This year, Canada Day is celebrated on a Sunday (July 1) and Monday (July 2) is observed as a holiday, which literally translates to a longer weekend filled with celebration, excitement, and all-round family fun. You can expect tons of entertainment in the form of parades and night time firework shows, so there’s really lots of options to choose from to celebrate and get together with your loved ones.
Here are our top 2018 Canada Day event picks that you can choose from:
Canada Day @ Granville Island
For all-round festivities and one of the best possible venues for young children, it has to be celebrating Canada Day at Granville Island.
Things to Look Forward to:
- An official Canada Day ceremony (from 2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.)
- A Canada Day parade (from 1:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.)
- Lots of food trucks and restaurant options
- Live music, art and entertainment
- A multicultural fair
- Granville Island Water Park (FREE) and Granville Island Kids' Market
Note: You can easily bring your own picnic blanket to plonk yourself down on.
Location: Granville Island, Vancouver, BC
Time and Date: 8 a.m. to Midnight (1 July, 2018)
Admission: FREE
Contact: 604-666-6655
Website: https://granvilleisland.com/canada-day
Waterfront Party @ Canada Place
As the host of Downtown Vancouver’s biggest Canada Day celebration, you can expect tons of fun and entertainment at this year’s Waterfront Party!
Things to Look Forward to:
- Live music and entertainment on three stages
- Kids’ activities
- A circus show
- Live citizenship ceremony
- Street hockey
- Lumberjack show
- Lots of food trucks
Note: Due to rising costs, the annual Canada Day Parade has been discontinued as of 2018. However, the lighting of the Olympic Torch will continue on at Jack Poole Plaza.
Location: 100 The Pointe, 999 Canada Place, Vancouver, B.C. Canada V6C 3T4
Time and Date: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (1 July, 2018)
Admission: FREE
Contact: 604-665-9000
Website: https://www.canadaplace.ca/events/canada-day/
Steveston Salmon Festival @ Steveston Village
Look forward to gorging on plenty of fresh salmon at the 73rd Annual Steveston Salmon Festival this July 1st!
Things to Look Forward to:
- Special themed Canada Day parade (starts at 10 a.m.)
- Kids’ bike parade (starts at 9:30 a.m.)
- Salmon barbecue (10 a.m. until sold out)
- Pancake breakfast (starts at 6:30 a.m.)
- Japanese cultural show
- Children and youth festival
- Food fair and food trucks
Note: Although there will be over 1,200 pounds of wild salmon barbecue fillets, it’s a really popular event (at $16/plate), so you’ll want to head there as early as possible.
Location: 4111 Moncton Street, Richmond, British Columbia, V7E 3A8
Time and Date: 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. (1 July, 2018)
Admission: FREE
Contact: 604-238-8080
Website: http://stevestonsalmonfest.ca/
Surrey Canada Day @ Bill Reid Millennium Amphitheatre
Although this venue isn’t in Vancouver, its addition to this list is a no-brainer as it is both the biggest Canada Day event in Western Canada and one of the biggest outdoor concerts in B.C.
Things to Look Forward to:
- Fireworks show (starts at 10:30 p.m.)
- Epic line of performers
- Lots of food trucks
- Surrey Rides All-Wheels Jam (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
- Tons of fun information and activity booths
- Kid’s World and Toddler Town
Note: If you’re a fan of Serena Ryder and Brett Kissel, you’ve definitely got to join in on the fun!
Location: Bill Reid Millennium Amphitheatre, Surrey, 176 Street & 64th Avenue
Time and Date: 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. (1 July, 2018)
Admission: FREE
Website: https://www.surrey.ca/canadaday/
Run Canada Day @ Pacific Spirit Park
Even with all the festivities and celebrations around, you can always inject some healthy adrenaline into Canada Day by participating in the 10K, 5K, or 1K Run/Walk.
Things to Look Forward to:
- 10K Run/Walk (starts at 10:10 a.m.)
- 5K Run/Walk (starts at 10:05 a.m.)
- 1K Kids Run/Senior Walk (starts at 10 a.m.)
Note: Donations of $50 or more for Diabetes Canada will entitle you to free entry for the run (do check the website for more info)
Location: Pacific Spirit Park, 5495 Chancellor Blvd, Vancouver, BC V6T 1E4
Time and Date: Warm-ups start at 9:45 a.m. (1 July, 2018)
Price: $50/person (Cash Only)
Contact: 604-221-1685
Website: http://www.runcanadaday.com/
One of the best ways to travel around is with our Vancouver ground transportation service. Instead of fighting your way through the crowds and traffic, you can look forward to relaxing at the back while our experience chauffeurs take over the wheel. If you’ll like to enjoy our chauffeuring service, just give us a call or book our services online. We’ll definitely love to hear from you! Count on our Vancouver car service to have an exceptional experience.
