White Rock Sea Festival

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

In 2023 the event takes place on August 5th and 6th.

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The White Rock 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.

In 2022 the festival takes place on July 29th to 31st. Activities taking place this year include fireworks, an outdoor movie night, salmon barbecue, White Rock’s Got Talent event, the Westcoasters Car Show and live entertainment. In the past there has also been a torchlight parade, although that doesn’t appear to be the case this year.

Other great events happening elsewhere on the BC Day Long Weekend in 2022 are the Honda Celebration of Light fireworks competition, Abbotsford Agrifair and Brigade Days in Fort Langley, plus a variety of other festivals and events. To learn about everything that’s taking place see our July Calendar of Events (because most of what’s happening on the August Long Weekend this year actually happens on the last three days in July).

When is the Festival?

The White Rock Sea Festival takes place over the BC Day Long Weekend each year. In 2020 the festival was supposed to happen on August 1st and 2nd, but it got cancelled because of COVID-19. The 2021 event was cancelled as well.

In 2022 the White Rock Sea Festival is scheduled to take place on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of July 29th to 31st.

In 2023 the festival likely happens on August 4th, 5th and 6th. Exact details, however, are to be confirmed.

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, although not far from the pier and White Rock Museum at 14970 Marine Drive, but activities happen all over.

Sea Festival Activities

In 2022 there are lots of activities to enjoy. The festival begins with an outdoor movie on Friday. Folks wanting to attend are encouraged to bring their own chairs and blankets. Pirates in the Park returns on the Saturday and Sunday and features a barbeque, petting zoo, bouncy castle and educational displays. There are also henna, face painting and balloon twisting stations. This year’s festival also features two stages with live entertainment.

Below is the schedule of some of the main events and activities at the White Rock Sea Festival in 2022.

Note: Times and details are subject to change.

Friday, July 29th, 2022

Movie Night

9:15 – the movie Spiderman – No Way Home shows outdoors at Semiahmoo Park

Saturday, July 30th, 2022

General Saturday Activities

9:00 am – Yoga on the Beach (at Memorial Park)
11:30 to 11:45 am – Semiahmoo First Nation Blessing and Opening Ceremony (at Semiahmoo Park)
11:45 am – Best Pirate Family Contest (at Semiahmoo Park)
12:00 pm – Traditional Salmon Barbecue begins (at Semiahmoo Park)
12:00 to 4:00 pm – Pirates in the Park (at Semiahmoo Park)
12:45 to 5:30 pm – Dolphin Bouncy Slide (at Memorial Park)
12:45 to 7:00 pm – Spirit Stage Entertainers (Semiahmoo Park)
1:00 to 9:00 pm – Memorial Park Plaza Stage Entertainers (Memorial Park)
10:15 pm – Fireworks (on the West Beach near the White Rock)

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:

12:45 pm – Jingle Dancers
1:00 pm – Storybook reading “What the Sea Saw” with Sherry McMillan
1:30 pm – Moana
2:00 pm – Semiahmoo Kwel Eng Sen Youth Group
3:00 pm – Seung-Ri Academy Demo
4:00 pm – What Rock’s Got Talent

Saturday Entertainment (On the Memorial Park Plaza Stage)

The following performances take place on the Memorial Park Plaza Stage which is located at Memorial Park at 15300 Marine Drive:

1:00 pm – Evan Kenedy
2:00 pm – The Wheat in the Barley
3:00 pm – Karima Essa
4:00 pm – Matthew Presidente
5:00 pm – Southside Vibe
6:00 pm – Tracie Bell
6:45 pm – KokoSoul
8:30 pm – Tainted Lovers

Sunday, July 31st, 2022

General Sunday Activities

9:00 am – Yoga on the Beach (at Memorial Park)
9:30 am to 4:00 pm – Westcoaster’s Daze Car Show (in the Semiahmoo parking lot)
12:00 pm – Traditional Salmon Barbecue begins (in Semiahmoo Park)
12:00 to 4:00 pm – Pirates in the Park (at Semiahmoo Park)
12:45 to 5:30 pm – Dolphin Bouncy Slide (at Memorial Park)
1:00 to 7:45 pm – Memorial Park Plaza Stage Entertainers (Memorial Park)
1:45 to 7:00 pm – Spirit Stage Entertainers (in Semiahmoo Park)

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:

1:45 pm – Duniya Dancers
2:00 pm – Chris Hamilton
3:00 pm – Teddy Bear Picnic
3:15 pm – Storybook reading “What the Sea Saw” with Sherry McMillan
3:30 pm – Sing-a-long with Capt’n Korki the Klown, Capt’n Krunch and Willy Whale
4:00 pm – White Rock’s Got Talent

Sunday Entertainment (On the Memorial Park Plaza Stage)

The following performances take place on the Memorial Park Plaza Stage which is located at Memorial Park at 15300 Marine Drive:

1:00 pm – Dareen Turik
2:00 pm – Dani Black
3:00 pm – Ben Cottrill
4:00 pm – The Piano Men
6:00 pm – The Taxmen – Beatles Tribute

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.