Caribbean Days in Coquitlam

Caribbean Days is a free festival celebrating Caribbean music, food and culture in July. Previously held in North Vancouver, it now happens in Coquitlam.

Up until a couple of years ago, the festival took place on the North Shore at Waterfront Park. Since 2022, however, its new venue is Coquitlam’s Town Centre Park.

In 2024 Caribbean Days happens again in Coquitlam, this time on July 27th and 28th. That’s the same weekend as New Westminster’s free Uptown Live street party, the Fort Langley Jazz & Arts Festival, Mission Folk Music Festival, and Chilliwack Ribfest, plus lots of other great events too.

To learn about what else is happening this time of year, see our July or August calendars of events. To learn about the Caribbean Days Festival, continue reading.

Click any of the following to jump to a specific topic, or continue reading to learn all about Vancouver’s Caribbean Day’s Festival:

Caribbean Days Festival

After not happening for a couple of years in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic, Caribbean Days is in full force once again 2024.

Hosted by the Trinidad and Tobago Cultural Society of BC, it’s a fun festival that attracts tens of thousands of participants from across the Lower Mainland most years. Up to 60,000 people attend this festival.

If attending the Rio Carnival is on your bucket list but you’re unable to get there soon enough, don’t despair. The Lower Mailand has its own carnaval to rival the world-famous Rio Carnval revelry, though not on the grand scale as its South American counterpart.

Festival Date and Location

The Caribbean Days Festival happens in late July most years. In 2024 it takes place on the Saturday and Sunday of July 27th and 28th.

Prior to COVID-19, the event took place at Waterfront Park which is just a five-minute walk west of North Vancouver’s SeaBus terminal at Lonsdale Quay.

A couple of years ago, however, the festival shifted to Town Centre Park which is at Lafarge Lake in Coquitlam. The park is located at 1299 Pinetree Way. It’s very close to the Lafarge Lake – Douglas SkyTrain station. The festival took place at Town Centre Park again last year and happens there again in 2024.

Click Festival Layout for a map of the venue.

Caribbean Days Events and Activities

The Caribbean Days Festival usually includes a multicultural parade, food fair, market, and live music and entertainment all weekend.

Multicultural Parade

When the festival used to take place in North Vancouver years ago there was a parade down Lonsdale Avenue which is one of that city’s biggest and most important streets. Now that the event happens at Town Centre Park in Coquitlam, the parade takes place in the park. In 2024 the parade starts at 1:30 pm on Saturday, July 27th.

In the carnival-style parade expect to hear festive Caribbean music and to see lots of people in colourful costumes dancing and having fun. There have never been floats in the procession, like there are in larger Lower Mainland parades, just lots of people.

Caribbean Parade Participants — Caribbean Festival Parade

Island & International Food Fair

The festival features a large food fair that caters for both Caribbean and international taste buds. All kinds of tasty foods are available, as is a wide variety of refreshing drinks. Definitely buy your lunch and/or dinner at the venue – the food is one of the highlights of the festival. On a hot summer day the beer garden is also extremely popular.

Caribbean Market

At Caribbean Days there is also a market with vendors selling all kinds of things including imported goods from the Caribbean and both South and Central America. Expect there to be colourful clothing, hats, bags, artisan products and a wide selection of other items.

Live Music and Entertainment

Caribbean Days just wouldn’t be a Caribbean-style carnival without lots of live music and entertainment.

From the festival’s Main Stage, dance groups perform and bands play everything from Reggae to Calypso, Latin and Soca, as well as other international genres of music. Headliners this year include Moses Revolution and Farmer Nappy.

Festival Schedule

Below is the Main Stage entertainment schedule for 2024. (Note: Times and performer details are subject to change.)

Saturday, July 27th (in 2024)

10:00 am – DJ BJ John Edwards
11:00 am – Multicultural Parade
12:00 pm – Opening Ceremony
1:00 pm – Sweet Pan
1:45 pm – Boom Daddy
3:00 pm – X-Kalibre
4:15 pm – Mostly Marley
5:30 pm – Julio Avila Cuban Band
7:00 pm – Moses Revolution

Sunday, July 28th (in 2024)

11:00 am – Carl Sound Vibes
11:30 am – Out of Many
12:45 pm – Tropical Breeze
1:45 pm – Children Parade
2:15 pm – Maffie and De Volcano
3:15 pm – Vancouver Soca Xperience
3:30 pm – King Fish
3:40 pm – Phase III Steelband
5:00 pm – Moses Revolution
6:00 pm – Farmer Nappy

Tips & Advice

Below are some suggestions and information to help you make the most of your experience at the Caribbean Days Festival.

TIP #1: Take public transit if you can. The event is a pleasant five-minute walk from a stop on the Millennium SkyTrain Station.

TIP #2: While in the area, explore the neighbourhood. There are lots of other things to see at Lafarge Lake, including the lake itself. There are also other parks and places of interest in Coquitlam.