Canada Day is just a day and a half away! Have you made plans yet? Do you prefer to celebrate at home with friends and family, or get festive at a community-wide party? If you’re partial to the latter, here are 19 celebrations happening across Metro Vancouver.
John Lawson Park
Address: 17th Street, West Vancouver
Activities: organizers encourage you to don red and white for this afternoon picnic. Or if you’d rather, graze at one of the many food trucks that will be on site. Live music will take place on the Great Canadian Stage. Performances by Side One, West Vancouver Youth Band and The Pat Chessell Band. An official ceremony and singing of O Canada will take place at 6:50. Fireworks wrap up the evening at 10:30, and from this special vantage point attendees will be able to simultaneously view the Canada Place fireworks.
Time: 4:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Website: click here
Waterfront Park
Address: 200 Block West Esplanade, North Vancouver
Activities: a free afternoon celebration hosted by the Lions Gate Rotary Club welcomes families to enjoy a variety of activities. There will be an artisan craft market, bounce castle, mini putt, balloon artists, a rock climbing wall, stilt walkers and performers. Food trucks and vendors will be on site. Main stage performances will start at 11:50 a.m. and run through 4:00 p.m. Some highlights will include The Day Trippers and Mostly Marley, paying homage respectively to the Beatles and reggae. Click here for a full line up.
Time: 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Website: northvancanadaday.com
Canada Place
Address: 999 Canada Place, Vancouver
Activities: the largest Canada Day celebration outside of the nation’s capital presents 13 hours of free, family-friendly entertainment. Performances by Hannah Georgas, Tim Chaisson, Don Amero, and Rumba Calzada. (Just to name a few!) Learn about the Canadian Armed Forces and the Port of Metro Vancouver. Drop by Salty’s Fun Zone for a game of street hockey or take in a Vancouver Circus Show. The Canada Day Parade kicks off at 7 p.m. and the Coast Capital Savings Fireworks start at 10:30 p.m.
Time: 10 a.m. – 10:30 p.m.
Schedule of events: click here
Website: canadaday.canadaplace.ca
Granville Island
Address: 1661 Duranleau Street, Vancouver
Activities: bring the kids and immerse yourself in the infectious hubbub of Granville Island. This year’s celebration will include a parade, Canada Day ceremony, live music, workshops and crafts. Many activities are free, see event schedule below for a full line up of entertainment.
Time: 7 a.m. – midnight
Schedule of events: click here
Website: granvilleisland.com/canada-day
Run Canada Day
Address: 3378 Wesbrook Mall, UBC, Vancouver
Activities: runners will wind through Wesbrook Village and Pacific Spirit Park in 1km, 5km or 10km races. Canada Day festivities for the kids will include a bouncy castle, face painting, balloon artists, kid’s crafts, soccer, badminton and mad science. Teens and adults will enjoy Zumba and hip hop workshops. Live music provided by the Cypress Street Band. Hot dogs ($2) and birthday cake will be served during the afternoon. All activities (apart from runner registration) are free or by donation. Proceeds go to the Canadian Diabetes Association.
Time: 9:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Website: wesbrookvillage.com
Swangard Stadium
Address: 3883 Imperial Street, Burnaby (Kingsway & Boundary)
Activities: a free concert featuring Mostly Marley, and rock and roll headliners 54-40 and guests Jon & Roy. The performance starts at 6:30 p.m. and runs through 10 p.m. Fireworks will round out the evening, commencing shortly after dusk. Other activities include face painting, and community vendors offering games, prizes and giveaways.
Time: 5 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.
Website: click here
Edmonds Park
Address: 7433 Edmonds Street, Burnaby
Activities: a family-friendly affair, bring the kids down for face painting, arts and crafts, and a performance by Canada’s beloved children’s performer, Charlotte Diamond. There will be birthday cake, multi-cultural performances and bingo. All activities are free.
Time: 11 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Website: click here
Burnaby Village Museum
Address: 6501 Deer Lake Ave, Burnaby
Activities: take in the festive atmosphere against the 1920s backdrop of the Burnaby Village Museum. Activities to include a full schedule of live entertainment from music to magic (see link below), plenty of displays and demonstrations, and face painting. Catch some multi-cultural performances and admire the vintage cars on display. Don’t miss a photo opportunity with Captain and Mrs. Canada!
Time: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Website & schedule of events: click here
New Westminster
Address: 1 street 3 Avenue New Westminster
Activities: festivities begin in the late morning (kudos New Westminster!) in Queen’s Park. Community booths, a ‘Pick-a-Box’ auction and live entertainment are all on the agenda. After dusk a fireworks show will illuminate the skies over the Fraser River.
Time: 11:30 a.m. -3:30 p.m.
Website: click here
Memorial Peace Park
Address: 11900 224 Street, Maple Ridge
Activities: attendees celebrating Canada Day at Memorial Peace Park have a myriad of activities to participate in! There will be a summer market, geocaching, Haney Farmers Market, demonstrations, crafts, mini golf, balloon art, ball hockey, face painting, giveaways and a multi-cultural food fair. Dress in your most Canadian attire and enjoy the festivities! Entertainment on the main stage will feature The Crayons, The Road Dogs and The Johnson Brothers. An official ceremony and the singing of O Canada will take place at 12:30 p.m.
