Vancouver residents support the arts enthusiastically, especially during the city's film, jazz, folk, and theater festivals, most of which take place between June and October. The city also covers the spectrum of arts and nightlife, from opera, ballet, and symphonies to live music venues, pubs, and nightclubs. A bylaw bans smoking indoors in all public places in Vancouver, including pubs and bars, though observance is uneven.

Vancouver's nightlife is increasingly vibrant, thanks to gradually relaxing liquor laws. Bars, pubs, and lounges are usually open seven nights a week until 1 AM. Dance clubs get lively at about 10 PM and stay open until 2 AM; many close on Sunday and Monday. Most dance clubs levy a cover charge of about $5. Smart casual dress will do for most Vancouver nightspots. No jeans or sports shoes is the standard dress code in dance clubs, though patrons like to dress up for some of the smarter places. The legal drinking age in British Columbia is 19, although some upscale clubs ask that patrons be at least 23.

For events information, pick up a copy of the free Georgia Straight (available at cafés and bookstores around town) or look in the entertainment section of the Vancouver Sun (Thursday's paper has listings in the "Queue" section).