Abbotsford celebrates Canada Day with a morning parade and then festival activities including free concerts and fireworks at Abbotsford Exhibition Park.

This article contains the following information about the Abbotsford celebrations:

Canada Day in Abbotsford on July 1st

The city of Abbotsford hosts a number of great events throughout the year including the Abbotsford Agrifair (on the August Long Weekend) and Abbotsford Airshow (in mid-August). Another great event is the Canada Day parade and festival on July 1st each year.

Canada Day celebrations in Abbotsford normally begin with the parade along South Fraser Way. Local residents then make their way to Abbotsford Exhibition Park for live entertainment and family-friendly activities.

Canada Day in Abbotsford

The day typically begins with the annual Canada Day Parade at 11:00 am. From there fun family-friendly activities at Abbotsford Exhibition Park continue from 1:00 pm until 10:00 pm. There are interactive play zones, food trucks and live music and entertainment to enjoy. Festivities conclude with a fireworks show at 10:00 pm.

Venue Location

Except for the parade, everything takes place at Abbotsford Exhibition Park which is located at 32470 Haida Drive.

Abbotsford Exhibition Park is a big venue bordered by Haida Drive, Trethewey Street and Maclure Road. Most of the festival activities usually take place in the south half of the park (so closer to Maclure Road than to Haida Drive).

Abbotsford Parade Crowds — Parade Crowds Along South Fraser Way

Abbotsford Canada Day Parade

The Abbotsford Canada Day parade begins at 11:00 am at Bourquin Crescent West and South Fraser Way. The parade route goes west along South Fraser Way before turning on to Trethewey Street and finishing at Mouat Drive.

The parade typically includes classic cars, vintage farm equipment, street performers, clowns, local politicians waving at the crowd, marching bands and the occasional float. It’s a relatively large parade, with entries fairly spread out along the route. The parade and its participants always have a distinctly agricultural and “farm community” flavour to it.

Canada Day Festival

After the parade, from 1:00 pm until 10:00 pm, Abbotsford Exhibition Park is filled with people, vendors and community organization stalls, and activities for all ages.

The venue in 2024 was divided into a number of areas that included the following:

Abbotsford Canucks – fun hockey-related activities.
Culture Corner – those of all ages could make art under the tutelage of local artists.
Go Play Outside – organized games, art and other activities.
Sand Zone – an area where folks could make their own sandcastles and play in the sand from 1:00 pm until 8:00 pm.
Twisters Gymnastics – drop-in activities for all ages.
Unitech Slide Zone – a fun super soaker slide open to all.

Other areas on the festival grounds include the Abbotsford Agrifair Zone, the Abbotsford Hospice Car Show, Sport Abbotsford’s “Play What!?,” the Dog Zone, Vancouver FC Zone, and booths by BC Hydro, Canucks Autism Network, Abbotsford Libraries and Fraserway RV.

Canada Day at Abbotsford's Exhibition Park — Abbotsford Exhibition Park Before the Crowds Arrive

Entertainment Schedule

In addition to the above festival activities, the Canada Day celebrations at Abbotsford Exhibition Park features free outdoor entertainment. Below was the schedule for 2024.

Main Stage Schedule (in 2024)

1:15 pm – JD Miner
1:40 pm – Velavox
2:05 pm – Sam Chimes
2:35 pm – Lounge Hounds & Suburban Swing
3:20 pm – Ben Cottrill
3:50 pm – Leaning Star Arts Academy
5:00 pm – Jenny Banai
6:00 pm – Shamir Virgo
7:00 pm – Sade Awele & Serengeti
8:30 pm – Paitra Walker
9:20 pm – 538 st

Abbotsford Canada Day Fireworks

A number of Canada Day celebrations in the Lower Mainland feature evening fireworks. There are usually July 1st fireworks in Burnaby, Coquitlam and Surrey.

Abbotsford also normally finishes its Canada Day event with its own fireworks starting at 10:00 pm. In 2023, there was a laser light show that happened at the same time instead. The fireworks were due to return in 2024, barring weather issues.

Other Information

For further details about the July 1st event at Exhibition Park, click Abbotsford Canada Day.

To learn more about the town and surrounding area, click Abbotsford or Fraser Valley.
For a list of July long weekend events in other parts of the Lower Mainland, click Vancouver Canada Day Events.

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