Fort Langley on Canada Day

Fort Langley is a National Historic Site in the Fraser Valley. It has a blacksmith shop, displays about the fur trade, and various reconstructed buildings.

For full details about the historic site in general, see the Parks Canada Fort Langley website.

NOTE: There are lots of fun things to see and do at the historic site on July 1st. There is live entertainment, characters in period costume and special demonstrations. Admission on July 1st is also free! For details, click Canada Day in Fort Langley.

This article contains the following information about Fort Langley:

Fort Langley Historic Site

Fort Langley is an old Hudson Bay Company trading post. It’s one of the Lower Mainland’s top attractions and a best place to take children.

Located in the picturesque Town of Fort Langley, the fort is mostly reconstructed. There are, however, a few original structures plus lots of artifacts. It’s a very interesting place to visit and learn about the region’s history and see what life was like in the early days of BC.

For a list of events that happen at the fort at various times over the course of the year, see our article about Fort Langley Events.

When & Where is the Fort?

The Fort Langley Historic Site’s address is 23433 Mavis Avenue. The Village of Fort Langley, meanwhile, is about 50 kilometres east of downtown Vancouver. It’s also about halfway between Surrey and Abbotsford.

The fort is open almost every day of the year. It’s closed, however, on December 24th, 25th, 26th, 31st and January 1st.

Admission Rates

Below are the admission rates to the Fort Langley site as of June 2024.

Adults (18-64): $9.00
Seniors (65+): $7.50
Youth (under 18): Free

You can also buy an annual pass for $22 for adults and $18.50 for seniors. In 2018 Parks Canada made admission to all of its sites across the country free for those ages 18 and under. That policy continues today. Plus, as of January 1st in 2024, admission is free for military members and veterans, as well as their immediate family members.

For full details about the historic site, see the Parks Canada Fort Langley website.

Things to See at Fort Langley

The Fort Langley National Historic Site offers a fair bit to see and do. In the busy summer season and during holiday weekends there are often special events, as well as blacksmithing and other demonstrations. Exhibits at the fort include barrel-making, fur trade and other educational displays. The site’s buildings include a storehouse, residences and a blacksmith shop.

TIP: In the summer, if you are looking for a unique place to stay, consider renting one of the fort’s “oTENTiks.” These are tent/cabin-type accommodations that cost about $130 or so and include beds with linens. What’s best about these is the fact you get to stay (and sleep) within the fort at night, plus you don’t have to set up your own tent and bedding.

Barrel-Making Demonstration in the Cooperage — Demonstrations in the Cooperage

Fort Langley Video

For a better idea of what to expect at the Fort Langley National Historic Site, watch the video below. It includes footage from the late spring of 2024. As you can see, there are multiple buildings to explore, plus demonstrations to enjoy and activities to try.

(Note: The music in this video is Not on my Watch by Faespencer from Pixabay.)

Best Times to Visit Fort Langley

Fort Langley usually operates 362 days of the year. It’s typically open every day except for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.

The historic site is worth visiting any time of the year, but the best time to visit is in the summer when there are often additional activities going on. The May Long Weekend and August Long Weekend can be especially good times to visit. During those times there are often special events going on in and around the town including historical re-enactments in some years.

For a list of events that happen at the historic site, see our article about Fort Langley Events or continue reading.

Special Events at the Fort

Other great days to visit the fort include anytime that there are special activities, including at the following events which take place most years.

Events Early in the Year

Vive les Voyageurs French Canadian Festival – a two-day event in January that features French Canadian activities including Métis dancing, a re-enactment of a fur trade wedding, live music and old fort activity demonstrations.
Family Day at the Fort – a holiday weekend of old-fashioned activities including 19th century family chores, photo opportunities in period costumes, and blacksmithing and coopering demonstrations during the February Family Day Long Weekend.

Events in the Spring

Spring Break at the Fort – special activities for children and their families over the full two weeks of spring break holidays in March.
Easter Scavenger Hunt and Egg Scrambler – Easter egg hunts and other activities on Easter Sunday in March.
Brewhalla Fort Langley Beer Festival – a craft beer festival in Fort Langley Park in May.
Hawaiian Luau – special activities celebrating Hawaiian culture on a day in May.
Victoria Day – a farm tour, coopering, historic weapons and blacksmithing demonstrations at the fort on Victoria Day in May following the Fort Langley May Day Parade in the morning. See Fort Langley May Day Fair and Parade for details.

For full details about the historic site, see the Parks Canada Fort Langley website.

Grave Tales Tour Guide in Fort Langley — Grave Tales in October

Events in the Summer

National Indigenous Peoples Day – the historic site hosts a free event with an Indigenous artisan market and other special activities on a Saturday in June.
Canada Day – a free event on Canada Day in July featuring live music, birthday cake and other family-friendly activities.
Fort Langley Jazz & Arts Festival – a music and arts event in July.
Brigade Days – three days of celebrations featuring folks in period costume over the BC Day long weekend at the end of July and beginning of August.

Events in the Fall and Christmas Season

Fort Langley Cranberry Festival – a family-oriented event at Fort Langley celebrating the cranberry harvesting season in October.
Grave Tales – two- and three-hour Halloween-themed walking tour programs in the village during the last half of October (and often in the first week of November too).
Douglas Day – an annual celebration on November 19th of the same day in 1858 when Sir James Douglas formally proclaimed BC a colony.
Humbug Holidays – Christmas-themed decorations and craft activities in December.

See the Fort Langley Historic Site Schedule of Events for more details.

oTENTik

A stylish way to camp is with an oTENTik, which are a cross between tents and a wooden cabin. Each unit can sleep up to six people and includes bunk beds, tables and chairs, electricity and a firepit outside. The Fort Langley Historic Site has five oTENTiks built in various styles. They are open from May 15th to September 15th in 2024.

Renting an oTENTik costs $128 per night. They are unique to Parks Canada and provide a way to enjoy the area in comfort. Click oTENTik Fort Langley for more information.

For full details about the historic site, see the Parks Canada Fort Langley website.

The Town of Fort Langley

The fort is one of Vancouver’s best places to visit, assuming you like outdoor museums and history. The village of Fort Langley itself is also a cute place and highly worth strolling around.

Click the Village of Fort Langley for information about other great things to see in the immediate area. These include one of the Lower Mainland’s best riverside cycling and walking trails, the Fort Langley Museum, and other quaint and interesting buildings in the historic town.

Similar Places in Lower Mainland

The Town of Fort Langley is one of several little villages we recommend as some of Vancouver’s best places to visit.

If you like Fort Langley, other similar (but less historic) places you might like include White Rock (a seaside resort), Horseshoe Bay (home to one of BC Ferries’ terminals to Vancouver Island), and Steveston Village (a historic fishing village in Richmond). There is also Deep Cove (a picturesque village on the North Shore). In addition, a little further up the Fraser Valley, is the popular resort town of Harrison Hot Springs.

If you really like history, another great place to visit in the summer is the Burnaby Village Museum in Burnaby. It and Fort Langley are probably the region’s two best places to learn about history and experience it outdoors.