Canada Day is a time to celebrate the vibrant culture of our city. Whether your favourite part of the holiday is the food or making memories with your family, the Steveston Salmon Festival has something for everyone.
The all-day festival kicks off with a parade through Steveston Village, and continues until the evening with live music, roving entertainers, and the iconic Salmon Bake. The mouthwatering, wood-fired salmon filets make for the perfect lunch, just be sure to get in line before it sells out.
Keep reading for tips on how to make the most of your Canada Day at this year’s 77th Steveston Salmon Festival, including ways to win a special prize!
Come hungry: Food is the name of the game. Start your day with a hot stack of fluffy pancakes served up at the Steveston Community Center from 8 a.m.–11 a.m. And you’ll want to head to the Salmon Bake and Chow Mein booths early in order to get a taste of these popular festival favourites. But don’t stress if you miss them: there’s lots of tasty bites to enjoy from the 20+ food trucks this year.
Sit back and relax: The big parade starts at 10 a.m. But if you arrive early, you can catch the Kids’ Bike Parade from 9:30 a.m. This charming pre-show features children from across Richmond warming up the parade route while decked out in their finest Canada Day gear.
More than 2,000 filets are baked over a wood-fired barbecue at the iconic Salmon Bake. Photo via Jennifer Strang, courtesy of City of Richmond.
Skip the parking stress: The roads leading into Steveston Village will be closed from 8 a.m., so skip the parking spot scavenger hunt this year. Cyclists can park their bikes at the Wheel Watch by the Community Police Station from 9 a.m.–7 p.m. or at the Steveston Bike Valet in the Gulf of Georgia National Historic Site parking lot from 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Not to mention, a free shuttle service will be available all day. Buses will run from Richmond City Hall to Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site from 9 a.m.–7 p.m., and another shuttle bus from West Richmond Community Centre to the Gulf of Georgia Cannery from 12:30–7 p.m.
Limited accessible parking spots will be available at Chatham St. and No. 1 Road.
Stay refreshed: Food and beverages will be available throughout the day, and those looking for an adult refreshment can head to the Spirit of Steveston Zone from 1–7 p.m. Extra bonus tip: headliners Dr. Strangelove will hit the stage at 5:30 p.m.
Find a moment to relax: If the excitement of the day gets to be too much for you or your little ones, head to the designated Sensory Free Space inside the Richmond Public Library at the Steveston Community Centre. Featuring a quiet and cozy setting, the space also includes privacy for nursing parents and sensory kits that can be signed out for use during the festival.
Find your way: There’s a lot of exciting changes coming to the Steveston Community Centre, and that means construction. Follow the signs to the east side of the festival grounds, which will house the Salmon Bake, family-friendly acts at the brand-new Catch of the Day Stage, and more.
Snap a photo with Sammy the Salmon and use the hashtag #SammySelfie to be entered to win a special prize! Photo via Jennifer Strang, courtesy of City of Richmond.
Take a souvenir photo: No Steveston Salmon Festival is complete without the beloved Sammy the Salmon mascot, who will be roaming all day to chat with festival-goers. Snap a selfie with Sammy and upload your photo to Instagram using the hashtag #SammySelfie to be automatically entered to win a special prize!
