Featuring ethnic food and performances, the European Festival takes place as a combined event with the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Country Fest.

This has been the case since 2022. The two events are taking simultaneously on July 27th and 28th in 2024.

This article includes the following information about the European Festival:

Where and When? | What to Expect | Admission | Other Information

European Festival Then and Now

The European Festival isn’t a huge event, but it’s a nice one. There’s a variety of ethnic food, dancing and musical performances.

In the past, the European Festival used to take place at Swangard Stadium in Burnaby and attract about 10,000 visitors. About two dozen European nations participated including Scandinavian countries, Baltic States, France, Spain, Great Britain, Germany and Russia.

Up until 2017 it was a two-day outdoor festival. In 2019 it switched to a one-day event inside the Vancouver Alpen Club. Then, after not happening in 2020 and 2021, the European Festival partnered with the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Country Fest. The two festivals combine to offer two days of live entertainment, food, cultural displays and other activities. They take place on July 27th and 28th in 2024.

Where and When is the Festival?

In recent years, the European Festival has happened as one part of the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Country Fest. In 2024 the two festivals take place on the weekend of July 27th and 28th.

The European Festival and the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Country Fest are held at the Albion Fairgrounds. The venue is located at 23448 Jim Robson Way in Maple Ridge.

What to Expect at the Festival

At Vancouver’s European Festival there are dance performers, musicians and all kinds of European food for sale. There are also cultural displays to check out. The Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Country Fest includes various competitions as well, plus a beer garden, entertainment for children, and lots of market vendors.

Participating Countries in the Festival

Expect to see about a dozen countries represented at the festival. Each shows their pride through traditional attire, performances and cultural demonstrations.

For an idea of what to expect, participating countries in 2023 included Bulgaria, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Scandinavia, Scotland, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia and Ukraine. The full schedule of events for 2024 has not yet been released as of the beginning of June.

European Festival Admission

When the European Festival used to happen as its own event, tickets were between $5 and $10 per person. However, now that the festival takes place with the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Country Fest, admission is free.