Canada Day is Wednesday, July 1, 2009.
Spending Canada Day in Vancouver? These top five events are the way to spend it.
1. Canada Day at Granville Island & MELA! South Asian Festival
Image Courtesy of MELA! Festivals
What: Granville Island's huge Canada Day celebration includes a Parade, a Truly Canadian Pancake Breakfast, an official Canada Day Ceremony, live jazz, performers, False Creek Ferry Ballet, and MELA!, a South Asian cultural extravaganza of song, traditional dance, Bollywood fashions, mouth-watering food, and more.
When: 7am - midnight
Where: Granville Island
2. Canada Day at Canada Place - Street Festival & Parade
What: Canada Place has always been a hot spot for Canada Day--it co-produces the Burrard Inlet Fireworks that are Number 5 on this list--but this is the first year they're extending the festivities with a parade and street festival.
When: Street Festival: 10am - 7pm; Parade starts at 7pm
Where: Street Festival at Canada Place; Parade starts at the corner of Georgia Street & Broughton Street.
3. 2009 Surrey Canada Day
Image Courtesy of City of Surrey
What: OK, this one is not actually in Vancouver....But it has to go on this list because Surrey's Canada Day celebration is both the biggest Canada Day event in western Canada and one of the biggest outdoor concerts in B.C. And it's all FREE! This year's headliners: Bif Naked and 54-40. The Fruiticana Fireworks Spectacular follows the concert.
When: 10am - 11pm
Where: Cloverdale Millennium Amphitheatre, Surrey
4. Yaletown Grand Prix
Photo © Greg Descantes
What: First held in 2004, this now-annual Canada Day bike race attracts hundreds of participants and thousands of spectators. Bike yourself or watch the cyclists in this exciting high speed race around Yaletown, and check out the kids' races for fun for the whole family.
When: 1pm - 6:30pm
Where: Race starts on Mainland St., Yaletown. Course details here.
5. Canada Day Burrard Inlet Fireworks Show
Image Courtesy of Canada Place Corporation
What: Cap off your Canada Day celebrations with this pyrotechnic extravaganza! Happening in Burrard Inlet, the 3rd annual Fireworks Show will be visible from Downtown, West Vancouver, North Vancouver, and Vancouver's west side.
When: 10:30pm - 11pm
Where: Vancouver Downtown and west side
