9 things to do in the Fraser Valley this April

Explore the past. Cherish the present. Preserve the future. Or just have fun.

April always brings a sense of rebirth, and this month, Fraser Valley residents will have a chance to to shake off the winter blues and enjoy community-focused events and activities.

Celebrate the past with walking tours for Sikh Heritage Month in Abbotsford and a festival of voyageurs in Langley, look to the future with an Earth Day clean- up, or simply appreciate the present, with guided hikes, nature days, and Indigenous dance.

Langley

In Langley, folks can shop for themselves and support people in need, spend some time getting to know local history, and help save the earth.

Power of the Purse

Who knew buying a purse and some earrings could help Langley residents in need? Soroptimist International of the Langleys is hosting a shopping-centric evening on Thursday, April 10 to raise funds for Langley Memorial Hospitals Whatever It Takes Fund. The fund helps vulnerable patients at the hospital transition back to their home life. Donations cover costs like groceries, house cleaning, or hiring someone to help organize medication or arrange appointments. https://www.lchhfoundation.com/whatever-it-takes

The Power of the Purse event will have gently-used purses and jewelry available for purchase, as well as a 50/50 draw, mystery bags, and a live auction. Tickets also come with a burger, salad, fries, and your choice of beverage.

Power of the Purse takes place at the George Preston Recreation Centre on Thursday, April 10 from 6pm to 9pm. Tickets are roughly $50 each, and available online.

Vive les Voyageurs Festival

Take a step back in history to learn about the French-Canadian and Métis communities who helped build Fort Langley.

The Fort Langley National Historic Site hosts its 15th annual Vive les Voyageurs Festival on the weekend of April 12 and 13. The festival includes Métis beading demonstrations and maple taffy tasting, as well as presentations on beaver trapping, blacksmithing, coopering, trade routes, and moose hide coat-making. Visitors can also buy poutine at the on-site Ancestor Café and Indigenous art at the new gift shop.

The festival is open during regular historic site hours, and regular admission fees apply. If you want to learn more about Fort Langley, you can read our two-part series on the Hudson’s Bay Company’s early history in Langley, or what happened after the company left the fort.

Earth Day

Celebrate the earth in Langley this Earth Day. The City of Langley is hosting an Earth Day event in Douglas Park on Saturday, April 26, in association with the Langley Environmental Protection Society. The event starts at 10am and goes until 2pm; if you arrive on bike, you can take advantage of the free bike valet service. The day includes Indigenous plant and seed giveaways, unspecified workshops, live music, and the opportunity to try out an ebike.

Township residents are invited to do their part to help the earth by joining a community clean-up on April 26. Participants can host a private clean up in their neighbourhood, or join a community one in Walnut Grove, Willoughby, or Fort Langley. The garbage-picking events begin at 9am and go until 2pm. The deadline to register to join community clean up or host your own private one is Wednesday, April 16. People who register in advance will get gloves, safety vests, garbage pickers, and garbage bags.

Abbotsford-Mission

In Abbotsford and Mission this month, people can celebrate the Sikh history, take a guided hike out in nature, and get in a few laughs with one of the biggest names in comedy.

Sikh Heritage Month

April is Sikh Heritage Month in BC. Although many events are happening in Vancouver and Surrey—including Surrey’s famous Vaisakhi parade—there are a few ways to celebrate the month in Abbotsford as well.

On Sunday, April 6 Dr. Sharanjit Kaur Sandhra will host a walking tour at Abbotsford’s Gur Sikh Temple, a national historic site and the oldest standing Gurdwara in the western hemisphere. The walking tour begins at 1pm, and will take visitors on a journey of historical Sikh resistance in Abbotsford and North America.

On Friday, April 11, the temple will also be home to an evening of soulful kirtan, hosted by Kirtan in the Valley and Nirbaan Kirtan. An evening of music and chant will begin at 6pm and go until 9pm.

Hike Mission - Bear Mountain Moon Rock

It’s spring, so get outside. Mission’s recreation staff are hosting a guided hike up Bear Mountain on Sunday, April 13. The hike will follow a 3.1km out-and-back forest trail, pausing near the top at a boulder named Moon Rock. If the weather co-operates, there is a great view from Moon Rock at the top of the mountain.

The hike is suited for intermediate-level hikers. Dogs are allowed if they are on a leash. After a pause and snack at the top, the group will connect back to Corduroy Trail.

The hike begins at 10am, and is expected to end around noon. Participants should meet in the Saunders Trail parking lot off Saunders Street at Richards Avenue.

Jerry Seinfeld Live

The man who gave the world “low-talkers,” “re-gifting,” and “double-dipping” is bringing his unique brand of stand-up comedy to Abbotsford Centre. Jerry Seinfeld will be on stage for a night of jokes and laughs on Friday, April 25. The show will include new jokes prepared just for the 2025 tour, and likely some classics.

The Abbotsford show is part of Seinfeld’s most recent tour, and is his only stop in mainland BC. On Saturday, April 26, he’ll be in Victoria, and then it’s off to Texas and the rest of the United States. There are still tickets available for the Abbotsford show. Prices range between $80 (for a limited-view seat) and $1,000 (for a front-row view) for the Abbotsford show. Doors open at 6:30pm, and the show itself starts at 7:30pm.

