What's on in Vancouver this week: Oct 19 – 25, 2026

It's Monday, so the week ahead starts tomorrow night at Rogers Arena, when the Stanley Cup champions come to town. From Thursday there's a new light walk in Stanley Park, and the weekend fills up fast: the Lions' last regular-season game, a free Diwali afternoon at Marine Gateway, world-class short track at the Pacific Coliseum and the closing night of the Vancouver Writers Fest.

Tuesday: the Hurricanes at Rogers Arena

• Vancouver Canucks vs. Carolina Hurricanes · Tue Oct 20, 7pm · Rogers Arena, 800 Griffiths Way, Vancouver · It's the reigning Stanley Cup champions' only visit to Rogers Arena this season. Tickets are on sale through Ticketmaster, the team's ticketing partner.

If you're taking someone who rarely gets to a game, this is a good one to pick, since Carolina won't be back this season.

Thursday and Friday: Astra Lumina opens, the Lions close out the season

• Astra Lumina · Opens Thu Oct 22 and is listed through Dec 31 · Old Railway site, Stanley Park, 690 Pipeline Rd, Vancouver · A self-guided night walk through nine light-and-sound zones by Moment Factory, and the first time the series comes to Canada. All ages. Adults were from $35.90 and children 4–12 from $25.90 at the time of writing; under 4 go free.
• BC Lions vs. Winnipeg Blue Bombers · Fri Oct 23, 7pm · BC Place, 777 Pacific Blvd, Vancouver · The regular-season finale, with playoff positioning still in play. Tickets on sale through the BC Lions.

Astra Lumina is outdoors, on what its own FAQ describes as natural, uneven terrain. Late October in Vancouver usually brings rain, so wear shoes with grip and bring a hood rather than an umbrella you'll have to juggle in the dark.

If this week is already full, there's no need to squeeze it in: the walk is listed through the end of December, so a school night in November works just as well for the kids.

Saturday: Diwali at Marine Gateway and short track at the Coliseum

• Diwali at Marine Gateway · Sat Oct 24, 1pm · Marine Gateway, 450 SW Marine Dr, Vancouver · A free Diwali celebration with live music and dance, henna and treats, listed by the Diwali Fest organisers.
• ISU Short Track World Tour · Sat Oct 24 and Sun Oct 25, doors 3pm, racing from 4pm · Pacific Coliseum, Hastings Park, Vancouver · World-class short track speed skating, back at the Coliseum for the first time since the 2010 Olympics. Tickets on sale through Ticketleader.

Marine Gateway sits right at Marine Drive Station on the Canada Line, so you can get there without a car. The two fit the same Saturday if you start early: Diwali at 1, then across town to Hastings Park for the 4pm racing.

Sunday: a second day of racing and the Writers Fest's closing night

• Vancouver Writers Fest closing night: True Patriot Love with Carol Off · Sun Oct 25, 7pm · York Theatre, 639 Commercial Dr, Vancouver · The 39th festival, more than 150 authors across 90-plus events since Oct 18, ends here, with the former CBC Radio host in conversation with David Moscrop on Canadian identity. Tickets were $15 for youth under 25 and $28 general at the time of writing.

The festival opened at the Orpheum yesterday and closes on Commercial Drive, at the York. Hastings Park and the Drive are both in East Vancouver, a short drive apart, so racing at 4 and Carol Off at 7 can share a Sunday. Check the ISU schedule for when the last final is set to finish before you plan dinner in between.

Also on the North Shore

• Canyon Frights at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park · Daily through Nov 1, 10am–8pm, open until 9pm Fri Oct 23 to Sun Oct 25 · 3735 Capilano Rd, North Vancouver · The park's trails dressed for Halloween, with live music at Loggers' Grill Plaza and the Frightful Forest Scavenger Hunt for all ages. Included with general park admission.

The later 9pm close from Friday to Sunday gives you an extra hour after dark to see the canyon lit up. With small kids, you could start the scavenger hunt in the late afternoon and stay on for the lights.

Planning something of your own? If a night at Astra Lumina sounds like the start of a friend's birthday, the part worth planning ahead is the celebration around it: who's coming, where you'll all gather afterwards, and what you'll eat.

Photos by Wenhao Ji, Tony Kemp, Timo Spunkmeyer, 🇸🇮 Janko Ferlič and Luke Miller on Unsplash and Pexels.