White Rock Sea Festival

The White Rock Sea Festival is a free summer festival that includes live music, a torchlight parade and fireworks on the BC Day Long Weekend in August.

In 2020 the event was going to celebrate its 71st year before it was cancelled because of COVID-19. The White Rock Sea Festival didn’t happen in 2021 either. Hopefully it returns in 2022 as planned.

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The Sea Festival

The White Rock Sea Festival is a fabulous event in a beautiful location. The waterfront in White Rock boasts over 2 kilometres of stunning sandy beach, numerous coffee shops and restaurants, and a lovely promenade walkway.

In years when it does take place, the festival offers everything from outdoor concerts, a vendor market, morning yoga and a wide range of family and child-friendly activities.

When is the Festival?

The White Rock Sea Festival takes place over the BC Day Long Weekend each year. In 2019 it was on the weekend of August 3-4, with a special movie night showing of Avengers: Endgame on August 2nd at Semiahmoo Park at dusk.

In 2020 the festival was supposed to happen on August 1-2. The festival was cancelled in light of the spread of COVID-19. The 2021 event was cancelled as well. 2022 dates and details are to be determined.

Where is the Sea Festival

White Rock is located about 50 km (or one hour in good traffic) southeast of downtown Vancouver close to the Peace Arch border crossing with the United States.

The White Rock Sea Festival happens all along the waterfront, from the far end of East Beach near the Ocean Promenade Hotel at 15611 Marine Drive to the far end of West Beach a couple of kilometres away.

Much of the event takes place in the central part of the waterfront though not far from the pier and White Rock Museum at 14970 Marine Drive, but activities happen all over.

Sea Festival Night Parade — White Rock Sea Festival Torchlight Parade

Sea Festival Activities

Below is the schedule of some of the main events and activities at the White Rock Sea Festival in 2019. Future event schedules will likely be similar.

Note: Times and details were subject to change.

Friday, August 2nd, 2019

Friday Movie Night

8:30 pm – the outdoor movie Avengers: Endgame shows at Semiahmoo Park

Saturday, August 3rd, 2019

General Saturday Activities

9:00 am – Yoga on the Beach (at Memorial Park)
10:30 am – Capt’n Korki’s Pirate Parade (at the Balsam Comfort Station)
11:00 am to 4:00 pm – Pirates in the Park (at Semiahmoo Park)
11:00 am to 7:00 pm – Spirit Stage Entertainers (Semiahmoo Park)
12:00 to 7:00 pm – Traditional Salmon Barbecue (at Semiahmoo Park)
12:00 to 8:00 pm – Youth Zone (at East Beach)
1:00 to 1:30 pm – Opening Ceremonies (at Memorial Park)
10:15 pm – Fireworks (on the West Beach near the White Rock)

Saturday Entertainment (On the Coast Capital Stage)

The following performances take place on the Coast Capital Stage which is located at Memorial Park:

12:00 pm – The Power Pep Band
1:00 pm – Opening Ceremony
1:30 pm – The Seabillys
2:30 pm – Pernell Reichert
3:30 pm – Blackthorn
4:30 pm – Coal Davie & The Rockabillionaires
5:30 pm – Sean Michael Simpson
7:00 pm – Melanie Dekker
8:30 pm – Gary Comeau and The Voodoo Allstars

Saturday Entertainment (On the Spirit Stage)

The following performances take place on the Spirit Stage which is located at Semiahmoo Park at 15782 Marine Drive:

11:00 am – Starchild Mystical Pirate Band
11:30 am – First Nation Blessing
11:45 am – Opening Ceremony
12:15 pm – Semiahmoo First Nation Kwel Eng Sen Youth Group Dancers
12:30 pm – Chris Hamilton
1:45 pm – Mr. Bubbles Magic Show
2:30 pm – Mermaid Kaida, Queen of the Dragonfishes Storytelling
2:50 pm – BC Cage and Pet Bird
3:15 pm – PJ Talbot’s Rock Band
4:30 pm – Rhythm Well
5:00 pm – Sweet Pan
5:45 pm – Chinese Village Club
6:00 pm – XBa School of Dance
6:30 pm – Serkan Sogukpinar

Sunday, August 4th, 2019

General Sunday Activities

9:00 am – Dailey Barre on the beach (at Memorial Park)
9:30 am to 4:00 pm – Westcoaster’s Daze Car Show (in the Semiahmoo parking lot)
10:00 am to 4:00 pm – Youth Zone (at East Beach)
11:00 am to 7:00 pm – Spirit Stage Entertainers (in Semiahmoo Park)
12:00 to 4:00 pm – Pirates in the Park (in Semiahmoo Park)
12:00 to 4:00 pm – Traditional Salmon Barbecue (in Semiahmoo Park)
3:30 pm – Waiter’s Race (at the West Beach)
7:30 pm – Torchlight Parade (along the Waterfront)

Sea Festival Parade Band — Torchlight Parade on Marine Drive

Sunday Entertainment (On the Coast Capital Stage)

The following performances take place on the Coast Capital Stage which is located at Memorial Park:

12:30 pm – Route 66eh
1:30 pm – Antoinette and The Latest
2:30 pm – Small Town Talk
3:30 pm – Waiter’s Race
4:30 pm – HAVYN
5:30 pm – Kristen Carter
6:30 pm – Best Night Ever

Sunday Entertainment (On the Spirit Stage)

The following performances take place on the Spirit Stage which is located at Semiahmoo Park at 15782 Marine Drive (so at the very far east end of the beach):

12:00 pm – Semiahmoo First Nation Blessing
12:30 pm – Seung-ri Academy of Martial Arts
1:00 pm – Ariel the Mermaid
2:00 pm – Dilly the Clown
2:30 pm – Teddy Bear Picnic
3:00 pm – Rowan Cyr
3:25 pm – The Sm:)e Band

Tips and Suggestions

Below are some tips and advice on how to make the most of your experience at the White Rock Sea Festival.

TIP #1: The parade usually starts at the west end of the beach and travels east. If you want to get home earlier than later, watch the parade from near the start, so from west of the pier and museum.

TIP #2: Go at the very start of the day if you want to find parking anywhere near the beach. Just remember though that access in and out of the area will be extremely limited, especially during the Sunday night Torchlight Parade.

TIP #3: Take public transit if you can.

TIP #4: Take your swimsuit, hat, sunscreen, picnic, lawn chairs, sandcastle-building equipment, beach umbrella, water bottle and anything else you think you’ll need. Just remember though that parking will be a challenge and you may have to walk a fair ways.

TIP #5: The White Rock Farmers Market takes place on Sundays at Miramar Plaza up the hill in downtown White Rock from 10 am to 2 pm. It’s a great market and worth checking out while in the area.

TIP #6: If you like cycling, don’t mind hills and have a bike rack, consider taking your bicycle(s) with you. Parking will likely be a long way away, but if at least the driver has a bike it’ll make it easier to get back and forth to your vehicle.