The first big weekend of spring is here. These are the shops, attractions and services that are either open or closed around the Lower Mainland
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Victoria Day marks the unofficial start to summer fun, and is a national statutory holiday in most provinces and territories, including B.C. Time to hit the seawall, or a choice campsite you remembered to book months ago — lucky you! — or maybe you’re just hanging around home for a restful long weekend.
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If that’s the plan, there are lots of things open on Victoria Day, which lands this year on Monday, May 18. Here’s a roundup of what’s open and closed in Metro Vancouver over the 2026 May long weekend:
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Retail
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West Coast Table
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Malls and big box stores are usually not just open, but busy on Victoria Day weekend. Most observe either regular or Sunday hours on Monday.
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Cadillac Fairview’s flagship Pacific Centre in Vancouver and Richmond Centre will be open their usual Sunday hours on Monday, May 18, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., as are Metropolis at Metrotown in Burnaby and Park Royal in West Vancouver.
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McArthurGlen outlet near YVR is operating on regular hours from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
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The big grocery chains are largely open, such as Walmart, Real Canadian Superstore, Save-On-Foods and Safeway. But Costco warehouse outlets are closed on Monday.
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Attractions
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Most attractions around Vancouver and region are open and operating as normal, including the Vancouver Art Gallery, Science World and the Vancouver Aquarium.
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City-operated attractions in Vancouver like the VanDusen Botanical Garden (9 a.m. to 6 p.m.) and the Bloedel Conservatory (10 a.m. to 7 p.m.) are keeping regular hours, as are the Museum of Anthropology at UBC (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and Capilano Suspension Bridge Park in North Vancouver (8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.).
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For more ideas about things to do, see our event listings for the May long weekend.
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Recreation
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About half of Vancouver community centres are open on Victoria Day Monday. Among those that will be operating are False Creek, Hastings, Kerrisdale, Mount Pleasant, Roundhouse, Strathcona, Sunset and Trout Lake. Fitness centres are a similar mix, with many offering gym time but some closed for the day.
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People looking for some exercise have lots of other city-run options. Some city pools are open on Monday, including Britannia, Hillcrest, Killarney, Lord Byng, New Brighton, Renfrew, Second Beach, Templeton Park and Vancouver Aquatic Centre. Ice rinks and municipal golf courses — Fraserview, Langara and McCleery — are up and running.
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For information on hours at any of the above, go to vancouver.ca.
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Vancouver libraries are all closed on Victoria Day Monday except the Carnegie branch on Main Street, which does not close for holidays.
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Buses, SkyTrain and SeaBus will run on a holiday schedule Monday with single-zone fares across the system. The West Coast Express commuter train is not operating. TransLink customer service centres and lost property offices are closed.
