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Vancouver Adventures: Our Picks for September 6 to 12

This week: Do the Grind for a good cause, get your meat on at Gods of the Grill, sip some brews at the Whistler Beer Festival and more

By Kirsty Chan /

Credit: Flickr/Ariane Colenbrander

St. Ambroise Fringe Bar – September 4-14

Music, food, drinks and the good vibes generated by the Fringe Festival good vibes all converge at the St. Ambroise Fringe Bar. This pop-up bar runs every night of Fringe in collaboration with Barefoot Wine and Bubbly and will feature some of the city’s hottest acts and tons of fun activities. Show off your skills at Saturday’s open mic, drop by on Wednesday to play board games with the cast and crew of some Fringe shows or catch local indie-poppers The Oh Wells on Thursday.



Credit: Facebook/West End Fest

West End Fest – September 6

Grab your lei and the loudest Hawaiian shirt you can find and head down to King George Secondary for West End Fest. The theme is Aloha Elvis and will feature Eli “Tigerman” Williams as Elvis on a day filled with fun themed events. It’s completely free and will have a range of family-friendly activities like a bouncy castle, face painting, crafts, a Hawaiian photo booth and a caricature artist. 



Credit: Flickr/Rebecca Bollwit

The Village at Park Royal 10th Birthday – September 6

The Village at Park Royal is “10 years young” this September and they’re throwing a birthday extravaganza to celebrate. Stop by at 10:30 a.m. for pop-up yoga with YYoga, get a spray-on tattoo, or munch on complimentary popcorn, snowcones and cake. Local band Star Captains and Peak Performance Project winners Dear Rouge will provide music. There’ll be giveaways galore, including a giant ball signed by Dear Rouge, and a chance to win a $500 shopping spree when you snap an Instagram picture of the festivities. 



Credit: Flickr/urban_lenny

Bicycle Trek for Life and Breath – September 6-7

It’s time again for the B.C. Lung Association’s Bicycle Trek for Life and Breath. They’ve been raising money in support of lung health for three decades now, and their 30th year is looking to be their most exciting year yet. The two-day trek goes from White Rock to Cultus Lake and back. Every participant will get a special 30th anniversary cycling jersey that will be waiting for them at the Trek Wrap Up Party. 



Credit: Flickr/Mike Kamermans

ClearlyContacts.ca Grouse Grind Challenge – September 7

The Grouse Grind is a mildly masochistic Vancouver tradition (trust us, we tried it), but on Sunday you can tackle the mountain for a good cause. Take on the Clearly Contacts Grouse Grind Challenge and help raise money for the B.C. Children’s Hospital. If you’re sore afterwards then you can check out the complimentary physiotherapy and yoga, and if you’ve appetite is bigger than your aches, head straight to the hot pancake breakfast waiting at the top of the mountain. 



Credit: Flickr/Heather Harvey

Feast of Fields – September 7

On September 7th, Delta’s Bremner’s Farm plays host to every locavore and foodie’s dream event, Feast of Fields. The rustic setting will be filled with a spread of local products and dishes put together by the city’s best chefs and food producers. Also making an appearance will be a selection of craft brewers, vintners and distillers, because good food needs good drinks to go along with it.



Credit: Flickr/Julie

Rainforest Café – September 7

Learn a little about the rainforest right in the middle of the city at Stanley Park’s Rainforest Café. Meet at the Stanley Park Nature House for a guided tour of the edible plants that grow in the forests all around us. This “urban-foraging” tour is provided by the Stanley Park Ecology Society and will teach you which plants are safe to munch on and which to avoid.



Credit: Flickr/Alfonso Cevola

Gods of the Grill – September 7

Francis Mallman is famous in South America for being a top-shelf chef, and on September 10 and 11, he’s teaming up with CinCin’s Executive Chef Andrew Richardson for two innovative multi-course dinners. The first round is a five-course wine dinner that will recreate traditional South American dishes using fresh local B.C. ingredients. The second dinner is a four-course tasting that’ll tap into CinCin’s extensive wine cellar. You can find out how to buy tickets online.



Credit: Flickr/Kirsten James

Rifflandia Festival – September 11-14

The Island’s hottest musical event has returned for yet another year, and Rifflandia Festival is bigger and better than ever. International stars and local artists alike will be taking over various venues around Victoria for four days jam-packed with musical moments you won’t want to miss. Headlining the festival is Death Cab for Cutie, as well as Canadian favourites The New Pornographers, Born Ruffians, and Dragonette. You can grab passes online.



Whistler Beer Festival – September 11 to 14

There’s nothing like a refreshing beer in the alpine air surrounded by friends to remind you of all the best things this province has to offer. The Whistler Village Beer Festival is the perfect opportunity to raise a glass to all these things. And then raise another glass, and another, and another. Located in Whistler Olympic Plaza, the festival will feature over thirty B.C. beers, and a collection of brews from across the country, America, and the rest of the world.