Richmond Night Market holds a special place in Metro Vancouver summers. Neon lights reflect off foil trays. Smoke drifts over long rows of grills. Music carries across the river road corridor while thousands of people move in steady lines, clutching skewers, noodle bowls, and oversized cups. For many locals and visitors, a season does not feel complete without at least one late-night walk through its crowded lanes.
Tourism Richmond calls it the largest night market in North America. More than 200 food and retail stalls fill the grounds, and a new 600-foot zipline joined the lineup for the 25th season.
Attendance claims vary, though Tourism Richmond’s insider guide cites over 1 million visitors every year, a number that feels believable when peak weekends stretch wall to wall with people.
Everything below pulls together what helps first-time visitors and returning regulars shape a smooth night. Numbers and details follow official tourism guidance and regional reporting so that you can make plans with fewer surprises.
Quick Facts At A Glance
| Detail | What To Know |
| Location | 8351 River Rd, Richmond, BC, near River Rock Casino Resort and Bridgeport Station |
| Typical Season Window | Late April through mid-October, dates vary by year |
| Admission | General admission $7. Zoom Pass five entries $35. After 10:00 pm $5. Kids under 7 free. Seniors 60+ free |
| Hours Example | Fri, Sat, statutory Sundays 7:00 pm to 12:00 am. Sundays and statutory holidays 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm |
| Parking | On-site parking described as free but fills quickly |
| Transit | Canada Line to Bridgeport Station, about a 5-minute walk |
Dates, Season, And Hours
Knowing the season window and nightly operating hours helps shape arrival timing, transit plans, and how long a visit can comfortably run.
Example Season Listing For 2025
The season window is from April 25 to October 13, 2025. Regular hours appear as:
- Friday, Saturday, and statutory Sundays: 7:00 pm to 12:00 am
- Sunday and statutory holidays: 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm
Note: Weather can affect operating days and times.
Looking Ahead Toward 2026
A City of Richmond permit renewal story confirms that the market renewed its permit through 2026. Social profiles tied to the event also mention “Opens April 2026.” Social posts can lag behind operational updates, so treat that wording as a directional signal rather than a final calendar.
Tickets, Entry Types, And What Zoom Pass Means
There are several entry options:
- General admission: $7
- Zoom Pass five entries: $35
- Children under 7: free
- Seniors 60+: free
- After Dark admission after 10:00 pm: $5
When Zoom Pass Helps
We recommend Zoom Pass for express entrance. Groups planning multiple visits in a season often appreciate having transferable passes.
Arrival during peak hours brings long entry queues, so Zoom Pass can remove one of the slowest parts of the night.
Getting There
Getting to Richmond Night Market stays simple with SkyTrain, quick highway access, and a short walk that places the entrance within minutes of Bridgeport Station and River Road.
Address And Landmarks
The market sits at 8351 River Rd in Richmond, near the corner of No. 3 Road and River Road, beside River Rock Casino Resort.
By SkyTrain
Bridgeport Station on the Canada Line serves as the main transit gateway. The walk from the station to the market is about five minutes. Direct ride time from downtown Vancouver runs around 17 minutes.
By Car
On-site parking stays free but fills quickly, especially on weekends. Peak evenings can turn parking into a long search. Arrival early in the evening improves odds of finding space.
Parking Strategy That Saves Time
Finding a place to leave your car can shape the entire night, so having a clear parking plan keeps arrival calm and avoids losing time in crowded lots.
Option 1: On-Site Parking
- Free
- Fills quickly on busy nights
- Best for early arrivals or mobility needs
Option 2: Bridgeport Station Park And Ride
TransLink lists Bridgeport Station Park and Ride at 8888 River Road with 1,512 spaces and a $3 daily rate. Many visitors choose to park there and walk over.
A workable sequence
- Drive to Bridgeport Station Park and Ride.
- Park and pay the $3 daily rate.
- Walk to the market in about five minutes.
Money, Payments, And Realistic Budgeting
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Plan spending early since most vendors rely on cash, prices change booth by booth, and a simple budget keeps food sampling from turning into an accidental splurge.
Cash Matters
Most food and retail vendors only accept cash. Some accept cards, though cash remains the safer plan. ATMs operate on-site.
Happy Hour Pricing And Under-$10 Items
For the 25th season, vendors offer food under $10 and drinks under $7 throughout the evening as part of Happy Hour. Vancouver Magazine reports that vendors were required to offer at least one menu item priced at $10 or less.
