The Fair at the PNE, Vancouver, British Columbia. Runs through Labor Day!Labor Day isn’t unique to the USA; our neighbors to the north are celebrating their Labour Day on Monday, September 1st as well. And Bumbershoot or The Evergreen State Fair are not the only major recreation opportunities open to you over this International Labo(u)r Day Weekend -the Fair at the PNE in Vancouver B.C. has been going strong since August 16th, and runs daily the rest of this week and through the weekend, with September 1st the final day.

We went to the PNE almost every summer when I was a kid, and I remember one year when we went on the final day. The memories aren’t very clear, but they are big and bright: I had a good time, although it was a tad bittersweet since the long days of summer were coming to an end, and it was back to school for me and my siblings.

One thing does stand out clearly in my mind, though. That great black dragon of a roller coaster, built just four years before I was born, terrified me just to look up at it, let alone ride it. If Playland’s Corkscrew had been around back then, that would probably have scared me even more.

Speaking of which: if you’ve never been to the PNE’s Playland…well, you’re in for a treat. Or maybe a treatment, if you’re susceptible to motion sickness. Either way, your kids are gonna love it. [list/photos of Playland Rides]

  • When: Daily, now through September 1st. Official hours are stated as “11:00am until LATE!”
  • Admission: For complete information on admission, ride passes, etc., follow this link.

Border crossing information: In order for U.S. citizens to enter and exit Canada via land or water, they must present government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license as proof of identity, along with proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate (a certified copy of birth certificate is acceptable) or naturalization certificate, or a passport. Those of age 18 or under must also present birth certificate, naturalization certificate or a passport to enter the U.S.; verbal claims of citizenship are not acceptable and will make for a hassle at the border. For more information see cbp.gov.