Canada Day Concert in White Rock

Some of Metro Vancouver’s finest July 1st celebrations include the music, kids’ activities and fireworks at the Canada Day by the Bay event in White Rock.

Canada Day by the Bay

Canada Day by the Bay is an annual event in White Rock that takes place along the waterfront between 10:00 am and 10:30 pm on July 1st.

Highlights of the family-friendly celebrations include sandcastle-building competitions on the beach, a vendor market along the promenade, and free concerts and family-friendly activities all day, plus fireworks at dusk.

White Rock Canada Day Activities

The Canada Day festivities in White Rock are divided into a number of areas.

Concerts on the Main Stage

Live music takes place on the Budget Blinds Main Stage (which is in the Totem Park parking lot). Other years, the musical entertainment has been between 11 am and 10 pm, so we expect it to be similar this year.

Kids’ Zone Activities

A Kids Zone offers child-focused things to do, which has been at White Rock’s East Beach near where Marine Drive and Finlay Street meet in previous years. Activities there include live music, family sandcastle-building contests (historically from noon until 1 pm), crafts and a BBQ between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm. During the day there are also free family-friendly activities on the plaza just outside the museum.

Promenade Vendor Market

Along White Rock’s waterfront promenade there’s a market with over 80 vendors selling everything from Canada Day souvenirs to refreshments and artisan products of all kinds from 10:00 am until 4:00 pm.

Evening Fireworks

Canada Day by the Bay finishes after an evening of free outdoor concerts when the fireworks take off at around 10:15. They take place just east of the pier and places to watch from include anywhere along the waterfront.

Canada Day Schedule

Below is the Canada Day by the Bay entertainment schedule for 2019:

West Beach Community Stage

11:00 am – Music With Marnie
12:00 pm – XBa School of Dance
1:00 pm – PJ Talbot and his Rock Camp Bands
2:00 pm – Golden Glory Fitness & Martial Arts Academy
3:00 pm – Duniya Dance Academy

Budget Blinds Main Stage

12:00 pm – Group Asi Somos
1:00 pm – Opening Ceremonies
1:30 pm – Victoria Anthony
2:30 pm – Derby Town
3:30 pm – Alexis Lynn
4:30 pm – Richard Tichelman
5:30 pm – Groove Terminal
7:00 pm – 4 Quarter Band
8:00 pm – Daysormay
9:00 pm – Lovecoast

Ongoing events and activities also include the following:

Vendor Market – along the Promenade from 10:00 am until 4:00 pm
Kids Zone – balloon animals, face painting and a photo booth from 10:00 am until 4:00 pm
Food Trucks – from 11:00 am until 10:00 pm
Fire Department Charity Barbecue – from 11:00 am until 3:00 pm

Tips and Advice

Here are some suggestions on how to make the most of your time at the Canada Day by the Bay event:

TIP #1: If you plan to participate in the family sand-sculpture building contests, don’t forget your shovels and pails.

TIP #2: Take a lawn chair or blanket to sit on, a water bottle, your swim suit, towel, sunglasses, hat and lots of sunscreen. It can get hot at the beach!

TIP #3: Parking is going to be a huge challenge, so take public transit if you can (recognizing that White Rock isn’t terribly accessible without a car from other parts of the Lower Mainland). There is a free shuttle service to and from various locations within White Rock between 11:00 am and 11:00 pm, however, so if you do drive then parking close to the beach isn’t necessary.