Golden Spike Days is a community event with live music and family-friendly activities at Port Moody‘s Rocky Point Park over the Canada Day Long Weekend.

The event likely happens from June 29th until July 2nd in 2023. Exact details, however, are to be confirmed.

Canada Day in Port Moody

Canada Day is usually celebrated in Port Moody with the four-day Golden Spike Days festival at Rocky Point Park which is located on the water at 2800 Murray Street.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Golden Spike Days was cancelled in 2020. The festival was going to return in a drive-through format in 2021. However, after the discovery of hundreds of children on the site of former residential schools, organizers decided to cancel the drive-through portion of the event.

Golden Spike Days

In 2022 Golden Spike Days took place from Thursday, June 30th, until Sunday, July 3rd. On the Thursday it ran from 3:00 pm to 10:00 pm. Then, on the holiday Friday and the Saturday, the festival ran from 10:00 am until 10:00 pm. The festival ended on the Sunday with celebrations from 10:00 am until 7:00 pm.

Musical acts at the festival in 2022 included Cease & Desist and Platinum Blonde.

Dates, times and details for the 2023 event are to be confirmed.

What to Expect

In normal years at Port Moody’s Canada Day Weekend event you can expect to enjoy a variety of styles of live music, sample tasty Food Truck treats, and enjoy a cool one at the beer garden.

At the event kids can enjoy Lego building, bouncy castles, and numerous unique and varied experiences.

Admission to Golden Spike Days is by donation with a minimum $5 suggested amount. Some of the activities may have a fee. Except for things like food and drink, however, most things are free!

Event Activities

In 2022 there were plenty of things to do at Golden Spike Days. The Wesgroup Family Zone featured lumberjack shows, gold panning, Lego building, bouncy castles and educational activities.

There are fitness sessions for all as well, including morning and evening yoga by Yoga Generation and RVN Wellness, plus fitness training by F45.

Everyone can also enjoy the Tri-Cities Got Talent performances and all the other live entertainment scheduled for the event each day.

Beer Garden and Food Vendors

The beer garden at Golden Spike Days features beverages by breweries such as Moody Ales, Twin Sails, Parkside Brewery and Yellow Dog, all of which are local to Port Moody. Beverage tickets in 2022 cost about $7 each and are for sale until 10:00 pm each night, with last call at 10:30 pm.

A number of food trucks and snack-food vendors are on site throughout the weekend. Items for sale include fresh lemonade, pretzels, mini donuts, and a variety of ethnic and North American festival-style foods.  Whether it is your main meal you are looking for, or just a snack or treat, you’ll find it here at Golden Spike Days.

Live Entertainment

Live entertainment at Golden Spike Days includes free concerts by some big name musicians like Platinum Blonde in 2022. It also includes performances by other great but lesser-known groups, plus dancers, lumberjacks and entertainers from the Tri-Cities Got Talent competition.

See below for the 2022 entertainment lineup on the festival’s main stage.

Saturday, July 2, 2022

• • 10:00 am – Early Morning Adult Yoga
  • 10:30 am – Can Can Dancers
  • 11:00 am – Laughing Loggers
  • 11:15 am – Family Fitness
  • 12:15 pm – Family Fitness
    
  • 12:30 pm – Tri Cities Got Talent
  • 2:20 pm – Laughing Loggers
  • 3:00 pm – Can Can Dancers
    
  • 4:40 pm – Laughing Loggers
  • 5:00 pm – Can Can Dancers
  • 5:00 pm – Evening Family Yoga
  • 6:00 pm – Evening Adult Yoga
  • 6:00 pm – Salsa

Tips and Advice

Below are some tips and suggestions to help you make the most of your experience at Golden Spike Days.

TIP # 1: Take a lawn chair or blanket to sit on.  Be prepared to carry it a fair ways though from your car.

TIP # 2: Arrive really early if you hope to find parking anywhere remotely near the venue.

TIP # 3: Don’t forget to take your sunscreen, sunglasses, hat and water bottle, especially if it’s hot and sunny.  If the tide is out, you might want to bring your shovel and pail too.

TIP # 4: If you have bicycles or want a nice walk, consider parking near the Port Moody Rec Centre and cycling or walking the trails back to Rocky Point Park.

TIP # 5: If you like the park and the music you hear, consider going back on another Sunday afternoon in July or August. Port Moody Summer Sundays is a free event that takes place weekly and features great bands.

Other Information

For more information about the Canada Day Weekend celebrations at Rocky Point Park, check out the Golden Spike Days website.

To learn more about the venue and surrounding area, click Port Moody or Rocky Point Park.

For a list of other places to celebrate the July Long Weekend, click Metro Vancouver Canada Day Celebrations.

For a list of other events in June and July, or throughout the year, check out Vancouver’s June Calendar, July Calendar or Festivals & Events Calendar.