B.C. Day Long Weekend Events in Metro Vancouver

As the B.C. Day long weekend approaches, Metro Vancouver is gearing up with an array of events to entertain locals and visitors alike. Here’s a comprehensive guide to the festivities:

Vancouver Pride Events

The highlight of the weekend’s Pride celebrations is the annual Pride Parade, taking place on Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. This year, the parade kicks off at Denman and Davie streets, proceeding along Pacific Street to Concord Pacific Place. Concurrently, VanPrideFest will be held at Concord Pacific Place starting at noon on both Saturday and Sunday, with free entry for all.

Other notable Pride events this weekend include:

• Davie Village Pop-Up Pride: Organized by the West End Business Improvement Association, this event features live entertainment at various stages along Davie Street from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday.
• Public Disco Pride Block Party: An open-air celebration of queer dance music taking over a laneway and parking lots in Mount Pleasant from 3 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. on Saturday.

For a comprehensive list of Pride-related events organized by the Vancouver Pride Society, visit their website.

Powell Street Festival

The Powell Street Festival will be held on August 5th and 6th at Oppenheimer Park, celebrating Japanese-Canadian culture. The free festival runs from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. on both days, offering food and craft vendors, live performances, interactive workshops, and more. Visit the Powell Street Festival Society's website for more information.

Pop Up Patio at BC Place

Similar to the Canada Day weekend, BC Place is opening the city’s largest licensed outdoor patio at Terry Fox Plaza. With a capacity of 1,000, the patio will offer food, drinks, live entertainment, and lawn games starting at 2 p.m. daily from Friday through Monday. For the lineup of performers and details on food and beverage offerings, check out the BC Place website.

Portobello West Summer Market

On Saturday, head to VanDusen Botanical Garden for Portobello West’s summer market, featuring 35 B.C. artists, designers, and other “makers.” The market is free to enter and takes place in the garden’s Floral Hall from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. A list of participating vendors can be found on the Portobello West website.

Suburban Festivals

Outside of Vancouver, several metro municipalities are hosting festivals this long weekend. Here's a roundup:

• White Rock Sea Festival and Semiahmoo Days: A free, three-day festival taking place in and around Memorial Park, East Beach, and Semiahmoo Park in White Rock. The 73rd annual event includes live music, a car show, an outdoor movie screening, a torchlight parade on Saturday, and a fireworks finale on Sunday. More details can be found here.
• Harmony Arts Festival: Running daily from Friday through August 11th, this festival will take over Argyle Avenue between 14th and 16th streets on West Vancouver’s waterfront, offering free live music and celebrating visual and culinary art in the community. Additional information is available here.
• Maple Ridge Caribbean Festival: This free, two-day festival celebrates Caribbean music and culture at the Albion Fairgrounds in Maple Ridge on Saturday and Sunday. More details can be found here.

Enjoy the B.C. Day long weekend with these diverse and engaging events across Metro Vancouver, celebrating the region’s cultural richness and community spirit.