Eastern Fraser Valley

In Chilliwack and beyond, folks can get the kids outside with a free nature day, celebrate Indigenous dance and tradition, or watch farmers mark the start of spring with a century-old plowing competition.

Chilliwack Plowing Match

The Chilliwack Plowing Match returns to Greendale Acres in Chilliwack on Saturday, April 5. Festivities for the 103rd competition begin at 9am starting with a by-donation pancake breakfast. (Proceeds support Chilliwack Bowls of Hope.) The actual plowing gets underway at 10am, as champions with horse-drawn plows, antique tractors, and modern equipment take to the field. Local mayors and elected officials will also try their hand at the plow—last year, Abbotsford councillor Patricia Driessen took home top prize, while MP Mark Strahl and Chilliwack Mayor Ken Popove tied for second.

The event will also feature farrier demonstrations, kid-friendly rides and games, and live music. Closing ceremonies take place at 3pm, and the doors close at 6pm.

You can check out our story from the 100th annual plowing match, with photos of the match and interviews with long-time plowing champions.

Family Nature Days

Get the kids outside with a free celebration of nature in Hope. The Hope Recreation Centre hosts Family Nature Day on Saturday, April 12 from 9 to 11am at the Rotary Nature Trail off 7th Avenue and Wardle Street. Activities are geared towards kids aged four to 12, and include nature-themed crafts, games, and challenges.

Need something else to do in Hope on that Saturday? The famous Rambo and Sheriff Teasle carvings will return to Hope Memorial Park from winter storage. The Hope tourism site doesn’t give a specific time, but if you time it right, you might get to watch the statues being set up.

Dancers of Damelahamid: Spirit and Tradition

The Dancers of Damelahamid are coming to Chilliwack to celebrate the rich tradition of Indigenous dance on Friday, April 18. The dance troupe was formed in the 1960s to help prevent the loss of Indigenous cultural traditions. The potlatch ban, which lasted from 1885 to 1951, made it illegal for Indigenous nations in Canada to openly engage with their cultural practices—the Dancers of Damelahamid was formed in response to the lifting of the ban and the desire to reignite traditional practices.

Today, the Dancers of Damelahamid share Indigenous culture with audiences through Coastal masked dances, projected imagery, soundscape, and LED puppetry. The performance will be at the Chilliwack Cultural Centre on Friday, April 18 starting at 7:30pm.

Rebecca Baker-Grenier, a Chilliwack fashion designer and member of the Dancers of Damelahamid, spoke to The Current about fashion and regalia last year.

Easter events

The Easter bunny is preparing to visit children’s homes around the Fraser Valley. While you wait, check out a few of these Easter events in Langley, Abbotsford, and the Eastern Fraser Valley.

Easter in Langley

Langley’s recreation centres will host a variety of Easter weekend events. “Easter Fun” events are being held at the Walnut Grove Community Centre, the Aldergrove Community Centre, and the WC Blair Community Centre. Each event includes festive cookie-decorating, arts and crafts, and an Easter egg hunt. There are also Easter Zumba classes for adults (bright or Easter-themed attire is encouraged), as well as a public skate at the George Preston Recreation Centre.

Registration for each event is available online, and all run between Friday, April 18 and Monday, April 21. Most are free, or have a $5 drop-in fee.

Together on a Thursday

Abbotsford’s Open Space is holding a kid-focused Easter-themed crafting time on select Thursdays. On Thursday, April 10, Open Space’s Together on a Thursday will include a beaded bracelet craft in Easter colours—$5 gets a crafter the materials to make three bracelets.

On Thursday, April 17, kids will have the opportunity to make Easter paper baskets filled with goodies. The $5 fee will get each crafter the materials for two baskets—but you don’t get to keep them both. One is for you, and the other is to give away to someone else in the community. The hope is that the shared crafting will help build community one bracelet and basket at a time.

Together on a Thursday begins at 9:30am both days, and registration is available online.

Eastern Fraser Valley egg hunts

There are a number of egg hunts taking place in the Eastern Fraser Valley

Chilliwack’s Greendale Acres will host egg hunts on Saturday, April 12, Sunday, April 13, and the Easter weekend. Admission gets you access to an Easter Bunny adventure course, the flower fields, and the egg hunt. Online tickets are recommended.

Cultus Lake Adventure Park is also holding its own Easter egg hunt on the same days. The hunt will take place throughout the entire park; doors open at 10:15am with the hunt starting at 10:30am. Tickets also get you regular admission to the park starting at 11am.

Syéx̱w Chó:leqw Adventure Park in Hope is hosting its first Easter egg hunt on Saturday, April 19 between 11am and 2pm. Advance registration is required, with three times to choose from. Each kid under 13 will get a prize, and the person finding a golden egg will get a special prize.

Finally, the Easter bunny is hopping on down to Agassiz’s Pioneer Park on Saturday, April 19. An egg hunt will take place from 9:30am to 10:30am and include crafts, prizes, and hot chocolate at the Agassiz Harrison Museum.