Find exciting festivities for all ages in the bustling destination of Richmond, B.C., located just outside the larger city of Vancouver. From cultural attractions to autumn favorites, Richmond has something for everyone, including:
- This September and October, Richmond Night Market, which is the largest night market in North America and will be extending its hours of operations until Canada’s Thanksgiving weekend of Oct. 11, will host their first annual Fire Dragon Lantern Festival. Here, the “Summer Sweet Dragon” and the “Fire Dragon” will join together to light up Richmond in the city’s largest lantern festival and show off Richmond’s vibrant Asian culture and nightlife. On September 17, the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival, a celebration of family reunions in Chinese culture, will take place at the Night Market as part of the Fire Dragon Lantern Festival. Many restaurants and bakeries across the city, such as L’otus Cake Boutique and Kam Do Bakery, will also offer mooncakes during the Mid-Autumn Festival, which is a luscious, often ornate pastry that typically has a thin, pie-like casing enclosing a sweet (or sometimes savory) paste-like filling of taro, lotus seed, sweet bean or a mixture of nuts and seeds, helping to create plenty of opportunities to join in the celebration.
- On September 8, British Columbia’s largest food and agriculture non-profit, FarmFolk CityFolk, will host their 29th annual Metro Vancouver Feast of Fields. During the festival, guests can wander across the field at Athiana Acres, a 30-acre regenerative and soon to be certified organic farm in Steveston, while trying gourmet foods and beverages made by local chefs, brewers, and more, in addition to live music, while gaining a better understanding of where their local food items come from.
- One of Richmond’s most beloved fall activities for all ages is the Pumpkin Patch at Richmond Country Farms. Running since the early 1980s, this fun tradition draws visitors from across the Metro Vancouver area and beyond. Beyond picking pumpkins, guests can join a traditional ride on a hay wagon on this working farm while viewing farm animals and purchasing local produce to bring home. The site is also home to Country Vines Winery where guests can try wine made from local B.C. grapes.
- With crisp air and changing seasons comes beautiful fall foliage and Richmond has no shortage of picturesque spots to view the changing colors in their full glory. One of Richmond’s most Instagrammable sites to experience the changing seasons is Minoru Park. Located in the city center, there are plenty of beautiful maple, oak, and chestnut trees with colorful autumn leaves to photograph, as well as the charming Minoru Chapel, a wooden structure originally built in 1891. For visitors on the move, Westminster Highway and Granville Avenue’s tree-lined streets provide ample opportunities to experience the changing colors across the city while enjoying everything Richmond has to offer.