Riverfest in New Westminster

RiverFest is a festival that celebrates World Rivers Day in September. It features art, historical and environmental exhibits along the Quay in New Westminster.

RiverFest in New Westminster

RiverFest is organized and hosted by the Fraser River Discovery Centre. It’s a three-day event that takes place on two Saturdays and a Sunday at the end of September. In 2026 the event happens on September 19th, 26th and 27th.

RiverFest Activities

RiverFest is a family-friendly festival with a variety of things to see and do. Below are details about what happens this year.

On the first Saturday, there’s an Indigenous plant walk and a guided tour along the quayside. There are also two different workshops. One is about forest health and ecology, while the other is about aquatic animals. Pre-registration is necessary.

The second Saturday offers an exhibitor expo and market along the boardwalk outside the Fraser River Discovery Centre, the Lucille Johnstone Workboat Parade and live performances on the outdoor stage.

On both the second Saturday and Sunday, there is a Family Fun Zone at the Fraser River Discovery Centre. Children can make art and learn about the environment. Every year admission to the centre is free during the festival and there are special exhibits and activities indoors.

Also on both days, the Samson V Boat Museum is open from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Visitors can meet members of the maritime community on board the vessel.

Main Stage Entertainment

In addition to the market vendors, there are a number of live performances on the second Saturday this year. The entertainment takes place on the Sturgeon Stage on the New West Boardwalk. The 2026 schedule is the following:

11:00 am – JB the First Lady
12:00 pm – Uptown Swing
1:30 pm – Tsatsu Stalqayu (Coastal Wolf Pack)
3:00 pm – ZORNITZA Dance Ensemble

Community organizations also set up informational booths along the boardwalk at RiverFest. Typical attendees include Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, FortisBC Gas, Metro Vancouver and Tourism New West.

Riverfest Live Entertainment — RiverFest Entertainment at Westminster Quay

RiverFest Guided Walks

On the first Saturday most years, there are a series of guided walks in various locations around Metro Vancouver. Most of them include a free shuttle ride from the Fraser River Discovery Centre and back again. Attendees must pre-register on the RiverFest website.

Below is the list of walks available in 2026.

10:00 am – Coast Salish Plant Walk with Senaqwila Wyss
11:30 am – Investigating Forest Health and Ecology with Priya Puri
1:30 pm – Quayside Tour with Fraser River Discovery Centre
3:30 pm – Discovering Aquatic Animals in Cities with Jalen Bastos

RiverFest Video

Check out the video below for an idea of what to expect at RiverFest. The video shows scenes of the event in 2021. That was during the COVID-19 era, at a time when public events were still possible. Because of the times, however, the event was smaller than usual.

As you’ll see in the video, the waterfront in New Westminster is a beautiful area. It’s especially interesting, though, when events and live entertainment are taking place, like during RiverFest.

The group of drummers performing in the video are Katari Taiko.