Nine things to do in the Fraser Valley this August

August: The last month of unfettered freedom for the valley’s school-age kids.

The Fraser Valley’s event organizers are making sure the month won’t go uncelebrated for both kids and parents, with a wide variety of events across the region. 

From sky-high performances to barnyard contests, bicycle fundraisers to art markets, the Fraser Valley is offering a plethora of fun for everyone in the family.

Langley

This month, Langley events are all about art, history, and food.

Outdoor Fine Arts Fair

Seventeen local artists will be sharing their talents at Langley’s second annual Outdoor Fine Arts Fair on Saturday, Aug. 3 and Sunday, Aug. 4.

The Saturday portion of the fair will feature a number of kid-friendly workshops and activities, including free face-painting by Vancouver artist Gabrielle Strauss. An 11am kite painting workshop will interest kids aged five to nine, while the 1:15pm backpack painting workshop is for youth ages 10 to 15. (The workshops are both by donation and require pre-registration, which you can do here.)

On Sunday, Douglas Park will be filled with local artists sharing their talents and offering some pieces for sale. The artists include Langley hobbyist Garima Wilson, self-taught oil painter Laura Lim, crystal enthusiast Peggie Tsang, and blind martial arts instructor and artist Johnny Tai.

Brigade Days

The Fort Langley National Historic Site is always ready to take visitors on a trip to the past, but there is even more going on during Brigade Days on the BC Day long weekend.

Starting on Saturday, Aug. 3, visitors will be able to experience historical reenactments of life in Fort Langley during the fur trade era, as well as participate in interactive demonstrations of blacksmithing, trapping, fur trading, and shooting a black powder gun. A fur trade fashion show is on the schedule, as are creative crafts and a team-building “feats of strength” contest at 3pm on Sunday, Aug. 4.

The weekend will also feature storytelling, music, and dance from cultures involved in the fur trade, including Indigenous, Hawaiian, and Scottish traditions. Dance performances by Spirit of the Pacific will take place throughout the day on Sunday, Aug. 4.

RibFest Langley

More than 44,000 people came out to Langley’s RibFest last year—and the ribs are back to entice visitors again.

Starting at 11am on Friday, Aug. 16, visitors will be able to try rib recipes from six famous “ribbers,” as well as sample other food truck items like perogies, tacos, and ice cream. The event runs until Sunday, Aug. 18. Adult beverages from Trading Post, Camp Beer, Bordertown, and Fraser Valley Cider Company will be available to drink anywhere within the RibFest grounds.

Of course, it’s not only about food. The event will also feature live music throughout the weekend, as well as a KidZone with remote control cars, face painting mini golf, and carnival games. RibFest is free to attend, although the food costs money and donations will be accepted at the door for the four Langley-area Rotary clubs.

Abbotsford-Mission

August in Abbotsford and Mission wouldn’t be complete without the Agrifair, Airshow, and at least one pool party.

Abbotsford Agrifair

A time-honoured tradition since 1909, the Abbotsford Agrifair will be back at Exhibition Park from Friday, Aug. 2 to Sunday, Aug. 4.

Gates open at noon on Aug. 2, with chances to visit barnyard animals, watch pig races, and pursue the community marketplace. The fair’s opening ceremony begins at 5pm and festivities continue into the night with All-Star Wrestling, concerts, and classic fair rides. Saturday and Sunday will have more interactive activities, including a visit from the Grey Cup tour truck.

Country fairs like the Agrifair have been an important part of the Fraser Valley’s history for over a century. This year will be the third year since the COVID-friendly drive-thru event in 2020. You can read our stories about the history of the Fraser Valley’s fairs, how they pivoted during COVID, and what happened after.

Abbotsford International Airshow

It’s time to take to the skies—or at least crane your neck to look up at them.

The Abbotsford Airshow is back at the Abbotsford International Airport from Friday Aug. 9 to Sunday, Aug. 11 this year, with aerial performances by the US Air Force F-22 Raptor, the Canadian Forces Snowbirds, and the Royal Canadian Air Force CF-18 Hornet.

