10 Ways to Celebrate Canada Day in Vancouver
Vancouver’s varied cultural and artistic landscape makes it an exciting place to fête the rich diversity of the country on Canada Day (July 1).
Below are 10 ways to spend Canada Day in Vancouver:
Canada Place will see the return of Canada Together (July 1, 11am-6pm), historically the biggest Canada Day event beyond Ottawa. This year’s theme is “Weaving together the fabric of a nation,” with festivities planned in collaboration with the host nations, the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh. Presented by the Port of Vancouver, the event features an exciting array of programming, which includes a Main Stage; a Port Community Zone with displays, speakers, and activities; a Kids’ Zone with storytelling, performances, and activities; an Indigenous Marketplace and Displays; a Citizenship Ceremony; and food trucks serving diverse multicultural cuisine.
Fireworks are taking place in various locations in Metro Vancouver. These include Surrey Canada Day (Bill Reid Millennium Amphitheatre, 10am-10:30pm), which culminates in fireworks at 10:15pm; Abbotsford’s Canada Day Family Festival (Abbotsford Exhibition Park, 1pm onwards) with fireworks at 10pm; StreetFest on Central in Burnaby (Civic Square, Central Boulevard, and Central Park, 6:30pm-10:30pm), which concludes with fireworks in Central Park (10:15pm); and the City of Coquitlam Canada Day (Town Centre Park, noon-10:30pm), which will let off fireworks at 10pm.
For a belated Canada Day celebration, make sure to attend Vancouver’s Honda Celebration of Light, which will spotlight an all Canadian line-up: July 19 (Yukon), July 23 (Quebec), and July 26 (Nova Scotia).
The Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art, situated in the heart of downtown, is a special place, dedicated to honouring the legacy of master artist Bill Reid and celebrating the vitality of Northwest Coast Art. The Gallery currently has three exhibitions well worth visiting: Kihl ‘Yahda Christian White (until February 1, 2026) showcases the Haida artist’s 50-year career; Vital Signs (until September 7, 2025) is a group exhibition that meditates on climate change and impacts on traditional Indigenous territories; and Potlatch Gifts (until January 25, 2026), curated by Amelia Rea, which considers the traditions within potlatch gift-giving.
VALUE: Rebecca Belmore at the Museum of Anthropology (until October 19, 2025) is a provocative bringing together of works by the Anishinaabe artist, who confronts the effects of colonialism on Indigenous peoples and the valuing of their territories, bodies, and cultures through the lens of capitalism. This exhibition considers other more community-oriented ways of considering value, rooted in specific places and events.
The Steveston Salmon Festival (July 1, 9:30am-7pm, across Steveston Village) in Richmond has become a beloved tradition since 1944. Now, celebrating its 78th anniversary, the Festival includes a parade, a marketplace, a Salmon Run Zone with sports and live youth performances, a Catch of the Day Zone with live performances, a Spirit of Steveston Zone with performances and adult bevies, an art show, a Japanese cultural show, food trucks, and their iconic Salmon Bake, along with a Chow Mein Booth and Pancake Breakfast.
Picturesque Granville Island welcomes all to their family-friendly Canada Day Celebrations (10am-6pm), this year taking place at their new Chain & Forge outdoor event space. The day will start with a “water ballet” by the False Creek Ferries at 8am, with the Canada Day festivities including live performances, food vendors, kids’ activities, dance classes, local artisans, and at 1pm, a Canada Day Ceremony with the anthem and complimentary cake. Consider grabbing treats at Lee’s Donuts or enjoying a meal at one of Granville Island’s many eateries, such as The Sandbar and Dockside.
Granville Island is also one of the sites for the Vancouver International Jazz Festival, which begins June 20 and concludes on Canada Day. There are four free concerts featuring local artists happening on July 1, all at Ocean Artworks on Granville Island: Evan Arntzen Quartet with Special Guest Lloyd Arntzen (noon); Feven Kidane Plays Dido & the Handpeople (2:45pm); The ReViberators (5:30pm); and Cowboy Bepop Bepop Band (8:15pm).
Canada Day is an opportunity to recognize the hard work and talent of local producers. Since April, The Flying Pig in Yaletown has been offering a special “Oh Canada” food and drink menu that changes every month or two. The menu showcases their commitment to seasonal Canadian ingredients in dishes that are delicious and cosetting. Chapter Two of the “Oh Canada” menu features appetizers of grilled Fanny Bay oysters; parmesan-crusted bone marrow and Alberta beef tartare with grilled garlic bread; and Canadian burrata with a charred local beet salad; mains like a generously portioned double cut Fraser Valley pork chop with crushed potatoes, roasted carrots, and shallots, and Okanagan apple sauce; and a dessert of maple crème brûlée with a homey oatmeal cookie. The “Oh Canada” drink list includes a refreshing cocktail called Okanagan Sunrise, in addition to selections from local wineries such as Burrowing Owl, Lake Breeze, and Monte Creek.
Take the SeaBus to North Vancouver’s Lonsdale Quay, and you’ll be able to walk to the Shipyards, the venue for Canada Day celebrations (11am-7pm) hosted by the Rotary Club of Lions Gate, North Vancouver, an annual tradition for over 30 years. The event will include a beer garden by Beere Brewing, food trucks, young artists’ and community stalls, children’s activities at the Pipe Shop, and live performances (e.g., Melanie Dekker, Mostly Marley). For sit down eating, grab lunch or dinner at nearby restaurants, such as PIER 7 or Nook.
Marvel at the spectacular beauty and breadth of Canada on Awaken Canada at Flyover in Vancouver. Located at Canada Place, the attraction is an immersive ride (with sounds and scents) over the nation, giving awe-inspiring views of the North, in addition to the West Coast, the prairies, central Canada, and the East Coast. The journey includes cityscapes in addition to remote wilderness.