Summer in Richmond

Canada Day

Oh Canada!

Dressed in red, waving little flags, and often sporting temporary maple leaf tattoos, people of all ages roll into Steveston for a full day of fun and festivities.

What’s the Steveston Salmon Festival?
The Steveston Salmon Festival is a unique Canada Day party that also celebrates Richmond’s roots. The highlight is a huge salmon barbecue. The day-long roster of activities and entertainment includes live music, free entry to several historic sites, and a sparkling fireworks display.

When and Where to Celebrate
Canada Day celebrations take place throughout Canada on July 1, a public holiday. Richmond’s activity-packed day starts in Steveston Village in the early morning and runs into the evening. Most of the day’s activities are free! Learn more in our Insider’s Guide to Canada Day in Richmond.

What to Expect
Festivities start with a pancake breakfast, followed by a parade (look for Sammy the Salmon, a favourite local mascot). The day holds multiple stages showcasing live music, cultural performances, vintage car displays, craft and horticulture demonstrations, and much more.

If you miss the Salmon Barbecue (it starts around 10:00am), plenty of food trucks and many of Steveston’s restaurants remain open. In the evening, headline musical acts take to the largest stage before—at around 10:15pm—Steveston’s grand fireworks finale.

How to Get There
Parking in Steveston is at a premium on Canada Day, so we recommend public transit, free shuttle buses, or by bike (free bike valet services are provided).

Golfing

9 or 18? We have a Tee Time for You

Our mild weather and stunning scenery make Richmond ideal for year-round golf. From public to private courses and drive ranges to pitch and putt parks, we’re ready for you. As always on the West Coast, pack layers. 

Public Courses
Our public courses include Mayfair Lakes Golf & Country Club, Greenacres Golf Course, Mylora Executive Golf

Course, Country Meadows Golf Course, Savage Creek Golf Course & Driving Range, and  semi-private but open to public). Richmond’s public courses are known for their well-kept grounds and restaurants for a pre- or post-round toast. Our golf course blog can help you decide which one’s right for you.

Private Courses
If you’re a frequent Richmond visitor, our two private golf courses offer some of the region’s finest games and facilities. The Richmond Country Club and Quilchena Golf & Country Club have membership options for non-residents and their families.

Pitch and Putt
Richmond is also home to a city-owned, nine-hole pitch and putt course located at Hugh Boyd Community Park. It’s open daily from April to October.

Mini Golf
West Coast Mini Putt is a city centre gem featuring 18 holes divided into two sections: a “light” area and a neon glow-in-the-dark area. Also, Savage Creek Golf Course & Driving Range features a “Mini Meadows” 18-hole putting course that’s great for all ages.

Outdoor Activities

With over 80 kilometres of trails that are generally flat and easy to access, Richmond is a place where natural beauty and wildlife are only a few steps away. Here are a few of our favourites to explore.

• Terra Nova Rural Park. This must-visit park features views of the Strait of Georgia, Fraser River, and North Shore Mountains. Here, enjoy excellent bird-watching, scenery, and the observation platform. It’s also home to the Terra Nova Adventure Play Environment, a million-dollar playground with sustainable design practices designed to mimic nature. It features a tandem zipline and a 10-metre (about 33 ft.) tall treehouse.
• Whale Watching. The majesty of watching these giants of the sea in all their glory while your boat skips along BC’s coastal waters, it’s an unmatched experience. While Orcas are often the main attraction, humpback, gray, and minke whales can be seen depending on the time of year. Keep an eye out for the Orcas of the Salish Sea, three pods (families) of resident Orcas that live and play in the waters off the BC and Washington coast. Steveston Seabreeze Adventures and Vancouver Whale Watch both offer incredible and informative tours. Tours depart daily from Steveston (April to October). Keep an eye out for seals, otters, eagles, and other birds along the way!
• West Dyke Trail. This 6km (3.7 mile) trail runs between Steveston’s Garry Point Park in the south and Terra Nova Rural Park in the north. Popular with walkers, joggers, and cyclists, the trail’s flat terrain fringes the lush green marshlands of Sturgeon Banks, itself lapped by the Strait of Georgia and framed by the looming North Shore mountains and distant Gulf Islands peaks.
• Larry Berg Flight Path Park. One of the city’s most unique parks, Larry Berg Flight Path Park is found just beyond the perimeter fence at the end of Vancouver International Airport‘s south runway. It’s the perfect place to watch planes, and there are plenty of kid-friendly features such as paved mini-runways, a dome-shaped globe to climb on, and benches shaped like paper airplanes.

Click here to see more outdoor activities Richmond has to offer.

Parks and Beaches

Relax in beauty

Nothing beats a little wander or play along a sandy shore or in a West Coast park. Richmond has many to explore. Here’s a list of five of our favourites, but you can peruse the complete list here.  

GARRY POINT PARK
This scenic park is a short walk from central Steveston and offers a breathtaking place to watch the sunset, with spectacular views of the South Arm of the Fraser River and Gulf Islands. It’s an excellent spot for picnicking and kite-flying. Garry Point Park is also home to Kuno Garden, a beautiful Japanese-style memorial garden.

TERRA NOVA RURAL PARK
This must-visit for nature lovers features extraordinary views of the Strait of Georgia, Fraser River, and North Shore Mountains. Here, enjoy excellent bird-watching, scenery, and the observation platform. It’s also home to the Terra Nova Adventure Play Environment, a million-dollar playground with sustainable design practices designed to mimic nature. It features a tandem zipline and a 10-metre (about 33 ft.) tall treehouse.

MINORU PARK
This oasis in the heart of central Richmond features meandering walking routes alongside ponds, waterfalls, floral displays, and a variety of trees. Look for Minoru Chapel, one of Richmond’s first churches, originally built in 1891 and moved to its present location for preservation in 1967.

LARRY BERG FLIGHT PATH PARK
One of the city’s most unique parks, Larry Berg Flight Path Park is found just beyond the perimeter fence at the end of Vancouver International Airport’s south runway. It’s the perfect place to watch planes, and there are plenty of kid-friendly features such as paved mini-runways, a dome-shaped globe to climb on, and benches shaped like paper airplanes.