Friday’s activities will kick off with a twilight show featuring a variety of military planes, but also civilian night aerobatics and a drone show. The Saturday and Sunday events will be during the day, and include flying demonstrations, parked planes, flight simulators, craft beer tents and more. (Don’t forget to put on sunscreen—the airshow weekend is traditionally hot and the airport tarmac does not have a lot of shade.)

The full schedule of events is available online, and tickets must be purchased online in advance.

H2O Follies Year-End Summer Wrap-up

Mission is going to end its summer with a splash and a song during the H2O Follies Year-End Summer Wrap-up on Friday, Aug. 23.

The community party is spread out between two venues. The pool party kicks off at 4pm at the Mission Leisure Centre with swimming and games, while a significant amount of foam will be released at the splash park at the same time for a different kind of summer fun.

At 6:30pm, the party will move outside to the Leisure Centre ball diamond for an outdoor concert—and the debut of four uniquely local songs. Musicians Patrick Anthony, Amy Van Bergen, Miss Shauna, and Mackenzie Widdows all worked with the Mission Archives to create songs based on Mission’s history, and will be performing them for the first time on Friday, Aug. 23. The songs were part of the Mission Record project, which you can read about here and here.

Eastern Fraser Valley

The Eastern Fraser Valley is the place to be this month if you are looking for fairs, festivals, or a bike ride for a good cause.

Chilliwack Mural Festival

Big art is coming to Chilliwack during the fifth annual mural festival from Thursday, Aug. 15 to Saturday, Aug. 17.

During the Chilliwack Mural Festival, art lovers will be able to get tours of the city’s many murals, enjoy the performances of roving performers, visit an art market, and let their children loose in the Kid’s Zone. Live music will also be underway at Bricklayer Brewing on Thursday, the Sasquatch Stage at Mill Street on Friday, and the Thunderbird Stage at District 1881 on Saturday.

Of course, the mural festival isn’t just about the completed paintings. Artists will be working in different areas around Chilliwack to complete their murals in the lead up to the festival. We wrote about three of those artists here, and more details about upcoming and past murals can be found on the festival’s website.

Chilliwack Fair

The Chilliwack Fair is the oldest country fair in the valley—and it’s back for its 152nd year from Friday Aug. 9 to Sunday, Aug. 11.

The fair, which is held at the big red barns in Chilliwack’s Heritage Park, will feature 4H shows, circus school, gold panning, a train and play area, demonstrations by the Chilliwack Pickleball Club. The Chilliwack Rodeo, now in its 35th year, will also be happening during the fair and showcase barrel racing, bull riding, and rodeo clowns.

The fair is also home to a traditional home and garden contest, and visitors will be able to check out prize winning vegetables, crafts, and baked goods. The annual fruit pie contest—started by Iris Friesen nearly 20 years ago—will take place on Saturday at 10:30am, with live judging of each pie. (We’ll have a story on the fruit pie contest, including a recipe for an award-winning pie, in the weeks before the Chilliwack Fair.)

Tour de Cure

It’s a lot of sweat for a good cause. The BC Cancer Society’s Tour de Cure returns to the Fraser Valley on Saturday, Aug. 24 and Sunday, Aug 25.

The bike race will feature two different events—a two-day ride starting in Cloverdale, and a single-day ride starting in Chilliwack—designed to inspire bicyclists of all abilities to ride for cancer research. The Cloverdale run begins on Saturday, and offers two different ride lengths: a 100km route that travels through Langley and Abbotsford, and a 160km route that detours through Maple Ridge. You don’t have to be an actual racer to take part; you just need a bike and the ability to pedal it a long distance.

Day two begins in Chilliwack, with both the two-day and single-day racers leaving Chilliwack Heritage Park Sunday morning on a 100-kilometre route. The journey ends in Hope with a BBQ and family-fun day at Memorial Park in Hope.

Riders must commit to raising a minimum of $2,500, and can register online.