From the pancake breakfast at 8 a.m. to a full parade at 10 a.m. to fireworks at 10:15 p.m. the Steveston Salmon Festival and Canada Day celebrations are back in full force in Richmond.
After three years of muted celebrations because of the COVID-19 pandemic – the one in 2020 being completely online – the parade has been incorporated back this year, filling in the last missing puzzle piece.
Programming is centred at four festival districts: at Garry Point, Steveston Village, Steveston Community Centre and Britannia.
Road access will be limited, so festival goers are encouraged to come by foot, bike, scooter or wheelchair.
Some streets will be closed from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m, including Moncton Street between 3rd Avenue and Bayview Street and No. 1 Road (south of Moncton) and Bayview Street. The entire parade route will be closed off until at least noon, or until the parade has cleared the route.
To get things started, a $5 pancake breakfast will be served in the Steveston Community Centre parking lot beginning at 8 a.m.
After filling up on pancakes, kids can take part in the Kids’ Bike Parade on decorated bikes, wagons or scooters. No pre-registration is required, kids should just show up at the Gulf of Georgia Cannery parking lot no later than 9:15 a.m. as the bike parade starts at 9:30 a.m. sharp. Helmets are mandatory and an adult must accompany all children.
The bike parade will be followed by the float parade, complete with participants from a variety of community groups. The parade route starts at Garry Point Park and wends its way to Railway Avenue.
Food, entertainment, vendors and artwork will fill in the rest of the festival.
Multiple stages will be set up from Steveston Village to the Britannia Shipyards and roving entertainment will perform, all offering entertainment from noon to 5 p.m.
For those who want to take a peek at some artwork, local artists will be displaying their work in the multi-purpose room at the Steveston Community Centre from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. A horticultural show also will take place inside the community centre.
Food will be served throughout the day by food vendors, with the famous Salmon Bake, that starts at 11 a.m., being the highlight. Festival organizers estimate there will be 2,000 salmon bake meals sold on the day. The cost is $20 per meal and will be sold until supplies run out.
The Salmon Bake is located at the east side of the community centre parking lot.
Besides the kids’ bike parade, there will be lots for children to take part in.
Sammy’s Fun Zone at the community centre playground includes face-painting and performers.
And at the Steveston community police station, just to the east of the community centre, there will be inflatables and carnival rides. Tickets for “Bouncy Town” are $10 each or $25 for a pack of three. Wristbands go on sale on Monday, June 26 at the community centre.
Steveston Salmon Festival activities wrap up around 5 p.m. but as a finale, at 10:15 p.m. there will be Canada Day fireworks. Those who want to see the fireworks are encouraged to gather on the boardwalk anywhere between Garry Point Park and Britannia Shipyards.
Fireworks will be set off from a barge near Shady Island.
For a full list of what’s happening at the Steveston Salmon Festival Canada Day festivities, including a map and information about road closures, go to StevestonSalmonFest.ca.
