This year, Canada Day falls on the holiday Monday, and there are a ton of fun events happening around Metro Vancouver and the lower mainland to celebrate. So, whether you want to stick around town or venture a bit off the grid, the following list has you covered.
Metro Vancouver:
Canada Place
For the ultimate Canada Day experience, head to Canada Place where celebrations begin at 9:30 am on Monday. Spend the day enjoying the live entertainment, a kids zone, food trucks and exhibits and then cap your night off with a fireworks extravaganza at 10:30 pm. Visit canadaplace.ca/events/canada-day and canadaplace.ca/events/canada-day/fireworks for event details.
Granville Island
Granville Island is always a great place to take the family for Canada Day. So many fun activities to do – so little time! Get there early and spend the day watching live performers and entertainers, watching the parade, visiting the local food vendors (including a lobster cookout), participating in a dragon boat ride or a puppet show and much more. Visit granvilleisland.com for event details.
Commercial Drive
If you’re looking for a more unique Canada Day celebration, head on down to Grandview Park on “the drive” in East Vancouver. From 12-3 pm there will be a ton of local flavour with the addition of live entertainment including wonderful Indigenous performances, fresh barbeque, face painting, kids’ activities and tons of community participation. The theme this year is “grateful to live here” – and yes, we are. Check out britanniacentre.org for more information.
Pacific Spirit Park
Head over to Vancouver’s west side and join in a Canada Day run! You can choose a 5K or 10K run or, for kids and seniors, a 1K run or walk. Afterwards, hang out in UBC’s Wesbrook Village for snacks, refreshments and a celebratory cake – you earned it! Visit runcanadaday.com for run and event details.
Sunset Community Centre
If you’re looking for a Canada Day event in south Vancouver, the Sunset Community Centre has a great family-friendly event including carnival rides, food, games, treats, entertainment and more. Visit mysunset.net for more info.
Events Outside Metro Vancouver:
Burnaby Village Museum
Get a historical perspective of Canada Day at the Burnaby Village Museum. Featuring a 1920s backdrop, this educational celebration offers a ton of fun, from roaming characters and face painting, to informative demonstrations and live photo stops. And of course, no celebration would be complete without a ride (or two) on their famous carousel. Visit burnabyvillagemuseum.ca for all the details.
Steveston
Celebrating the community’s rich heritage, the Steveston Canada Day celebration brings out more than 80,000 people annually and doesn’t disappoint. Featuring a huge fireworks finale, multiple stages and entertainment acts, food, games and more, this celebration is one of the best outside of the downtown core. Go to stevestonsalmonfest.ca for information.
Surrey
Another huge celebration, the Surrey Canada Day celebration this year features major entertainment acts, Biff Naked and Our Lady Peace. A favourite for kids, there are amusement rides, giveaways, and for the kids swing by Kid’s World, Toddler Town and Sports Zone – all geared toward providing you and your family with a birthday party like none other. Visit surrey.ca/canadaday for more info on venue and attractions.
Fort Langley
Start off with a celebratory pancake breakfast and then go from there! Featuring all kinds of entertainment from kid-themed performers to highland dancers, beading and juggling workshops, a magic show and birthday cake, Fort Langley is bringing their best this year. Go to celebratecanadaday.ca for more details.
Port Moody
Famous for its view, Rocky Point Park in Port Moody is bringing Canadians a fantastic array of festivities this Canada Day. Slide into Canada Day on the giant inflatable slide, watch the ceremonies and then partake in a community art project to the beat of live entertainment all day long. Check out calendar.portmoody.ca for more information.
Port Coquitlam
Head over to Poco’s Castle Park for a pancake breakfast, all day entertainment and a salmon BBQ served up by the local firefighters. The Grande finale (other than the adult beer garden) is a fireworks pyro-musical show featuring the music of all female Canadian artists. Go to portcoquitlam.ca for details.
Pitt Meadows
A little city that brings it big, Pitt Meadows starts your Canada Day with a pancake breakfast and then continues with pony rides, a car show, live entertainment a local artisan market a kid zone and more. See pittmeadows.ca for more details.
Abbotsford
If you’re looking to celebrate out in the valley, the city of Abbotsford Canada Day celebration is the place to be. Featuring a parade, food trucks, all day entertainment including live music, pony and hay rides and mini golf, you’ll have enough fun to last you ‘till next year. Go to abbotsford.ca for more event details.
Celebrating the birth of our great country is a great way to connect with the community, including our neighbours as well as Canadians from all over. Have some fun with your family this year while you learn more about our nation and indulge in all the greatness this country has to offer – and Canadians know how to throw a party!
Tagged under: Canada day,Vancouver,Canada Day activities in Vancouver,best canada day activities for families in Vancouver
Category: events
