A Fall Trip Means Tasty Treats, Festivities, and Exciting Wildlife in Richmond, BC

Autumn in Richmond, BC, is a special time. The Pacific Northwest puts on a stunning show when the leaves turn, and coastal Richmond, just south of Vancouver, helps set the stage.

But beyond beautiful leaf-peeping sites and cameos from migrating wildlife, Richmond’s post-summer season centers on people. Throughout the fall, Halloween and Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations breathe extra life into an already lively city. Bakery and restaurant owners spice up their menus with drinks and desserts inspired by the season’s bounty, and the city’s robust Asian food scene means you’re never far from a warming meal.

From bites and pours that embrace the harvest season to events and activities that only come around once a year, here’s how to do a fall visit to Richmond right.

Sample all the seasonal treats…

Photo: Tourism Richmond

When it comes to fall flavours, pumpkin immediately springs to mind, from everyone’s favorite seasonal coffee drink to a wide range of indulgent desserts. In Richmond, get your fix at Little Fox Bakehouse, purveyor of fantastic pumpkin pie tarts, or head to the Korean-Chinese shop Rice Cake Master for pumpkin mochi.

Of course, local bakeries also make use of other autumnal produce. One fine example is Daan Go Cake Lab, which tends to take advantage of the fall chestnut harvest to make a killer Mont Blanc. The bakery’s take on the classic French dessert also incorporates flavors like yuzu and coffee for a little something extra.

In the world of drinkables, Richmond is part of the South of the Fraser Ale Trail. That means the city has plenty of spots where you can enjoy a fall-themed pint, from local breweries to gastropubs. Head to Fuggles Beer or Britannia Brewing for some locally brewed stouts and Oktoberfest ales. And local Country Vines Winery releases a Psycho-themed Psyrah that’s a perfect addition to any spooky Halloween festivities.

…and slurp down the ultimate comfort foods.

Photo: Tourism Richmond

It stands to reason that a city with its own Dumpling Trail has a large and exceptional Asian culinary scene. And as the weather starts to cool down, you’ll want to turn your attention to dishes that warm both your body and soul — yes, we’re talking steamy hot pots and hearty noodle soups.

There’s certainly no shortage of hot pots in Richmond, starting with big chains like Liuyishou and HaiDiLao that have locations here. The Dolar Shop specializes in individual-sized hot pot, which is perfect for solo travelers or groups that can’t agree on what broth they want.

Richmond’s noodle soup options are just as extensive, whether you’re craving Taiwanese beef noodle soup (try Memory Corner or Uno Beef Noodle), ramen (head to G-men Ramen), or pho (drop by Pho 37). You can also get an immunity boost with the Chinese herbal chicken soup at Sang’s Kitchen.

Celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival…

Photo: Michaelnero/Shutterstock

Approximately three-quarters of Richmond’s population is Asian, with about half being of Chinese descent. That means the Mid-Autumn Festival, a harvest celebration observed in a number of Asian cultures, is a big deal in Richmond.

In the fall of 2024, there will be a Mid-Autumn celebration at Minoru Park held by Richmond’s community Gateway Theatre. Festivities include lantern-crafting sessions and a moonlit concert. Britannia Shipyards, a national historic site where Chinese workers lived and labored in the early 1900s, is also commemorating the festival with a lantern-crafting activity in the old Chinese bunkhouse. Elsewhere in Richmond, you can join the annual Mid-Autumn festivities at Asian malls like Lansdowne Centre and Aberdeen Centre.

Eating traditional Chinese baked goods called mooncakes is another major part of the Mid-Autumn Festival. There are a number of Asian bakeries around Richmond that sell mooncakes this time of year, including Kam Do Bakery and L’OTUS Cake Boutique (otherwise known for its excellent mille crepe cakes). At Shanghainese dim sum spot Suhang Restaurant, you can even try special savoury mooncakes — just be sure to call ahead, as they’re made-to-order.

…and have a Richmond-style Halloween.

Photo: Sarmiento Photography/Shutterstock

Halloween in Richmond is an all-ages affair, and one perennial highlight is the Richmond Country Farms pumpkin patch. In addition to a hay wagon ride to the pumpkin fields, the family-owned farm typically sets up fun activities like corn mazes, live music, and food trucks.

If you’re in Richmond on Halloween, stop by Minoru Arenas for some Halloween-theme skating (costumes encouraged) or head to the charming and historic Steveston Village community. The village goes all out with Halloween displays, local shops invite kids to trick or treat, and there’s a free fireworks show in Minoru Park. For something unique, you can also swing by the Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site‘s Haunted Sea event to see a spooky display mixed with educational materials about ocean conservation.

There’s even an opportunity for costumed fun if you’re traveling to Richmond in September: the Big Pirate Run. This community run encourages participants to don pirate gear and choose their own pirate names to raise funds for the Richmond Food Bank Society. It’s not a Halloween event, but it’s a festive good time for a good cause.

Don’t forget to keep an eye out for wildlife.

Photo: Simon Ratcliffe/Tourism Richmond

The change of seasons also means a change in wildlife around Richmond. For one, migratory birds start to arrive in the area. British Columbia is on the Pacific Flyway — the north-south migration route that stretches from Alaska to South America — which means turkey vultures, trumpeter swans, warblers, and more can be spotted around Richmond this time of year.

Iona Beach Regional Park is a great place to go birding thanks to its different habitats, ranging from sand dunes to wetlands. Another birding hotspot is Garry Point Park, where you can find snow geese, herons, American robins, and more. Bald eagles also come to the area in the fall to feed, as it’s the start of salmon-spawning season…which brings us to the other wildlife highlight that begins in early fall: the salmon run.

During the annual salmon migration, adult salmon return from the ocean to the river, swimming upstream to their birthplace where they’ll spawn and die. Garry Point Park, located at the mouth of the Fraser River, is a great place to observe this phenomenon. Go in early fall (September-October) to catch the height of the salmon run.

In a year-round destination like Richmond, it’s hard to nominate a best season — but fall is a serious contender. Whether you prefer to eat your way across town, get festive at citywide celebrations, or spot the autumn wildlife, you’re gonna want to be there.