A Budgeting Framework That Works
Prices change by booth and season, so budgeting works better through ranges:
- Solo sampler $25 to $35: 2 Happy Hour items and 1 drink, or 1 main, 1 snack, and 1 shared dessert
- Two-person split $60 to $80: 2 mains, 2 snacks, 1 drink each, 1 shared dessert
- Group of four $140 to $200: focus on shareable foods such as fries, skewers, noodles, then add one personal pick per person
Vancouver Magazine also advises mental preparation for a meaningful spend when sampling many booths.
Best Foods To Try And How To Choose
Food lineups rotate through the season. Instead of chasing booth names, build a night around categories, then pick stalls that look busy for good reasons, such as speed, smell, and repeat customers.
Here are the foods that commonly appear across the market ecosystem:
- Crab meat noodles
- BBQ squid
- Ramen
- Japanese poutine
- Brazilian pastries
- Sushi
- Afghan bolani
- Sausage in a waffle cone
A Practical First-Timer Hit List
Vancouver Magazine’s 2024 ranking list and 2025 budget experiment show which styles keep drawing attention.
1. Grilled And Smoky
BBQ squid skewers and seafood grills remain popular.
Why they work: fast cooking, strong aroma, easy to share.
2. Crunchy Fried Builds
Ramen donut-style builds and popcorn chicken variations appear frequently.
Why they work: simple walking food that handles sharing and photos.
3. Comfort Carbs For Cool Nights
Noodle bowls and poutine-style mashups, such as Japanese poutine.
Why they work: warm bowls help reset energy when evenings feel damp.
4. One Planned Sweet
Mango bao bun-style desserts and rotating sweets.
Why they work: dessert lines grow later in the night, so splitting earlier helps pacing.
Food Plan Table
| Category | What To Look For | Why It Is Worth It | Execution Tip |
| Skewers and grills | BBQ squid, seafood skewers | Big flavor, easy share | Split early while still hungry |
| Noodles and bowls | Crab meat noodles, ramen builds | Warm, filling | Eat mid-visit |
| Fried shareables | Popcorn chicken, specialty fries | Group-friendly | Order one per two people |
| Fusion items | Japanese poutine, sausage waffle cone | Signature night-market energy | Limit to one novelty |
| Dessert anchor | Mango dessert buns, rotating sweets | Smooth finish | Split and move on |
Zipline, Games, And Entertainment
The entertainment zone brings a steady pulse of movement and noise, mixing midway games, live-stage energy, and the 600-foot zipline that cuts across the grounds as one of the market’s newest draws.
Zipline Basics
This is a 600-foot zipline added for the 25th season. Ticket prices:
- Adults: $25, with a $20 first-month promo noted
- Children: $15 with restrictions
On-site reservation applies. Limited nightly spots remain available. Photo ID required for check-in.
Zipline Operating Hours
Operating hours vary by day type. Check the official zipline page close to a visit, since weather and capacity affect operations.
Timing Plans That Reduce Waiting
Vancouver Magazine suggests arriving before 6:30 pm or after 8:30 pm to reduce time spent in the entry queue.
A timing plan:
- 6:15 pm to 7:15 pm: arrive, get in line, walk the full loop without buying
- 7:15 pm to 8:15 pm: buy 1 main and 1 snack
- 8:15 pm to 9:30 pm: buy 2 shareable items
- After 10:00 pm: late arrivals can use After Dark admission and search for deals
Weather And Comfort Tips
Tourism Richmond’s tips include transit use, line preparation, layering, and checking official updates before heading out.
Additional comfort planning:
- Shoes that handle gravel, pavement, and puddles
- Hand wipes for finger foods
- Small tote for cash and napkins
- Ear comfort near stages
Families, Vegetarian Options, And Accessibility Basics
The market is family-friendly, and there are various vegetarian options across many stalls.
Family approach
- Enter earlier in the evening
- Buy one safe food first, then branch out
- Use dessert mid-visit as a morale reset
Sample Itineraries
Sample itineraries help shape a visit around time, appetite, and energy level so each night flows smoothly without standing in lines or overspending.
A 2-Hour First Visit Plan
-
- Arrive by Canada Line to Bridgeport Station.
- Walk over and do one full loop without buying.
- Buy one savory anchor such as noodles or poutine-style comfort.
- Buy one shareable snack.
- Split one dessert and head out.
A 4-Hour Food-Focused Plan
- Arrive early and consider Zoom Pass if multiple visits are planned.
- Target five shared food purchases for two people.
- Insert one warm bowl mid-visit.
- Try one novelty item and one classic street-food staple.
- Add zipline only if lines and weather allow.
FAQs
Summary
Richmond Night Market keeps its reputation through energy, volume, and variety. Crowds stay loud, lines stay long, and grills stay busy from opening night into early fall.
A little planning around transit, timing, and budgeting turns the chaos into a smooth and memorable evening.