Playland Amusement Park & The Fair at the PNE

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A beloved Vancouver summer tradition for over 100 years, offering thrilling rides, unique food, and live entertainment.

Part of PNE Playland Including the Famous Wooden Rollercoaster cc licensed photo by tiffa130

For over a century, the Pacific National Exhibition (PNE) in Hastings Park has been a cherished summer tradition for Vancouverites. The site is home to two main attractions: Playland, Vancouver's historic amusement park, and The Fair at the PNE, the iconic 17-day end-of-summer festival. It's a place of thrilling rides, unforgettable concerts, and famously unique food.

Why Visit Playland & The Fair?

Historic Wooden Roller Coaster: Ride a true classic! Built in 1958, the wooden coaster is an internationally recognized favourite for its thrilling "airtime."
Amusement Park Fun: Playland offers a full range of rides, from extreme thrillers like The Beast to family-friendly classics and a dedicated Kids Playce.
The Fair at the PNE: A massive annual event featuring nightly concerts, agricultural exhibits (SuperDogs!), cultural displays, a prize home, and a vibrant midway.
Iconic Fair Food: The PNE is famous for its wild and wonderful food creations, from mini donuts and corn dogs to deep-fried everything.

What to See & Do

At Playland (May - September)

Thrill Rides: Test your nerve on rides like the Hellevator, Atmosfear, and the Corkscrew coaster.
Family Rides: Enjoy classics like the Westcoast Wheel, the Scrambler, and the log flume.
Midway Games: Try your luck at a variety of classic carnival games to win a prize.

At The Fair at the PNE (Late August - Early September)

Summer Night Concerts: See major international artists perform at the PNE Amphitheatre (concert tickets often sold separately).
The SuperDogs Show: A beloved tradition featuring incredible canine performers.
Agricultural Displays: Visit the farm animals at the Agrodome and learn about BC agriculture.
Marketplace: Shop for unique goods and gadgets from hundreds of vendors.

Year-Round Venues

Pacific Coliseum: This historic arena on the PNE grounds hosts major concerts, sporting events, and trade shows throughout the year.
PNE Agrodome: A versatile venue known for hosting everything from professional hockey and lacrosse to concerts and the famous PNE Rodeo.
PNE Forum: A flexible event space that hosts a wide variety of trade shows, craft fairs, and special events.

Food & Drink Options

The food is a main attraction! You'll find everything from classic carnival fare to inventive and often outrageous new creations each year. Don't miss these staples:

Those Little Donuts: A must-have PNE tradition.
Freshly Squeezed Lemonade: The perfect way to cool down on a hot day.
Corn Dogs & Poutine: Classic Canadian fair food at its best.
Unique Creations: Look for the annual list of new foods, which often includes things like deep-fried coffee or pickle-flavoured cotton candy.

Pro Tips & Local Insights

Buy Tickets Online: You can often save money and time by purchasing your admission and ride passes online in advance.
Check the Concert Lineup: The Summer Night Concerts are a huge draw. Check the schedule and book tickets early for popular acts.
Go on a Weekday: If possible, visit The Fair on a weekday to experience smaller crowds.
Year-Round Events: The fun isn't limited to summer. The PNE grounds host events all year in venues like the Pacific Coliseum, Agrodome, and Forum, including concerts, trade shows, and seasonal festivals like Fright Nights at Halloween and the PNE Winter Fair.

See the complete line of Vancouver Experiences on Viator

Facts For Your Visit

Fee: Yes - See the official website for the various rates

Pacific National Exhibition PNE Hours:
Opening hours may differ on holidays

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Thursday: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Friday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Saturday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Sunday: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Address: 2901 E Hastings St, Vancouver, BC V5K 5J1, Canada

Phone: (604) 253-2311

Official Website: Pacific National Exhibition PNE

Pacific National Exhibition PNE Reviews

Rated 4 out of 5 Star Rating

5 Star Rating Second times a charm. Enjoyed all the thrill rides and a few of them more than once . Realized early July is a great time to go. The park was only half full and wait for all thrill rides were less than 10 mins. Beast , Coaster, atmosfear, skybender , pirate ship all were superb . The icing on the cake was Front row seats on thundervolt. Food is too pricey at pizza pizza. triple os was a good choice .
Basu R - 2 weeks ago

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4 Star Rating Overall, the experience was good. You have to wait in line for quite a long time to get on the cool rides. On weekends, the line to get in is long, but the staff does a great job. The ticket system is a bit confusing; it's not immediately clear which fare to choose
Mykhailo Tsiurtok - 2 months ago

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5 Star Rating We visited PNE on the weekend and had a great time. There were a lot of people, and the parking lots across the street were almost full. Some private parking lots were charging up to $45 per day, which was way too expensive. Inside PNE, it was actually not too crowded because of the World Cup events happening around the city. Most rides and games had very short wait times, which was great. The weather was nice, the staff were friendly and helpful, and the overall experience was very enjoyable. A great place to visit with family and friends. Highly recommended!
Shirley Su - a month ago

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4 Star Rating The PNE fair has a fun and lively atmosphere every year. It’s a must do in Vancouver. SuperDogs was a highlight, the mariachi music added so much energy, and there’s a wide variety of food (though pricey). There are a few free activities in the farm area, but beyond that it feels like almost everything is very profit-driven, especially considering you’ve already paid for a ticket just to enter. For families, the costs add up quickly. Not to mention parking costs. It would make a big difference to have small family rest and play areas for little ones and more free games for them. Giving back to the community might help with increasing attendance in the future - a good reputation is worth more than money. People are tired of having to overpay for everything. Overall, it’s a great place to experience, but the pricing and lack of family-friendly amenities could definitely be improved.
Danyela Kim - 10 months ago

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4 Star Rating We love play land. The price means we can only go once a year but that makes it a special day. *They do* offer A companion entry for anyone attending with someone with an Access 2 card, which also provides a fast track pass which is a great mediator when required - greatly appreciated. The food prices are crazy! Eat before you go and be prepaired for the hit. You can bring in a plastic water bottle to be re filled and they have a fountain system to fill from by *the beast* ride (near food area). My little loves the rides and I love watching her smile. I do wish there was an option for just an entry w/o rides for when kids are older and parents didn't need/want to ride. If you buy ahead with BCAA there was a discount
Melissa D - 2 weeks ago

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Directions

Bus or SkyTrain & Bus Line	Nearest Station	Walking Time
R5 RapidBus	From Downtown Vancouver	~1 Minute
Expo Line	29th Avenue Station	0 Minutes

How to get to Pacific National Exhibition PNE by Bus or SkyTrain & Bus

From downtown Vancouver, take the R5 Hastings St RapidBus from any stop along Hastings Street (e.g., near Granville or Burrard). Ride for about 15-20 minutes and get off at the stop at Hastings and Renfrew.

From 29th Avenue Station on the Expo Line, you can take the #16 Arbutus bus to Hastings Street. During The Fair at the PNE, a special PNE Express bus often runs from this station directly to the fairgrounds.