Canada Day parades, fireworks and other July 1st events happen in Vancouver, Steveston Village, North Vancouver and other locations.

More top venues include Vancouver’s Canada Place, West Vancouver’s John Lawson Park, Surrey‘s Bill Reid Millennium Amphitheatre, Coquitlam’s Lafarge Lake, and the list goes on.

JULY 2ND & 3RD EVENTS

Canada Day might be over, but more events take place on the Saturday and Sunday of the July Long Weekend in 2022. On the Saturday and Sunday of July 2nd and 3rd there is the Taiwanese Canadian Cultural Festival in downtown Vancouver and the Royal Canadian Circus in Richmond. Also still happening are Golden Spike Days in Port Moody and the Vancouver International Jazz Festival.

See our article about What’s Happening This Weekend to learn more.

This article contains information about July 1st events in the following locations:

Canada Day Events in Greater Vancouver

Canada Day takes place on July 1st each year. On that date, throughout the Lower Mainland, there are celebrations of all kinds. There are pancake breakfasts, parades, live entertainment and fireworks.

To learn about all Canada Day events and activities in Metro Vancouver, see below. For information about where to see fireworks, in years when they are allowed to take place, click July 1st Fireworks.

Canada Day in North Vancouver

In past years (pre-COVID) in North Vancouver on July 1st there have been a parade and pancake breakfast in the morning and a festival at Waterfront Park in the afternoon. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Canada Day celebrations mostly took place online in 2020 and 2021.

In 2022 Canada Day celebrations in North Vancouver are happening in-person once again. The main event takes place at a different location this year, and there is no pancake breakfast or parade. The festivities this year, however, will be as big or bigger than they have ever been before! It’ll be so much fun!

The North Shore’s 2022 Canada Day celebrations are held at the Shipyards. The event runs from 12:00 to 10:00 pm and features family-friendly activities and live entertainment.

If you plan to be on the North Shore on July 1st and want to celebrate Canada’s birthday, then the Shipyards is the place to be! It’ll also be worth travelling to from elsewhere in the Lower Mainland.

Click North Vancouver Canada Day Celebrations for more information.

Canada Day at Canada Place

The area around Canada Place in downtown Vancouver is without a doubt one of the best (and busiest) places to be on July 1st. At least that’s the case most years.

The event at Canada Place used to be the second largest Canada Day celebration on the planet, next only to those in Ottawa, Canada’s capital. In a typical year there are live performances at Canada Place for much of the day, and thousands of people.

The event didn’t happen in 2020 and in 2021 celebrations happened in a virtual format. In 2022 the event returns with in-person activities at Canada Place. “Canada Together” runs from 11:00 am until 6:00 pm on July 1st. The theme is “Weaving together the fabric of a nation” this year. There is plenty of live entertainment, food trucks and activities to enjoy. Performers include Johnny Reid, The Boom Booms, Omega Mighty, and many more.

Unfortunately, there are no fireworks displays at the 2022 event at Canada Place.

For details about what happens around Canada Place on July 1st, see our article about Canada Place on Canada Day.

TAIWANESE FESTIVAL ON CANADA DAY WEEKEND

In 2022 a festival celebrating Taiwanese culture takes place on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the Canada Day long weekend in downtown Vancouver. There are free outdoor performances and films, along with an art exhibition and more. This year’s festival also features three ticketed concerts to enjoy.

See our article about the Taiwanese Canadian Cultural Festival for more details.

Canada Day at Granville Island

The area around Canada Place isn’t the only neighbourhood within the City of Vancouver where you’ll find free things to see and do on July 1st.

The Vancouver International Jazz Festival takes place during the week or so leading up to the July long weekend. Free Jazz concerts take place at Granville Island on various days during the festival, but especially so on July 1st itself. There are also street performers and various family-friendly activities.

The July 1st parade isn’t happening in 2022, however, like the last couple years. There are still a few Jazz Festival performances though. Check out our article about Free Jazz Festival Concerts to see when they are taking place.

To learn more see our article about Granville Island on Canada Day.

Vancouver Boat Parties

Vancouver Boat Parties is a company that offers nightclub-style events on party boats at different times of the year. In 2022 they have three events happening on Friday, July 1st. Two of the events take place at night. The third has a Latin theme and it starts in the afternoon and finishes in the early evening.

The Canada Day Yacht Party takes place on the Magic Charm yacht from 8:00 pm until midnight. The Canada Day Boat Party, meanwhile, is on the Burrard Queen during the same time. A third event is the Vancouver Latin Boat Party which happens on the Burrard Queen from 3:00 until 7:00 pm. All three events are for people ages 19+.

