Greater Vancouver, BC Tourism Guide with hotels, events and attraction in the historic city of New Westminster.

Annual Events Highlights

Heritage Week In New Westminster

February
Western Canada's Oldest City, New Westminster celebrates Heritage Week in a big way. Look for special events, children's hands-on heritage programs, walking tours, and a Museum Fair at Royal City Centre. Contact the Irving House Historic

Centre at 604.527.4640.

Hyack Antique Car Easter Parade

This nostalgic look at almost 200 vintage cars of yesteryear is sponsored by the Totem A&T Car Club, and is the largest Easter Car Parade in the Pacific Northwest. Every Easter Sunday, enjoy the entertainment at the Quay, then watch as the cars head off to wind their way through city streets to Queens Park. There you can have an afternoon of family fun with an Easter Surprise Hunt, Children's Rides, Face Painters and more, all put on by the New Westminster Parks and Recreation Department. And, of course, the Easter Bunny himself will be in attendance — you may even have your photo taken with him! For more information, contact the Hyack Festival Association at 604.522.6894 or Parks and Recreation at 604.777.5121.

Hyack Festival

May Long Weekend
Starting on the Victoria Day weekend in May, the Hyack Festival Association presents its traditional project: the Hyack Festival. This annual spring community festival mixes some of New Westminster's best-loved traditions with a kaleidoscope of modern events.

Dozens of events occur during the Hyack Festival — some are organized by the Hyack Festival Association, and others are organized by our fellow community groups. There's Bandshell entertainment, parades, fireworks, sporting events, rides and carnival games. The list goes on and on. It's what Hyack is all about: a community of volunteers working together to produce over sixty family-oriented events for our residents and our thousands of visitors to enjoy. But don't take our word for it — come out and enjoy it all yourself. Be sure to pick up your Hyack Festival guide and schedule.

Contact Hyack Festival Association 604.522.6894 or http://www.hyack.bc.ca.

Queensborough DayS

May
This annual community celebration is filled with fun, food and activities for the entire family. There is entertainment, rides and crafts. The highlights of the day, according to many, are the diverse food venues representing several cultural groups within the community.

Contact the Queensborough Community Centre at 604.525.7388

Arts in the Park

June
Arts in the Park fills Moody Park with artists, performers, music and dance — and you can be a part of everything. Let your creativity soar or get some coaching from professional artists. Watch a performance or join in yourself. Fun for kids of all ages.

Call the Arts Council of New Westminster at 604.525.3244.

Sapperton DayS

June
Sapperton Day is a family oriented event celebrating New Westminster and Sapperton's unique location and history. It is held in conjunction with the annual Sapperton Bike Festival.

There's a pancake breakfast, bike decorating contest, a mountain bike demos, a carousel and other rides, children's game and races, as well as, every kids favourite, an inflatable bouncy castle. Food concessions will be front and centre, as well as a mini-fair of locally made crafts and displays, Please bring a donation of non-perishable food item for the local Food Bank who will be on site to collection donations.

YAM JAM

June
Every summer, Moody Park is awash with budding artists and entertainers at this annual youth arts festival in New Westminster. YAM (Youth Arts Movement) JAM, showcases the talents and creativity of our young artists, through displays, performances and interactive workshops.

Contact the Arts Council of New Westminster at 604.525.3244.

Canada Day

July 1
Western Canada's Oldest City, New Westminster always celebrates with a Happy Birthday Canada party in Queens Park. Bring the kids out for some fun and entertainment.

Contact the New Westminster Parks and Recreation 604.527.4567 http://www.nwpr.bc.ca

Fraserfest

July
Don't miss this celebration of our maritime heritage — it's a great time to have fun along the river. There's an entertainment stage, display booths, artists at work, face painting, food sampling, children's rides, and a mascot parade along the boardwalk. Cheer on your favourite team at the wet and wild Tricycle Races; take a harbour tour and see New Westminster from the river; be wowed by two nights of spectacular Fireworks on the Fraser, and don't miss the Workboat Parade, a spectacular wave of color and sound, as tug boats, fish boats, pleasure boats, steam boats, and more, form a decorated flotilla that stretches for miles along the river.

Contact the Hyack Festival Association at 604.522.6894.

Annual Show and Shine

July
This is a great event for lovers of vintage vehicles. This event features a trade show and swap meet at Queens Park, and an evening cruise along Columbia Street and social, leading up to the big day. This brings hundreds of antique, custom and hot rod cars and trucks to Columbia Street and other designated streets and parking lots. It's fun for the whole family, including games, "Hot Wheels" car racing for the kids, a model car contest, live Rock 'n Roll and much more. Contact the Downtown New Westminster Business Association at 604.524.4996 or visit http://www.newwestbia.com.

BC Cultural Crawl

August
This Artful Adventure kicks off over the BC Day long weekend, and is a grassroots celebration of Super Cultural BC hosted by local artists and cultural attractions. It's a self-guided tour, so all you need is a free copy of the Arts & Cultural Guide to BC in hand and a keen sense of adventure. A full listing of Cultural Crawl participating communities are available on the Arts & Cultural Guide website at http://www.art-bc.com or call 604.521.7887 for more information.

Royal City Jazz Festival

September
A spectacular day of classy and sassy entertainment at Westminster Quay.

Contact the Westminster Quay Public Market at 604.520.3881.

Urban Farmers Fall Fair

September
It's a little bit of country, in the middle of the City! Put on your overalls and your straw hat and get ready to kick back for an old time country fair. Compare your picks with the judges' as local gardeners proudly compete for biggest tomato, most colourful vegetables and tastiest preserves. Buy some fresh-cut flowers, or fruit and vegetables direct from the growers. And don't miss the entertainment stage, where there are performances all day long. Be sure to stay for the pie auction at days end — your chance to bid on the prize winners. Contact the Queensborough Community Centre at 604.525.7388.

Christmas Magic at the Manor

November
Urban Academy (formerly Robson Manor) is proud to present Christmas Magic at the Manor, annual craft fair. Join us in the lovely decked out mansion for shopping, tea, a chance to win some fabulous prizes, and sign up for photos and storytime with Santa. So much more wrapped up in a weekend!

Located at 101 3rd Street or visit http://www.urbanacademy.ca

A Very Victorian Christmas

November through January
Irving House, built in 1865, is open year round, and dresses up for the holidays with traditional decorations, including a tree in the Large Parlour. You can enjoy seasonal music, Victorian family teas, and hands-on heritage programmes for the children.

Contact the Irving House Historic Centre at 604.527.4640.

Hyack SANTA CLAUS PARADE OF LIGHTS

December
Gather at the Fraser River in front of Westminster Quay Public Market for the traditional arrival of Sinterklaas in the morning, then in the afternoon take your place along Columbia Street, and get caught up in the whirl of bands, floats, and holiday cheer, at B.C.'s largest Santa Claus Parade. Starting at dusk, the lights of the parade transform Downtown into a twinkling fairyland.

Contact the Hyack Festival Association at 604.522.6894, the Westminster Quay Market 604.520.3881 or the Downtown New Westminster Association at 604.524.4996.