Canada Day in Richmond, BC: The Insider’s Guide

Searching for the region’s best Canada Day party? The beloved Steveston Salmon Festival is back for its 79th edition on July 1—and once again it’s serving up a flag-waving fiesta of family-friendly fun.

Transforming shoreline Steveston Village into a daylong extravaganza of free or low-cost activities, the 2026 event includes everything from a street parade to cultural displays and from delicious seafood to a packed playbill of live music.

Ready to wrap yourself in red-hued clothing, gather all your friends and family and sing O Canada at the drop of a hat? Our exclusive insider’s guide will help you plan your very own spectacular July 1 day out in Richmond.

WHEN SHOULD I ARRIVE?

Consider starting your party early with a hearty Pancake Breakfast in the Catch of the Day Zone (click on the festival map for location information). Served from 8:00am onwards, it’s available for a minimum donation of $5 per plate. It’s also a great way to fuel-up before staking out your ideal viewing spot for the 10:00am parade.

TELL ME MORE ABOUT THE PARADE?

Metro Vancouver’s biggest Canada Day street parade is a sparkling cavalcade of decorated floats, vintage vehicles, marching bands and––of course––Sammy the Salmon, the event’s famously fishy mascot. Rolling through the village from 10:00am to noon, the parade starts at Garry Point Park and ends at Railway Avenue. Click on the festival map above to view the full parade route.

But it’s not the only procession you can watch here. At 9:30am, you’ll also find the charming Kids’ Bike Parade, with dozens of local and visiting children proudly riding past the cheering crowds. This extra parade––featuring decorated bikes, wagons, scooters and kids in Canada-themed costumes––starts at the Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site parking lot.

WHAT ELSE CAN I SEE?

After the parade, make your way to Steveston Community Park, which radiates from the intersection of Moncton Street and No. 1 Road. In and around the park, you’ll find a huge array of things to see and do. This includes live stages, two special zones for children and the Net Shed––complete with a marketplace and the always-popular Japanese Cultural Show.

Across Moncton Street, you’ll also find the Spirit of Steveston Zone, which houses the event’s largest live stage as well as food trucks and adult beverage options. It’s just a few steps from Sponsor Row where local businesses and organizations will showcase themselves with stands and interactive activities.

TELL ME MORE ABOUT THE KIDS’ ZONES.

Steveston’s Canada Day celebration is a family-forward event with lots of attractions and activities for children of all ages. Younger kids will love Sammy’s Fun Zone, complete with button making, face painting, wandering performers and more. There may even be an appearance from superstar Sammy himself!

Older kids should beeline to the Salmon Run Youth Zone, which will be hosting lots of sports demonstrations and participatory activities, ranging from soccer to skateboarding and from hockey to curling. There’s also a live stage here with scheduled performances from Ginalina, Blackberry Wood and more.

HOW MUCH LIVE MUSIC WILL THERE BE?

The stage in the Salmon Run Youth Zone is open to everyone, of course. But it’s not the only performance area you’ll find during your visit––in fact, there’s a jam-packed roster of diverse, toe-tapping acts to catch at sites and stages throughout the festival area, including the Catch of the Day Stage and the aforementioned stage in the Spirit of Steveston Zone.

Among this year’s entertaining acts to look out for are crowd-pleasers such as The Good Vibe Guys and Barney Bentall and the Legendary Hearts. You’ll also find top-notch tribute acts channeling everyone from Ray Charles to Tina Turner and the Tragically Hip. And there’s a healthy array of Richmond-based performers to catch, including The Buttery Biscuits, a young local band specializing in rock and pop.

Before you arrive, check out the full line-up of acts, stages and performance times here.

WILL THERE BE ANYTHING TO EAT?

The day’s culinary highpoint is the iconic Salmon Bake, which runs from 11:00am until supplies are exhausted––and which typically serves more than 1,100 pounds of barbecued wild salmon. It costs $23 per plate and includes a juicy, wood-fired salmon fillet plus sides. Hot tip: arrive early to avoid the long line-ups!

Another returning favourite this year is the $10 Chow Mein Booth. It’s joined by a full menu of around two dozen food trucks dotted around the site, serving everything from tacos to Thai food and from mini doughnuts to smoked barbecue.

IS THERE ANYWHERE TO TAKE A BREATHER FROM THE CROWDS?

The free-entry Steveston Tram, Steveston Museum and Post Office and Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site will all be open on July 1. And the Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site is also offering free admission all summer long, under the Canada Strong Pass program. And if you need a refreshing outdoorsy breather, we also recommend walking to shoreline Garry Point Park to find a relaxing spot by the water.

HOW DO I GET TO THE FESTIVAL?

We strongly suggest leaving the car at home. The roads around Steveston will be full and some will be closed on the day. Parking is also limited. However, the festival will be operating a free shuttle bus, covering two routes, on July 1. Details on the shuttle and other transportation information can be found here.

Richmond’s popular (and also free) Discovery Shuttle will also be running. And don’t forget that transit provides lots of options for reaching Steveston––check the Trip Planner tool on the TransLink website for information. Alternatively, you can ride your bike to the event and park (for free) at a designated bike valet.

EVENT DETAILS

Steveston Salmon Festival
Date: Wednesday July 1, 2026 (Canada Day)
Location: Steveston Village
Admission: FREE!

Last Updated on June 23, 2026 by Tourism Richmond