Canada Day in Richmond is celebrated with the Steveston Salmon Festival which includes a pancake breakfast, parade and activities in Steveston Village.

Organizers of the 2020 Canada Day festivities in Steveston Village decided to cancel the event because of COVID-19. The festival returned in 2021, although in a modified format. 2022 was again different than most past years.

Canada Day takes place on July 1st which, in 2023, is on a Saturday.

Steveston Salmon Festival

The historic fishing town of Steveston Village is an interesting place to visit any time of year, but especially on July 1st during Richmond’s main Canada Day celebrations.

As many as 70,000 people turn out for the Salmon Festival each year to enjoy its many activities including a Japanese cultural fair and exhibits, car show, craft fair, music concerts and world-famous salmon BBQ.

The 2021 event was primarily online. There was a virtual parade at 10:00 am followed by a virtual stage with a series of pre-recorded videos. Both of these activities were accessible online. In 2021 there were also online salmon barbeque cooking demonstrations.

In 2022 the Steveston Salmon Festival featured in-person activities from June 25th to July 1st. The pre-Canada Day events included the Pacific Rim Kite Festival on June 25th and 26th. There was no big parade in 2022 either; rather, the July 1st events were split up into different festival “zones” around Steveston. Each of them contained its own events and entertainment to enjoy. 2023 details are to be confirmed.

Steveston Salmon Festival

In 2023 highlights of the Steveston Salmon Festival include the following:

Art Show – plenty of paintings and other pieces from local artists on display.
Horticulture Show – arrangements of beautiful flowers and more in the Steveston Community Centre’s multi-purpose room.
Japanese Cultural Show – there are traditional Japanese tea ceremonies and more.
Sammy’s Fun Zone – an area for the little ones including a mini waterpark.

In years past there have been fireworks launched from the waterfront at around 10:00 pm. At the time of writing, it’s unclear whether that or something similar takes place in 2023.

Girls in Steveston Parade — Canada Day Parade in Steveston Village

2022 Entertainment Lineup

The 2022 program for the Canada Day festivities in Steveston Village included the following stages and performers. Exact details were subject to change. The 2023 lineup will likely be comparable.

Britannia Pop-Up Stage

12:30 pm – Jana Seale
1:30 pm – Ranj Singh
2:30 pm – Jana Seale
3:15 pm – Ranj Singh

Cannery Stage

10:20 am – Blackthorn Blossoms
11:20 am – Paul Silveria
12:20 pm – Jocelyn Pettit & Ellen Gira
1:20 pm – Lola Parks
2:20 pm – ReeVay
3:20 pm – Beau Wheeler

Community Stage

10:00 am – Sweet Pan
11:00 am – Vancouver Okinawa Taiko
12:00 pm – Mikey Jose and The Bungalow
1:00 pm – Jasmine Bharucha
2:00 pm – Aaron Wong
3:00 pm – Warren Dean Flandez

Diamond Fair Stage

10:00 am – Chris Clute
11:00 am – Aaron Wong
12:00 pm – Victoria Groff
1:00 pm – Cassie B, Mayo Landicho and the CCIM Rising Stars
2:00 pm – Burnett Senior Concert Band
3:00 pm – Circus Stilters

East Tower

10:20 am – Jocelyn Pettit & Ellen Gira
11:20 am – Lola Parks
12:20 pm – Beau Wheeler
1:20 pm – Vancouver Okinawa Taiko
2:20 pm – Blackthorn Blossoms
3:20 pm – Sangre Morena

Forest Pop-Up

12:00 pm – Richmond Delta Youth Orchestra
1:00 pm – Thursday Thrillers – Wowk Elementary School
2:00 pm – Richmond Delta Youth Orchestra

Museum Stage

10:00 am – Rob Fillo
11:00 am – Beauty Shop Dolls
12:30 pm – Beauty Shop Dolls
2:00 pm – Paul Silveria
3:00 pm – Shawn Bullshields

Sammy’s Fun Zone Stage

10:00 am – Ginalina
11:00 am – Will’s Jams
12:00 pm – Elliot and Yuki
1:00 pm – Will’s Jams
2:00 pm – Adoremi
2:10 pm – Elliot and Yuki
3:00 pm – Marcato Youth Community Band

West Tower

10:00 am – ReeVay
11:00 am – DJ Miss Sparkles feat. #SparklesKrew
12:00 pm – Sweet Pan
1:00 pm – Sangre Morena
2:00 pm – What We Embrace
3:00 pm – Richmond Delta Youth Orchestra

Other performers who were either on stage or roving around the event included GO Taiko and Taiko 55, Harrison Lee, Lion Dancer, NZR Productions, Piper Mckenzie, Terrance Wang, and the Uzume Taiko Community Players.

Details for the 2023 Canada Day and Steveston Salmon Festival are to be announced in June.

Check out the Steveston Salmonfest website for more information about the 2022 lineup.

Tips and Advice

Below are some tips and suggestions to help you make the most of your Steveston Salmon Festival experience on Canada Day.

TIP #1: There are lots of interesting things to do and see in and around Steveston Village, so combine your time at the Canada Day celebrations with a visit to some of the historic sites in the neighbourhood. For more information on the village in general and what there is to see, click Steveston Village.

TIP #2: If you plan to attend the parade, get there well before 10:00 am if you hope to find parking anywhere near the town centre. Otherwise, and likely even if you do arrive early, have patience and prepare to walk a fair ways.

TIP #3: There is usually no charge for admission at Parks Canada locations on Canada Day. That means that on July 1st you can visit the Gulf of Georgia Cannery for free!