Where to celebrate Canada Day around the Lower Mainland
There are no fireworks in the City of Vancouver to celebrate Canada’s 157th birthday, but that doesn’t mean you won’t be able to catch any.
You can watch fireworks in:
- Surrey;
- Port Coquitlam;
- Coquitlam; and
- Burnaby.
As well, there are plenty of other things to do around the region.
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City of Vancouver
Vancouver is hosting an event at and around Canada Place and Jack Poole Plaza, with indoor and outdoor performances featuring Said the Whale, Fake Shark, and the Free Label. There is also an Indigenous display, a kids’ zone, food trucks, and a beer garden with a DJ.
The day starts at 9:30 a.m. with a citizenship ceremony in a ballroom.
The rest of the events run from 11 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.
City of Surrey
Surrey bills itself as having Western Canada’s largest Canada Day event, and this year will feature the Sheepdogs, Sass Jordan, the White Thunder Dance Theatre, DJ Marvel, and more.
The events take place at and around the Bill Reid Millennium Amphitheatre in Cloverdale starting at 10:45 a.m. at the Prospera Main Stage.
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The day will be topped off by fireworks at 10:15 p.m.
City of Burnaby
Burnaby has several events planned to mark the day at multiple sites around the city, ending with fireworks at the end of the day.
Edmonds Plaza and Park: live entertainment, kids’ activities, games, cake. 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Burnaby Village Museum: multicultural family entertainment, displays, demonstrations, face-painting. 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
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Civic Square, Central Boulevard, and Central Park: performers including Tiger Really, Hayley Wallis, Tanika Charles, and Dear Rouge.
The evening ends with a bang with fireworks at 10:15 in Central Park.
City of New Westminster
New Westminster’s celebrations start June 29 with an indoor playland at the Queensborough Community Centre.
On Monday, Canada Day by the River takes place between 12:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., with food vendors, live music, a circus, and children’s activities.
City of Coquitlam
Coquitlam is hosting events starting at noon and running until 10 p.m. at Town Centre Park. Performances include hip hop dancing, juggling, japanese pop, reggae, and a Bollywood performance. Fireworks top off the evening at 10 p.m.
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City of Port Moody
Port Moody is hosting several events at Rocky Point Park, starting a day early.
On Sunday, June 30, Port Moody is kicking it old school and bringing in 1980s Canadian rock band Trooper as part of the annual Golden Spike Days Festival. Admission is by donation.
On July 1, the city is hosting a “Pop-Up City Hall” from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m., and kids can apply to be mayor for the day. More details can be found on the city’s website.
A ceremony with performances and a crowd-wide singing of O Canada will start at 1 p.m. at the PCT Performance Stage.
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City of Port Coquitlam
The City of Port Coquitlam is going all out for the day, starting with a fishing derby at Lions Park from 8 a.m. until 11 a.m.
This is followed by a pancake breakfast from 9:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. at the Port Coquitlam Community Centre.
Performers, activities, food trucks, and a beer garden follow throughout the day. At 8:40 p.m., headliner Tim Hicks takes to the stage.
And last but not least, the evening ends with fireworks for the grand finale.
More information is available on the City of Port Coquitlam’s website.
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Other events are set to take place in North Vancouver’s Shipyards, the Township of Langley, Fort Langley, Steveston, and Maple Ridge.