Family Fun for the Victoria Day Long Weekend

1. Thrifty Foods Victoria Day Parade

Where better to celebrate the Victoria Day long weekend than in Victoria itself? For its 124th annual run, this year’s Victoria Day Parade is presented by CHEK TV and Thrifty Foods. This parade is meant to commemorate England’s Queen Victoria, and is hosted the Monday prior to May 25th each year. Visitors can expect over 100 decorated floats, marching bands, military vehicles, fire trucks and clowns. You don’t want to miss out!
3147 Douglas Street, Victoria; starts at 9 a.m.; free admission

2. Vancouver All British Field Meet (ABFM)

The All British Field Meet is back for another year of vehicular extravagance. Catch this annual car show featuring nearly 500 cars in 62 different classes during the May long weekend! The show is presented by Hagerty, and will be held at the fan favourite VanDusen Botanical Garden. Enthusiasts can expect to see over 80 Triumphs displayed in nine classes, including motorcycles. This year’s show will also include a ‘Cars & Coffee Values & Trends’ panel, where guests can discuss with Hagerty’s chief valuator about their cars’ value and market trends. Other entertainment will include a variety of food trucks and live musical performances.
5251 Oak Street, Vancouver; 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; ticket prices vary

3. The Cloverdale Rodeo and Country Fair

Calling all cowboys and cowgirls–enjoy a weekend of yeehaw at Surrey’s own Cloverdale Rodeo and Country Fair! The rodeo runs the entire May long weekend, from Friday, May 17 to Monday, May 20. This annual tradition has over a century of history, and has now evolved to include thrilling modern events. Not only will you get to witness the world’s top cowboys and cowgirls compete in classic rough stock rodeo events, you can also expect a freestyle skateboarding competition, opportunities to interact with farm animals and a selection of local delights to indulge in. Each day of the rodeo has a different itinerary, so be sure to check out the fair’s daily schedule.
6050 176 Street, Surrey; various times; ticket prices vary

4. Fort Langley May Day Parade 

Enjoy a day of family fun at historic Fort Langley’s community-organized parade! This year marks the 102nd anniversary of this annual parade, where you can expect a pancake breakfast, food trucks and live entertainment. Some hands-on old-school workshops include barrel-making, musket-firing and blacksmithing demonstrations. Show up at 8 a.m. to enjoy the pancake breakfast before the parade portion commences at 11 a.m. at Fort Langley Historic Site. The parade goes on until 12:30 p.m. at Fort Langley Park, where visitors can stay and enjoy live entertainment until 4 p.m.!
88th Ave & Glover Road, Fort Langley; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; free admission

5. North Pacific Cannery 

Spend Victoria Day stepping into 130 years of history. North Pacific Cannery offers engaging guided tours and exhibitions to show visitors how cannery fits into beautiful British Columbia’s rich history. Learn more about the processes, methods and equipment behind cannery at ‘The Canning Line’ exhibit, or experience the history of salmon as a resource at the ‘Fishing Methods’ exhibit. Guests can also see the largest model train display in the region (pro tip: the kids love this one)! Guided tours start at the visitor centre at 11a.m., 1p.m. and 3 p.m., and are about 60 to 90 minutes long. The tour explores the unique experiences of workers from various ethnic backgrounds, discussing the types of work and cultural connections that were fostered in remote cannery villages.
1889 Skeena Drive, Port Edward; various times; tickets from $8

6. Kelowna Bee Tour & Tastings

Immerse yourself in nature’s artwork as you learn about the world of bees! This Kelowna event features a guided, interactive bee and garden tour, lunch and a wine and honey tasting. Presented by Meadow Vista Honey Wine, visitors can try their unpasteurized honey, infused honey and award-winning honey wines! The lunch provided will be a bistro-style farm-to-table experience, complete with local cheeses, Okanagan fruit, house-made sauces, jams and soups. Talk about family fun in the sun!
3975 June Springs Road; Kelowna; starts at 11:30 a.m.; tickets from $57.24