The Fort Langley National Historic Site is a terrific attraction in Metro Vancouver. The place hosts numerous events and celebrations throughout the year.
Admission to the fort is very affordable, especially for children and youth ages 17 and under (who get in for free)!
Summer events at the fort include Canada Day Celebrations on July 1st and Brigade Days on the BC Day Long Weekend. There are special events and activities at other times of the year too. See below for details.
For the attraction’s official website, click Fort Langley National Historic Site.
Events at Fort Langley National Historic Site
The Fort Langley National Historic Site is a popular attraction located at 23433 Mavis Avenue in the Village of Fort Langley.
The fort originally served as a Hudson Bay Company trading post in the 1800’s. The site has since turned into an interesting place for all ages to learn about the region’s history. There are reconstructed buildings along with artifacts, original buildings, displays and other things to see.
The site also hosts many events each year. Continue reading below for more details.
For full details about upcoming events at the national historic site, see the Fort Langley website.
2024 and 2025 Events at the Fort
The Fort Langley National Historic Site offers extra activities from time to time. It’s a great place to celebrate annual holidays and other special days, such as May Day, Canada Day and National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Most events are included with general admission tickets, which cost about $10 for adults and are free for youth under the age of 18. In some cases, however, general admission is free for everyone depending on the occasion.
Events happening at the fort in 2024 and 2025 are listed and described below. (Note: Exact details are subject to change.)
Canada Day (July 1, 2024)
Canada Day is a day full of special activities. In fact, admission is free!
In 2024 the July 1st event at the fort begins with a Citizenship Ceremony at 10:30 am. There are scavenger hunts, demonstrations, plant walks and other activities during the day. The event also features special performances by The Wild Moccasin Dancers, Central Fraser Valley Fiddlers, Blackthorn Blossoms and other groups.
The schedule of events for the July 1st event in 2024 is the following:
The full schedule at the fort for 2024 is as follows:
- 10:30 am: Citizenship Ceremony
- 11:00 am: Indigenous Plant Walk (with Karen Gabriel)
- 11:30 am: Native Plant Tea Demo (with Deanna Miller)
- 12:00 pm: Diamond Music Makers
- 12:30 pm: Blackthorn Blossoms
- 1:30 pm: Wild Moccasin Dancers
- 2:00 pm: Jigging Performance
- 3:00 pm: Central Fraser Valley Fiddlers
To learn more about what to expect, along with other ways to celebrate July 1st in the area, see our Canada Day in Fort Langley article.
For full details about upcoming events at the national historic site, see the Fort Langley website.
Brigade Days (August 3-5, 2024)
Brigade Days is an annual event at the Fort Langley National Historic Site. It takes place on the BC Day Long Weekend, so, in 2024, from Saturday, August 3rd, until Monday, August 5th. Additional details about this year’s event are to be confirmed.
In previous years, general admission tickets were required. That will likely be the case again in 2024. There are usually historical re-enactments, tours of the site and demonstrations. There are also flag ceremonies, hands-on activities and special exhibits to explore most years.
For more details about the event, check out our article about Fort Langley’s Brigade Days.
Douglas Day (September 21, 2024)
James Douglas Day is on November 19th each year. Celebrations are usually close to that date. However, in 2024, Douglas Day at the fort happens on Saturday, September 21st. Exact details about the day’s activities this year are to be confirmed.
In 2023 the celebrations were about James Douglas’ multicultural legacy. The event featured food, music and dance from different cultures, including Métis, Black, Scottish and more.
To learn more about this event, see our Douglas Day at Fort Langley article.
For a list of upcoming events at the attraction, visit the Parks Canada website.
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (September 30, 2024)
An event takes place at the fort on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in 2024. As of early May, however, the event details for this year are to be determined.
See our National Truth and Reconciliation Day article for other events happening on the same day in different areas of the Lower Mainland.
Grave Tales (2024 Dates TBC)
Grave Tales is an outdoor walking tour offered at the fort during the Halloween season. A guide leads groups through the village while sharing scary stories about ghosts, mysteries and other topics. The tours are excellent and highly recommended (unless you don’t like walking or spooky tales).
There are normally two different versions of the tour, with one being for adults and the other being for children. Admission last year ranged from $25 to $45 per person. 2024 dates and details are to be confirmed.
To learn more about the walking tours, check out our article about Grave Tales.
For full details about upcoming events at the national historic site, see the Fort Langley website.