To learn more see our article about Vancouver Boat Parties or visit vancouverboatparties.com.

Canada Day in Abbotsford

Abbotsford’s 2020 Canada Day celebrations were held virtually due to the coronavirus outbreak. In 2021, celebrations took place in a drive-thru format. In 2022 the Abbotsford event returns to its normal format.

In-person celebrations on July 1st this year include a parade, outdoor concerts, festival activities and fireworks at Abbotsford Exhibition Park. The parade starts at 11:00 am. The festival runs from 1:00 until 10:00 pm and the fireworks blast off at 10 o’clock.

Click Canada Day in Abbotsford for details.

Canada Day in Burnaby

Canada Day festivities in Burnaby usually take place at Burnaby Village Museum, Edmonds Community Centre and Swangard Stadium.

The Burnaby Village event runs from 11:00 am to 4:30 pm this year. It’s both educational and fun, especially for families and children. Smaller and fairly simple kid-friendly celebrations also take place at 7433 Edmonds Street between 11:00 am and 2:30 pm.

In 2022, there are also free concerts and other activities in and around Central Park from 7:00 to 10:15 pm. The night concludes with fireworks this year.

See Canada Day in Burnaby for more details on activities at each venue.

JULY 1ST BOAT PARTIES

An extra fun way to celebrate Canada Day is on a boat party cruise. A number of them happen on July 1st in 2022. There is also a Latin-themed one that’s part of Carnaval del Sol’s Latin American Experience series of events on July 2nd. See our article about Canada Day Boat Parties for details.

Canada Day in Coquitlam

In 2022, Coquitlam’s Canada Day event returns with in-person celebrations. Festivities take place at Town Centre Park not far from the Lafarge Lake – Douglas SkyTrain Station. They run from 12:00 until about 10:30 pm. The free family-friendly celebrations in Coquitlam include food trucks, outdoor concerts and evening fireworks.

Click Coquitlam on Canada Day for more information about the event.

Canada Day in Langley

The Township of Langley’s main July 1st celebrations normally happen in Fort Langley. Festivities still happen there, to a degree, but, as of 2022, the town’s main event has moved to Aldergrove Athletic Park.

This year, at the new location, activities run from 11:00 am until 6:00 pm. They include bouncy castles, a balloon animal station, food trucks and community information booths. The entertainment also features dancing, live music, a magician and puppeteering.

In Fort Langley, meanwhile, a few activities happen at the BC Farm Museum. Canada Day is also recognized at the Fort Langley Historic Site where admission is free for the day. The festivities in the village, and at the fort, however, are not as extensive as they used to be pre-pandemic.

To learn more about the above events see our articles about Canada Day in Langley and Canada Day in Fort Langley.

Canada Day in Maple Ridge

July 1st celebrations at the Memorial Peace Park usually run from 12:00 in the afternoon until 6:00 pm.

Things to enjoy at the free event usually include the farmers market, pony rides and community barbecue. There is also live music, a Canada Day Flyover and family-friendly games.

In 2020 the celebrations took place online. In 2021, a drive-thru “Cross Country Road Trip” happened at the Albion Fairgrounds and Sports Complex. Celebrations return to Memorial Peace Park in 2022.

For details about the Canada Day celebrations click Maple Ridge on Canada Day.

Canada Day in Mission

Canada Day festivities usually take place in Mission at Fraser River Heritage Park on July 1st. Activities there typically include a pancake breakfast, yoga, live music, dog agility demonstrations and all kinds of other fun things.

In years when the live events are all able to run, at 8:30 pm admission to Mission Raceway Park is free. That’s where the fireworks take place starting at 10:00 pm (but not in 2022).

This year the celebrations return to Fraser River Heritage Park on July 1st. They run from 8:00 am until 3:00 pm.

Click Canada Day in Mission for more information about what happens on July 1st.

Canada Day in New Westminster

New Westminster usually has a few different events taking place on July 1st. All 2020 Canada Day events in the city were cancelled. Canada Day 2021 was also smaller-scale in New Westminster compared to normal years. Celebrations in 2022 are similar to 2021, although there are more things to do. Activities on offer include yoga, the New West Farmers Market, free concerts in local parks and a variety of workshops at different locations.

In 2022 a number of events and activities happen on July 1st. There are outdoor concerts at Ryall Park and Westminster Pier Park. There is also Yoga in the Park at the Queen’s Park Bandshell.

Click Canada Day in New Westminster for further details about this city’s July 1st events.

Canada Day in Port Moody

Port Moody’s Canada Day festivities are actually part of the community’s larger Golden Spike Days festival that takes place over four days during the July long weekend each year.

In 2022 Golden Spike Days returns with in-person celebrations at Rocky Point Park from June 30th until July 3rd. On Canada Day the event runs from 10:00 am until 10:00 pm. Expect to see live performances, food trucks and more.

See our article about Port Moody’s Golden Spike Days for more information.

Canada Day in Port Coquitlam

Canada Day in Port Coquitlam begins with a pancake breakfast and finishes with fireworks. In between there is a fishing derby and live performances.

To learn more about this event see our article about Canada Day in Port Coquitlam.

Canada Day in Squamish

Squamish used to celebrate Canada Day with a parade, community festival and live music. In some years (but not all) there have also been fireworks.

Due to a combination of budget cutbacks and health concerns about the coronavirus, July 1st celebrations in Squamish didn’t happen in 2020. The event also didn’t happen in 2021, and there doesn’t appear to be a parade or anything major happening in town in 2022 either. That being said, Canada Day celebrations are taking place just down the way this year at the Britannia Mine Museum. There are also festivities in Whistler.

Click Canada Day in Squamish for more details about this community’s typical July 1st activities. To find out what’s happening at the museum 15 minutes out of town, see our article about Britannia Mine.

Steveston Village Salmon Festival

One of the best times to visit historic Steveston Village in Richmond is on Canada Day when the community attracts up to 70,000 people to its Salmon Festival. The event features a pancake breakfast, parade, Japanese cultural fair, craft fair, music concerts and a world famous salmon BBQ.

In 2021, the celebrations took place in a different format from usual. Most festivities were available online, including a digital parade, virtual performances and more.

The Salmon Festival returns in 2022 with things to do in-person throughout the community. The event runs from 10:00 am until 4:00 pm on July 1st. There is no parade this year, but there are interesting demonstrations, storytelling, live music, exhibitions and more.

Check out the Steveston Salmon Festival for more information.

Steveston Village Canada Day Parade — Canada Day Parade in Steveston Village

Canada Day in Surrey

Some of the largest Canada Day festivities in the Lower Mainland usually take place at the Bill Reid Millennium Amphitheatre in Surrey. The big event returns with in-person activities in 2022. As with most other top Canada Day festival venues, admission is free.

Unlike most other Canada Day events, at the Surrey event there are usually amusement rides. This is the case again in 2022. In addition to all the midway rides, games and food vendors, the Surrey Canada Day event also features live music concerts throughout the day. The celebrations finish with fireworks at about 10:15 pm.

For more information about this city’s July 1st celebrations, check out Surrey Canada Day Festivities.

Canada Day Festival Grounds — Canada Day in Surrey

Canada Day in West Vancouver

In years when events aren’t cancelled due to pandemics, West Vancouver hosts its Canada Day celebrations at John Lawson Park. The event usually runs from mid-afternoon until the end of the fireworks at night (although not in 2022). At this community event participants bring their lawn chairs and picnic dinners and enjoy a variety of live entertainment performances.

In 2022 West Vancouver’s Canada Day event runs from 4:30 until 9:00 pm. It includes performances by the West Vancouver Youth Band, S’pakwas Slolem Eagle Song Dancers and the band Side One.

For more information about what normally happens on July 1st in this community see our article about West Vancouver on Canada Day.

Canada Day in Whistler

Less than a two-hour drive from Vancouver, more fabulous Canada Day celebrations usually take place up at Whistler.

The in-person Canada Day celebrations in Whistler were cancelled for 2020 due to COVID-19. Whistler announced that the city would run virtual celebrations on July 1st instead. 2021 was a partial return to normalcy.

In 2022 there are more things to do on July 1st. Celebrations include a pancake breakfast, free yoga class, and a parade where guests walk to different stations in the village. There’s also a free outdoor concert in the evening headlined by Sam Roberts Band.

Some attractions like the Squamish Lil’Wat Cultural Centre and Whistler Museum offer free admission on Canada Day.

For more information about July 1st events in this community, see our article about Whistler on the Canada Day Weekend.

Whistler Village on Canada Day — Canada Day in Whistler

Canada Day in White Rock

Canada Day by the Bay celebrations happened virtually in 2021. Folks could enjoy the event from home on YouTube and Facebook.

In 2022 the event returns with in-person activities at West Beach. The celebrations happen from 12:00 to 10:00 pm this year and include live entertainment, local vendors and a barbeque.

Click White Rock on July 1st for more information.