Vancouver’s annual Winterruption on Granville Island runs Feb. 19–22 and transforms the island into a lively winter carnival of music, dance, food and visual arts. Visitors can expect a varied program that showcases local talent and family-friendly attractions. Highlights include Axe Capoeira’s thrilling acrobatics, a Meet Your Makers tour featuring the island’s craft spirits producers, a concert with Celso Machado presented by Coastal Jazz, and Edible Canada’s Sustainable Seafood Market Dinner produced in partnership with the David Suzuki Foundation.
Coinciding with Winterruption is the Vancouver International Wine Festival, running Feb. 20–March 1. Now in its 37th year, the festival is one of North America’s most respected wine events, presenting more than 170 wineries and over 1,750 wines for tasting. The program includes more than 50 events such as focused wine seminars, intimate winery dinners and social tasting sessions. This year’s theme highlights Syrah and Australia as the featured country, and the festival opens with the Bacchanalia Gala on Friday, Feb. 20 at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. Tickets are on sale for individual events and gala packages.
Both festivals offer opportunities to explore Vancouver’s vibrant culinary and cultural scene, with accessible events for casual visitors and deeper experiences for enthusiasts. Winterruption emphasizes performance art and hands-on activities on Granville Island, while the Wine Festival centers on education and celebration of international and regional wines. Attendees can combine both experiences over the overlapping dates to enjoy outdoor winter festivities by day and curated wine tastings and dinners by night.
Plan ahead for transportation and event reservations, as popular performances and wine sessions can sell out. Check event schedules for family programming, accessibility details and any ticketing requirements. Whether you’re attending with family, friends or as a solo visitor, the pair of festivals makes late February an excellent time to experience Vancouver’s winter culture, food and arts scene.