei, grappling with grief, language, and culture shock.
Who is it for: Literary fiction readers and fans of Kuang’s earlier work
Why worth checking out: Kuang has become one of the most consistently acclaimed literary voices of the decade, and this is her most personal work yet
Video Game of the Week
The Blood of Dawnwalker
Date: Available September 2026
One of the fall’s most anticipated RPG releases drops players into Vale Sangora, a Carpathian region overrun by vampiric politics, as Coen, a newly turned human-vampire hybrid racing to save his family. Expect rich RPG mechanics and a branching story where every major action moves an in-game clock forward.
Who is it for: RPG fans who want a rich, choice-driven single-player story to sink into this weekend
Why worth checking out: A meaty single-player RPG is exactly what a quieter moment indoors calls for between concerts and festival days