Canada Day, Pride celebrations, and music festivals: the best of July in the Fraser Valley

Summer is heating up and so is the Fraser Valley’s events calendar.

While some summertime activities like biking and basking in the summer sun don’t necessarily require scheduling there are some July events you’ll want to mark on your calendar.

Today, we rundown a selection of the best of July happenings in the Fraser Valley—including where you can find a Canada Day celebration in your community.

Canada Day

You likely won’t come by any fireworks displays this Canada Day but there are still many ways to enjoy July 1 with family and friends.

In Langley City, Douglas Park will play host to a party from noon to 4pm. Enjoy a barbecue, bouncy castle, kids’ games, face painting, live music, a beer garden, and more. RSVP to the free event.

Langley Township has two birthday parties happening July 1: one at Aldergrove Athletic Park, another in Fort Langley. The Canadian Museum of Flight is also hosting an event to honour bush pilots who journeyed all across Canada from the 1920s through to the present day. The day will also include crafts and a book reading with a pilot. Admission is by donation.

Celebrations in Abbotsford get underway at 8am. The festivities include a special flea market, marketplace, entertainment, parade, food trucks and a 10pm light show finale.

Mission will be serving up pancakes and bannock to start the day followed by numerous family-friendly activities, live entertainment, and a monster foam party at Fraser Heritage Park.

In Chilliwack, Canada Day will be celebrated at Townsend Park with a family-friendly event featuring entertainment, activities, food trucks, and a beer garden. Other events around town include pancake breakfasts, free swimming and skating, and cultural exhibits.

In Hope, The Hope & Valley Cruisers and Hope Motorsports are hosting a Canada Day Car Show at Memorial Park. In the evening, festivities move to 6th Ave. Park, where there will be live entertainment, axe-throwing, and children’s activities. Mountainview Brewing hosts a Canada Day patio concert starting at 3pm.

In Agassiz, visit Pioneer Park to celebrate Canada Day at the carnival. Enjoy a pancake breakfast, dance to live music, try your luck at one of the carnival games, or take a dip at the Ferny Coombe Pool during the free swim and have a slice of birthday cake.

In Harrison Hot Springs, celebrations start at 8:30am with a pancake breakfast. Other events include a pet parade, a human parade, entertainment, children’s activities, drum-making, and a memorial light parade late at night.

Show your pride 🏳️‍🌈

Pride month might be over but the celebrations continue. Fraser Valley Pride is celebrating 11 years, and you can show your pride at this year’s festival on July 29 at Mission’s Fraser River Heritage Park. The free family-friendly event includes vendor booths, live entertainment, and more.

The University of the Fraser Valley’s student union is providing a shuttle service to the festival in Mission. The shuttle departs from the Abbotsford campus at 2pm and returns at 6pm. Seats on can be reserved ahead of time.

Showing off your pride isn’t just reserved for Fraser Valley Pride. Supporters can participate in events all summer long. Chilliwack Pride hosts a Drag Bingo on the first Wednesday of every month at Sidekick Brewing and on the third Sunday of every month at Bricklayer Brewing.

Festivals & Fairs 🍭

July seems to be the unofficial kickoff to festival season. Abbotsford’s popular Jam in Jubilee music and arts event takes place Thursdays in July from 7 to 10pm at Jubliee Park. View a full list of performances online.

One of the valley’s largest festivals returns to Harrison July 7. The Harrison Festival of the Arts is a 10-day event that features local, national and international performers. Visitors can also stroll by the beach and take in a selection of hand-crafted items on display at the festival’s juried artisan market. (The Current profiled Nancy Arcand about what it takes to cut it as an artist. Find that story online.)

On July 14, the Aldergrove Fair gets underway at the Aldergrove Athletic Park. The three-day country fair will include a beer garden, kids zone, and unique entertainment and events like the Fast Draw World Championships and an antique tractor pull. Entry is by donation.

Later in the month the Fort Langley Jazz & Arts Festival will take over the historic community beginning July 20. The four-day event will feature world-class artists and emerging talent. The festival will have both ticketed and free events.

If you don’t fancy jazz, further east in the valley the 36th annual Mission Folk Music Festival will return to Fraser River Heritage Park from July 21 to 23. The three day festival includes music, dance, children’s activities, an art market, food vendors and camping.

Book club 📚

The Fraser Valley Regional Library is hosting a Journey Through Time reading club for readers of all ages: kids, teens, and adults. Record your reading for a chance to win prizes. The Summer Reading Club is administered online. Register and read all the details online.

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