Louis Riel Day (November 16, 2024)
In 2024 the Fort Langley National Historic Site celebrates Louis Riel Day on Saturday, November 16th. Full details about the event this year are to be confirmed.
The event is included with general admission. Last year there were Métis cultural booths, performances and interactive demonstrations.
For more information about last year’s event, click Louis Riel Day 2023. Activities will likely be similar in 2024.
For the attraction’s official website, click Fort Langley National Historic Site.
Humbug Holidays (December 16-31, 2024)
Humbug Holidays is the name of the Christmas-themed event at the fort. In 2024 the event begins on Monday, December 16th, and runs until Tuesday, December 31st. Details about things to do for this year are to be confirmed.
At the event in 2023 there were daily activities including ornament crafting and chestnut roasting with interpreters. The place was also decorated for the holiday season.
To learn more about what to expect in 2024, see the Humbug Holidays 2023 page.
Family Day at the Fort (February 17, 2025)
The Family Day festivities at the Fort Langley National Historic Site take place on Monday, February 17th in 2025. Exact details about the event at the fort are to be determined.
In 2024 the event had a bird theme and required general admission tickets. There were bird walks with ornithologists, bird trivia sessions, crafts, displays and other activities.
For details about the 2024 event, click Family Day at the Fort.
Spring Break (March 17-30, 2025)
Spring Break activities in 2025 run from Monday, March 17th, until Sunday, March 30th. For an idea of what to expect, in 2024 the historic site offered fish rock painting, a scavenger hunt, plant walk, a presentation about the gold rush, and lots more.
General admission is typically required throughout Spring Break, which is free for youth ages 17 and under. Only adults have to pay to enter (and it’s a very reasonable price).
To learn more about last year’s event, see the official Spring Break 2024 page.
For a list of upcoming events at the attraction, visit the Parks Canada website.
Vive Les Voyageurs (April 12-13, 2025)
Vive Les Voyageurs is a French-Canadian event at the fort. In 2025 it runs on the weekend of April 12th to 13th.
The 2024 event featured interactive presentations, educational demonstrations, and live music by French-Canadian artists. There were also food vendors on site selling things like maple taffy and poutine. General admission tickets were required.
For more information about this event, see our article about Vive Les Voyageurs.
Hawaiian Luau (2025 Date TBC)
The Hawaiian Luau is a celebration of the Hawaiian Islands and their connection to the Fort Langley National Historic Site. It ran from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm on May 18th in 2024, which was the Saturday of the Victoria Day Long Weekend.
When it happens, the event is an opportunity to learn about Hawaiian history and how Hawaiians contributed to the fort’s identity. There are usually various activities to enjoy, including Hawaiian language workshops, lei crafting and presentations. The 2024 event also had an entertaining dance performance from 2:00 to 2:45 pm. All of the extra activities were included with general admission this past year.
For more details about this event, see our Fort Langley Hawaiian Luau article or the official Hawaiian Luau page.
May Day (2025 Date TBC)
The Fort Langley National Historic Site hosts a special event on Victoria Day each year. In 2024 it took place on Monday, May 20th, between 10:00 am and 5:00 pm.
There are normally special activities at the fort to complement Fort Langley’s annual May Day Parade and other local celebrations. In 2024 guests who paid general admission got to watch a fashion show with costumes from the 19th century. There were blacksmithing demonstrations and interpreters roaming around in costumes too.
To learn more about Victoria Day celebrations at the historic site and other places nearby, see our article about Fort Langley May Day. To learn about the special activities at the Fort, click May Day at the Fort.
For a list of upcoming events at the attraction, visit the Parks Canada website.
Stalew 10th Year Anniversary Celebration (2025 Date TBC)
The Stalew Arts & Cultural Society is an organization that empowers Indigenous artists. In 2024, they celebrated their 10th anniversary at the fort. On June 15th, admission to the historic site was free for everyone!
The one-day event included powwow drumming as well as cultural dancing and singing. There was also a large market with more than 40 different Indigenous vendors selling crafts and other goods. The event was a wonderful way to honour Indigenous roots just before National Indigenous People’s Day in 2024. Details about the event in 2025 are to be confirmed.
For more details, click Stalew 10th Anniversary Celebration.
Other Information
For more information about events at the fort, click Fort Langley Calendar of Events.
To learn more about the fort in general, see our article about the Fort Langley National Historic Site.
Other articles that might be of interest include the following:
