Whistler celebrates Canada Day with a variety of events. Activities include a parade, pancake breakfast and live entertainment.
There is also usually a farmers market, street entertainment and other fun things to see and do. Canada Day is a statutory holiday and is celebrated on July 1st each year. Canadians take pride in their country and the day is a coming together to celebrate the founding of our nation.
Whistler on Canada Day in 2024
In typical years a number of activities take place in Whistler Village over the Canada Day long weekend including live street entertainment, a farmers market and outdoor concerts. In 2024 all main activities took place on Monday, July 1st. There was a yoga class, pancake breakfast, the Community Parade and much more.
There were also a few noteworthy sites that had free or by donation admission on July 1st. They included the Whistler Museum and the Squamish Lil’Wat Cultural Centre.
Canada Day Event Schedule
The schedule of free and paid activities on July 1st in 2024 was as follows:
- Spo7ez Performance Team Welcome – 8:00 am in Mountain Square.
- Lululemon Community Yoga – from 8:00 am to 9:00 am in Mountain Square.
- Pancake Breakfast – from 8:30 am to 11:00 am in the Whistler Olympic Plaza.
- Whistler’s Community Parade – at noon along the Whistler Village Stroll.
- Alex Wells Hoop Dancer – at 1:30 pm at Town Plaza Gazebo.
- Yuki the Juggler – at 2:00 pm at Town Plaza Gazebo.
- DJ Foxy Moron – opens the main concert at 6:30 pm at Whistler Olympic Plaza.
- Walk off the Earth – headlining performance at 7:30 pm at Whistler Olympic Plaza.
Whistler Canada Day Parade
Whistler Village used to host a great 30-minute Canada Day parade on July 1st each year. In 2022, however, the parade changed to being made up of fixed stations for people to check out along the Village Stroll. The same was the case in 2024.
The Community Parade typically begins at noon. It starts at the Olympic Plaza, goes along the Village Stroll and finishes at Mountain Square (which is at the north end of the village not far from the gondolas).
Canada Day Concert in Whistler
A Whistler Canada Day tradition in past years has been a series of outdoor performances by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra over the Canada Day long weekend. Thousands of people turn out with their lawn chairs and fill the grassy area in front of the stage. There is still live music in Whistler on Canada Day, just not with the VSO.
Last year the main Canada Day concert took place in the Whistler Olympic Plaza and featured DJ ShotSki followed by Blackie and The Rodeo Kings with Daniel Lanois and Terra Lightfoot. 2024’s concert took place at the same location. This year DJ Foxy Moron opened at 6:30 pm and was followed by Walk off the Earth at 7:30 pm.
Tips & Advice
Below are some suggestions and extra information to help you make the most of your Canada Day experience at Whistler.
TIP #1: Public transit is usually free in Whistler on Saturdays, Sundays and holiday Mondays in the summer, including over the Canada Day long weekend.
TIP #2: Parking costs vary depending on which lot you park in. After a certain time each evening, parking becomes free. For more details see Whistler’s Parking Map.
TIP #3: In addition to Squamish, between Vancouver and Whistler, there are other interesting places to visit including the Sea to Sky Gondola, Shannon Falls and Alice Lake. Click Sea to Sky Region for ideas on what to see.
Other Information
To learn more about the resort town, see our article about Whistler Village.
For further details about things to do in Whistler on the July long weekend, click Canada Day in Whistler.
For a list of other July 1st events in other parts of the Lower Mainland, click Canada Day in Metro Vancouver.
To see what else is happening throughout the year in Whistler, click Whistler Calendar of Events.