Home Culture in Vancouver RCMP Musical Ride in Metro Vancouver and the Lower Mainland

RCMP Musical Ride in Metro Vancouver and the Lower Mainland

July 31, 2018

The RCMP Musical Ride is a performance by Royal Canadian Mounted Police on horseback. In 2023 they had shows in Surrey, Burnaby, Chilliwack and other cities.

This article contains information about the following:

Click any of the above links to jump to a specific topic or performance location, or continue reading to learn all about the RCMP Musical Ride and its 2018 Lower Mainland shows.

Lower Mainland RCMP Musical Ride Shows

The RCMP Musical Ride is a fabulous event with multiple shows in the Lower Mainland. If you like horses, want photos of Mounties in their red uniforms and are looking for affordable family-friendly entertainment, then these are shows you won’t want to miss!

About the RCMP Musical Ride

Every year the RCMP Musical Ride and its troop of 32 scarlet-uniformed officers entertain audiences in four dozen or so cities across the country.

Shows involve the Mounties riding in formation around a ring, weaving in and out between one another, and doing intricate riding-coordination tricks. They don’t jump through hoops, stand on their horses or do wild acrobatics; rather, they ride around in majestic and very well-timed formation. It’s impressive.

There is usually pre-show entertainment at the events too including a K9 police dog demonstration and some kind of humorous family-friendly act. Also, audience members are normally permitted to enter the ring to meet the horses and riders after each show.

2023 Performance Details

Below were performance dates and details for shows in 2023. Details for the shows in 2024 are to be confirmed.

24th of June – at the Cloverdale Fairgrounds in Surrey
25th of June – at the Cloverdale Fairgrounds in Surrey
26th of June – at Swangard Stadium in Burnaby
29th of June – at Chilliwack Heritage Park in the Fraser Valley

Cloverdale Fairgrounds (Surrey)

The RCMP Musical Ride’s first Lower Mainland stop in 2023 was in Surrey. There were three shows happening over two days at the Cloverdale Fairgrounds. The venue is located at 6050A 176 Street. On Saturday, June 24th, there were shows at 1:00 pm and 5:00 pm. The last show in Surrey started at 3:00 pm on Sunday, June 25th.

Tickets to the event are free for children ages 12 and under. Admission for everyone else in 2023 cost $10 to $12 in advance or $15 at the gate. Ticket pricing is likely to be similar in 2024.

To complement the show, Surrey RCMP is also on-site hosting its annual Open House event outside the Stetson Bowl. It’s a fun opportunity to meet police officers and dogs, and enjoy free demonstrations, displays and activities.

To learn more about the events visit the Surrey RCMP page.

Swangard Stadium (Burnaby)

The RCMP Musical Ride stopped for a show at Burnaby‘s Swangard Stadium in 2023. The venue is at 6100 Boundary Road and the show took place on Monday, June 26th, from 5:00 pm until 9:00 pm.

Gates opened at 5:00 pm and there were displays, food trucks and activities for the first couple of hours. Pre-show entertainment started at 6:00 pm, the RCMP Musical Ride was at 7:00 pm and audience members could meet the officers and greet the horses when the show finished at around 7:30 pm.

Admission to the Burnaby event in 2023 was $15 per person but free for kids under 6 years of age. This will likely be similar when the show returns in 2024.

Click Burnaby RCMP Musical Ride for tickets and further information.

Chilliwack Heritage Park (Chilliwack)

The Chilliwack Fair and Rodeo is a country fair that takes place at Chilliwack Heritage Park at 7590 Lickman Road. In 2023 the event takes place in August, but the fair’s organizers also present the RCMP Musical Ride at the same location two months earlier.

In 2023 the RCMP Musical Ride visited Chilliwack Heritage Park on Thursday, June 29th. Two shows took place on the same day. The first was at 3:00 pm and the second was at 7:00 pm.

Click Chilliwack RCMP Musical Ride for tickets and more information.

Musical Ride Video

For an idea of what to expect at any of the shows in the future, below is a video featuring the RCMP Musical Ride at the Abbotsford Agrifair. The footage is from 2018 which was a year when the show also took place in Burnaby, Langley and Richmond.

Tips & Advice

Below are some tips and suggestions to help you make the most of your RCMP Musical Ride experience.

TIP #1: If you can, try sitting close to the edge of the ring. It’s pretty amazing watching the horses ride close by.

TIP #2: For outdoor venues, unless you can find a spot with shade, don’t forget your hat and sunscreen. A re-usable water bottle can be a good idea too (recognizing that at most venues outside food and beverages are not permitted).

TIP #3: Don’t forget your camera. That being said, professional cameras (i.e. with detachable lenses) are generally not allowed.

TIP #4: Members of the audience can usually enter the ring at the end of the show for photos and to meet the RCMP riders and their horses. The ring gets pretty crowded with people, as might be expected. If you’re with young children, hold onto them tight and have a pre-arranged meeting spot in case you get separated.