Savour food truck eats, thrilling rides and live shows at Vancouver’s PNE Fair! It’s a summer tradition with epic eats, concerts and fun for all ages.
The PNE Fair is one of Vancouver’s most iconic summer events. Held annually for over a century, the fair brings thrilling rides, family-friendly attractions, live entertainment, and an unbeatable selection of food trucks and festival eats to the city. It’s not technically a “food festival”. It does, however, have one of the largest selections of food and drink vendors of any festival in not only the Lower Mainland, but in all of Western Canada.
Pacific National Exhibition (PNE) Fair in Vancouver
While it’s not specifically a Food Truck Festival, the PNE Fair is a food lover’s paradise, thanks to its massive selection of food trucks and culinary options. From deep-fried classics and gourmet burgers to international street food and creative desserts, there’s something to satisfy every craving.
To learn more about what to expect at the PNE Fair, continue reading below or visit the pne.ca website.
When and Where is the PNE?
The PNE Fair takes place during the final few weeks of summer, wrapping up on the Labour Day weekend. It’s hosted at the PNE fairgrounds at Hastings Park in East Vancouver. The same venue is also home to Playland, the city’s amusement park that operates throughout the warmer months.
Food at the PNE – A Highlight of the Fair
One of the biggest draws of the PNE Fair is the incredible variety of food vendors. Dozens of food trucks and booths line the grounds offering a menu of both traditional fair foods and creative new dishes.
What You’ll Find at the PNE:
- Gourmet Food Trucks – Offering everything from mac & cheese and grilled cheese sandwiches to Korean fried chicken, poke bowls, tacos, and butter chicken poutine.
- Classic Fair Foods – Corn dogs, mini donuts, cotton candy, kettle corn, and giant turkey legs are all crowd favourites.
- Sweet Treats – Expect over-the-top desserts like deep-fried Oreos, soft-serve ice cream, chocolate-dipped cheesecake, and specialty milkshakes.
- Taste of the Fair Menu – Select vendors often offer budget-friendly smaller items for around $10, which is perfect for sampling a variety of dishes.
- Plant-Based & International Cuisine – Vegan options and multicultural foods such as Jamaican patties, bao buns, sushi tacos, and more are available.
Whether you’re after a greasy indulgence or unique street food find, the PNE food scene alone is worth a visit to the fair.
More Than Just Food – Entertainment and Attractions
While the food is a major highlight, the PNE Fair delivers a full day of entertainment and activities for all ages throughout its season. Top attractions include the following:
- Summer Night Concerts – Live performances by classic rock acts, popular bands and country stars. Concerts are ticketed but include fair admission.
- The SuperDogs Show – A crowd-favourite featuring talented dogs performing tricks and races.
- Family Entertainment – Shows like I-Flip (aerial acrobatics), For the Love of Drag, and KC Bear’s Street Party.
- Marketplace – Over 90 vendors with everything from kitchen gadgets to artisan crafts.
- Sands of Wonder – Watch artists create giant sand sculptures live.
- Safeway Cooking Stage – Daily live cooking demos by chefs using local ingredients.
- Amusement Rides – There are a ton of them, from little kid-friendly rides to ones for serious thrill seekers.
Rides at the PNE – From Tame to Terrifying
With nearly three dozen rides, the PNE offers everything from kiddie rides to extreme thrill-seeking adventures. Rides include the following (plus other ones too):
- Mild Rides – Teacups, Merry-Go-Round, Ferris Wheel
- Moderate Rides – Tilt-A-Whirl, Scrambler, Flume Ride
- Extreme Rides – Atmosfear, Beast, Hell’s Gate, the iconic Wooden Roller Coaster, and ThunderVolt – Canada’s fastest electric coaster.
There’s also the Drop Zone and Revelation – two adrenaline-pumping rides available for an additional fee.
Tips for Visiting the PNE Fair
- TIP #1: Go Hungry – The food is a huge part of the experience. Consider sharing items with friends so you can try more things.
- TIP #2: Beat the Crowds – Rainy days or late evenings (during concerts) are less busy.
- TIP #3: Stay Cool – The Flume Ride is perfect for hot summer days. Be sure to check out the drinks options around the fair as well.
- TIP #4: Watch for Special Deals – “Taste of the Fair” menus and weekday discounts help keep costs down.
PNE Prize Home Lottery
Each summer, the PNE runs a popular Prize Home Lottery, offering the chance to win a fully-furnished dream home, plus cars, vacations and other prizes. While the house is now constructed offsite (in Langley), there’s still a display about the home at the fairgrounds for visitors to explore.
Winter and Off-Season Events
The PNE isn’t just a summer destination. It hosts events throughout the year, including the following:
- Playland – Open spring to fall with rides and games.
- Fright Nights – A spooky Halloween-themed experience with haunted houses and night rides.
- PNE Winter Fair – A festive December event with lights, markets, live shows, ice skating, and Christmas treats.
For tickets, concert schedules and full event details, visit the PNE’s Calendar of Events
Another place you can learn about the PNE Fair, PNE Summer Night Concerts, Playland, the Rides at Playland, Fright Nights and the PNE Winter Fair is the website VancouversBestPlaces.com.