Time: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Website: click here
Celebrate our Community Heroes
Address: Port Moody Station Museum, 2734 Murray Street, Port Moody
Activities: this celebration will host over 20 cultural displays, kids crafts, WWI trench exploration and a concession. Ceremony to start at 10 a.m., followed by afternoon demonstrations and live performances.
Time: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Website: click here
Steveston Village Salmon Festival
Address: 4111 Moncton Street, Richmond
Activities: this year marks the 70th anniversary of the Salmon Festival, which is held annually on Canada Day. It is very well attended (think 70,000 festival-goers!) and it all kicks off with a parade through historic Steveston. Expect over 100 floats to participate, marching bands, vintage cars, politicians and more. A craft fair, children’s festival, Japanese Cultural Show, and art exhibition are all part of the fun. It would be a crime to attend the festival without sampling at least a few bites of the 1,200 lbs of fresh Salmon that will be barbecued.
Time: 6:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Website: click here
Chalmer’s Park
Address: 11400 76A Avenue, North Delta
Activities: bring the entire family down for this free annual event. There will be plenty of crafts and games for the kids, food vendors and live music. Performances by Will Stroet & The Backyard Band and the March Hare Band. The Official Ceremony will start at 6:00 p.m. and fireworks will start after 10.
Time: 5:30 p.m. – 10:45 p.m.
Website: delta.ca/calendar/canada-day
Diefenbaker Park
Address: 5579 1 Ave, Delta
Activities: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Time: this annual Canada Day celebration is hosted by the Tsawwassen Boundary Bay Lions. They will be serving free hot dogs and drinks, along with face painting and live entertainment. There will be an Official Ceremony and cake cutting at 1 p.m.
Website: tbblions.ca/canada-day-celebrations
Pancake Breakfast, Delta Museum
Address: 4858 Delta Street, Ladner
Time: 9 a.m. – noon
Activities: live musical entertainment, street performers, family activities, and a Canada-flag cake.
Website: click here
Kirkland House, Ladner
Address: 4140 Arthur Drive, Ladner
Activities: Kirkland House is a 100 year old Edwardian farm house – could there be a more ‘good old fashioned’ setting to celebrate our nation’s birthday in? The celebration being hosted is a family-friendly Canada Day party featuring live music, activities, food, rides and races. Take the opportunity to get a closer look at the antique tractors, spinners and weavers that will be on display.
Time: 12 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Website: kirklandhouse.ca/special-events
City of Surrey Canada Day
Address: Bill Reid Millennium Amphitheatre, 176 Street & 64th Avenue, Surrey
Activities: this festive celebration is one of Western Canada’s largest, and with so much to do and see, it’s little surprise. There will be a sports zone, puppets and storytelling for the kids, amusement park style rides, a photo booth and food concessions. Live performances run throughout the day on the main stage (see the line up here) with country rock headliners Blue Rodeo performing at 9:00 p.m. A spectacular fireworks show will end the night.
Time: 10 a.m. – 10:30 p.m.
Website: click here
Willoughby Community Park
Address: 78b Ave, Langley
Activities: a wide variety of activities will keep tots through grandparents entertained. What all is on the agenda? A car show, food fair, dog show, pony rides, kids activities and rides. A main stage will host live performances and the evening will finish with a fireworks display. Parking and entrance is by donation while activities range from free to ‘a bargain’.
Time: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Website: langleycanadaday.ca
Canada Day by the Bay
Address: 14970 Marine Drive, White Rock
Activities: if you’re looking for an all day affair, White Rock’s Canada Day by the Bay is a marathon day of live music, celebrations and festivities. The kids will keep busy in the South Surrey Smiles East Beach Kid Zone while both the East and West Beach Promenades will host artisan markets. The White Rock Museum & Archives will open its doors, offering old fashion fun to modern families. Live entertainment on The Re/Max Main Stage will kick off at 10:15 a.m. and will only take pause for opening ceremonies (noon) and a short evening intermission. Otherwise, it’s local talent, indie bands and talented headliner Daniel Wesley performing from morning til night. A fireworks display will bring the day to a close.
Time: 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Website & schedule of events: click here
Townsend Park
Address: 45130 Wolfe Rd, Chilliwack
Activities: this year’s celebrations will be a new program. The day will kick off with a Kiwanis pancake breakfast at Evergreen Hall. Festival-goers are then encouraged to spend Canada Day with family and return later to Townsend Park for 5 p.m. Bring your own picnic or visit one of the many food trucks that will be on site. Opening remarks will start at 5:45 on the Chances Entertainment Stage, followed by the singing of O Canada by ten year old Maya Earl. Live music to follow, see link below for the full line up. A fireworks display will end the evening, accompanied by a 25 piece Wind Ensemble that will perform during the show.
Time: 8 a.m.; 5- 10:30 p.m.
Website: click here
Abbotsford Exhibition Park
Address: 32470 Haida Dr, Abbotsford
Activities: a full day of family fun, kicking off with a pancake breakfast. A parade starts at 11 a.m., while the bulk of the day’s activities start at 1 p.m. There will be multiple play zones (sports, noise, fitness, building, quiet, sand, art and water), and birthday cake will be cut at 3 p.m. Evening will see a talent show (Abbotsford Idol), hot air balloon rides and a Canada Day Ceremony. At 9 p.m. Karen Lee Batten will take the stage, and the day will wrap up with a fireworks display shortly after sun down.
Time: 9 a.m. – 10:30 p.m.
Website: click here
