Vancouver Vaisakhi Festival

One of Vancouver’s most interesting festivals is the Vaisakhi Parade. The Indian and South Asian event celebrates the Punjabi New Year.

Vaisakhi Day takes place in mid-April each year. It’s one of the most important festivals in the Sikh calendar. Parades to celebrate happen in both Vancouver and Surrey on weekends in the second half of the month most years.

In 2024 the Vancouver Vaisakhi Parade takes place on Saturday, April 13th. The Surrey Vaisakhi Parade, meanwhile, happens a week later, on April 20th.

This article contains information about the following topics:

Parade Route | Festival Treats | Vaisakhi Cherry Blossoms | Vaisakhi Festival Video | Other Information

Click any of the above links to jump to a specific subject, or continue reading to learn all about the City of Vancouver’s Vaisakhi celebrations.

Vancouver Vaisakhi Parade

Vancouver’s Vaisakhi parade occurs on the Saturday before or after April 13th most years. The parade usually begins at about 10:45 am. Starting at the Ross Street Temple at 8000 Ross Street just off Marine Drive in South Vancouver, the event typically lasts until 4:00 pm or so. It’s an impressive event with 150,000 or more people attending each year!

During Vancouver’s Vaisakhi festivities there are more turbans and women in beautiful Indian and other South Asian clothing on Main Street and 49th Avenue than in the entire Punjabi region of India and eastern Pakistan.

Actually, that’s an exaggeration, obviously. That being said, as many as 300,000 people turn out in good years, making it Vancouver’s largest single-day festival of any kind.

Each year much of Main Street from Marine Drive up to 49th is full of people, as is much of 49th Avenue for many blocks. It’s truly a sight to see!

Vaisakhi Parade Crowds — Parade Crowds on 49th Avenue

Vancouver Vaisakhi Parade Route

The Vancouver Vaisakhi Parade follows a typical route each year. The route starts and finishes at the same place, at the Khalsa Diwan Temple, at 8000 Ross Street. The venue is also known as the KD Ross Temple.

From the temple the procession heads west along Marine Drive and then north up Main Street to 49th Avenue. From there it goes along 49th, then south down Fraser as far as 57th Avenue. It goes west along 57th for a couple of blocks and then south back down Ross Street to the temple.

The parade itself isn’t large with lots of floats and other entries. With the crowds on the streets and no reason to go fast, however, the entire procession takes most of the day.

The Vancouver Vaisakhi Parade is truly one of Vancouver’s most impressive festivals, and definitely one of its largest. There is Indian music and thousands of people in beautiful and colourful traditional clothing. There is also a festive atmosphere and, interestingly, free food. Yes, there is free food everywhere!

Indian and South Asian Festival Treats

Sikh Gentleman at Parade Part of the Sikh and Punjabi tradition at Vaisakhi is for businesses and even residents of an area to give out free food. It’s kind of like in North America when people give away free candy at Halloween.

Instead of just pieces of candy, however, at the Vaisakhi event it’s whole curry lunches, ice cream, chips, soft drinks and other tasty stuff that’s given away for free at stands along the streets of the parade.

If you’ve never been to a Vaisakhi Parade, you should go. Mark your calendar, or check out the Vaisakhi Parade in Surrey which takes place one week later most years.

Vaisakhi Parade Cherry Blossoms

Also during the month of April is the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival. Interestingly, one of the best places in the Lower Mainland to see cherry blossoms some years is at the Vaisakhi Parade along the side streets at Punjabi Market near Main Street and 49th Avenue.

Click Vaisakhi Cherry Blossoms to see more parade photos showcasing Vancouver’s best pink blossoming cherry trees.

Side Street Blossoms at Vaisakhi — A Side Street with Blossoms Near Punjabi Market

Vaisakhi Festival Video

For a visual overview of the Vancouver Vaisakhi Festival, check out the following video for an idea of what to expect.

As you’ll see, thousands of people turn out to enjoy the music, parade floats, food and cultural presentations in normal years. Vancouver residents from the Indian and South Asian community also dress up in all kinds of beautiful and colourful clothing. It’s a feast for the eyes, ears, taste buds and all the senses!