Things to do in the West End: A day with Miss604 is a three-part summer series, in partnership with the West End BIA, showcasing all the wonderful, delicious, and engaging things to do around this iconic Vancouver neighbourhood.

There is no other neighbourhood in Vancouver that’s bordered by our bustling downtown, the ocean on two sides, and a 1,001 acre park on the other. Over 47,000 people call the West End home, including myself for the last 18 years, and there are hundreds of restaurants, cafes, shops, and services that cater to locals and visitors alike.

It’s one of the city’s best-loved and most popular destinations and over the past century, the three commercial streets of Davie, Denman and Robson have connected everything together.

A Day with Miss604

Start your day off with coffee and a breakfast bite at Cardero Cafe & Latin Snackery (1060 Cardero Street). Their coffee is some of the best in the city and they just launched a new Green Breakfast Croissant with spinach that’s really delicious. Enjoy the ambiance of quiet neighbourhood street and the lush greenery all around the sidewalk patio. You can also shop their variety of Latin treats (their tamales are a staple in our house).

The Steveston Salmon Festival, a Richmond tradition for the last 76 years, returns Saturday, July 1st. Once again it’s set to be a grand celebration of the spirit of the community with a parade, family activities, fireworks, and lots of amazing food!

Steveston Salmon Festival and Parade

• When: Saturday, July 1, 2023 from 9:30am to 10:30pm
• Where: The festival will take place across multiple city blocks, stretching from Steveston Village to Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site.
• Admission: Free with some ticketed options.
  • The longstanding tradition of the Salmon Bake is also back with pre-sale tickets available now.

Spanning from Britannia Shipyards to the Gulf of Georgia Cannery, festival-goers are invited to enjoy the day-long program which will feature live music, exhibitions, demonstrations, hands-on activities and the return of the popular Canada Day parade.

Also returning will be the Chow Mein Booth, Japanese Cultural Show, Art Show and Sammy’s Fun Zone where there will be plenty of kid-friendly activities and performances to enjoy throughout the day. Celebratory fireworks will conclude the night at Imperial Landing at 10:15pm.

“The Steveston Salmon Festival is one of Richmond’s most popular and enduring events,” says Mayor Malcolm Brodie. “We are delighted to have it return to a full program and parade for the first time since 2019. The festival has been popular for over seven decades. We encourage the community to come together once again to celebrate the spirit of Steveston and its rich fishing history.”

Steveston Salmon Festival Highlights

• Kids’ Bike Parade: a fun opportunity for children to cycle the big parade route to the cheers and encouragement of the waiting crowds before the floats take off. Starting at 9:30am.
• The Pancake Breakfast will be at 8:00am in the Steveston Community Centre parking lot on July 1st. Enjoy some fluffy pancakes while waiting for the parade to start.
• Canada Day Parade at 10:00am.
• Salmon Bake held on the festival grounds, pre-order from June 9th to June 20th
• Community Food Stations and food vendors: featuring an array of locally-made cuisine for all tastes including food trucks and participating Community Food Stations from the Steveston Japanese Language School, the Steveston Judo Club and the popular Chow Mein Booth. 
• Japanese Cultural Show: representing and celebrating the Japanese community’s contributions to the fabric of Steveston.
• Marketplace: featuring local vendors and goods. 
• Spirit of Steveston Entertainment Zone: with live performances by Orchard Sky and Warren Dean Flandez, food vendors and local beer and wine.
• Sammy’s Fun Zone: featuring family-friendly performances and hands-on activities in Steveston Park.

“We’re so excited for the return of the popular Canada Day parade this year,” said Alan Sakai, Chair of The Steveston Salmon Festival Committee. “Richmond residents will be in for a treat as there will be more than 70 floats on display, making it the largest Canada Day parade in the region. The festival is all about community and we’re looking forward to bringing everyone together to celebrate with a range of cultural activities, delicious food, and entertainment for all ages.”

Festival goers are encouraged to use public transportation, walk or ride their bike to the Festival. Parking is limited throughout the day and road closures will be in effect in and around Steveston Village from 8:00am to 6:00pm. A complimentary shuttle and wheel watch (bike storage) will also be available.

For more information, follow Fun Richmond on Facebook and Instagram, and find a full lineup of events and festivities online here.

Browse free/low-cost events around Vancouver »

TransLink, Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products, and the world of DC have joined forces for an exciting one-day sale event by releasing limited edition DC Super Hero-themed Compass Cards. The DC Compass Bundle lets customers show their love for DC’s Super Heroes while taking transit around the region.

TransLink DC Super Hero Compass Cards

1,000 DC Compass Bundles will be available for $39.99 during a limited release sale:

• When: Friday, June 16, 2023 3:00pm to 9:00 (or while quantities last)
• Where: Stadium–Chinatown Station (Beatty @ Dunsmuir)
• Payment Options: Debit, Credit, Cash

Four limited edition Compass Cards featuring The Flash, Batman, Wonder Woman, and Superman will be available as part of a bundle. The collection includes: one DC Compass Card; one poster; one lanyard.

Customers can purchase a maximum of four bundles per transaction. DC Compass Bundles will be available on a first come, first served basis and subject to availability; all sales are final.

These join the lineup of Compass Card products available from TransLink including wristbands and keychains.

About Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products
Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products (WBDGCP), part of Warner Bros. Discovery Global Brands, Franchises, and Experiences, extends the company’s powerful portfolio of entertainment brands and franchises into the lives of fans around the world. WBDGCP partners with best-in-class licensees globally on award-winning toy, fashion, home décor and publishing programs inspired by the biggest franchises from Warner Bros.’ film, television, animation, and games studios, HBO, Discovery, DC, Cartoon Network, HGTV, Eurosport, Adult Swim, and more. With innovative global licensing and merchandising programs, retail initiatives, and promotional partnerships, WBDGCP is one of the leading licensing and retail merchandising organizations in the world.

Related: Tap with Interac Debit on TransLink; Take Transit to These 5 Vancouver Area Beaches

Flowers, festivals, family fun! Who would have thought a random weekend mid-June would be packed with so many amazing events all around Metro Vancouver? There’s the Foodstock Festival for the Vancouver Food Bank on Sunday, the 5X Fest in Vancouver and Surrey, and so much more. Find these events and many more fun things to do around Vancouver listed below:

Weekend Events in Vancouver
Things to do June 16-18, 2023

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Friday, June 16, 2023

• Sponsored by Miss604: Summer at Burnaby Village Museum
• 5X Fest Lineup in Vancouver and Surrey
• Pride Night at Britannia Mine Museum
• West End Strawberry Festival
• Sing-a-Long Night
• Enchanted Evening Concert Series: Bella Roces & Joey Albert
• Cooking In The Garden – Homemade Tomato Sauce
• Jumpin’ the Line, Escape Room Adventure at the Maritime Museum
• World’s Biggest Inflatable Obstacle Course in Abbotsford
• Music Mania at Metropolis at Metrotown
• Miniature Burnaby Central Railway
• all syrup super squishee art show
• Fleurs de Villes VOYAGE at VanDusen Garden
• Steveston Spot Prawn & Seafood Celebration
• Shipyards Night Market
• Richmond Night Market

Share your memories & enter this contest to win tickets to every public event at BC Place in 2024 

BC Place is celebrating 40 years of operation on June 19th this year and they’re marking the occasion in a big way. As Western Canada’s largest multi-purpose event venue, BC Place has hosted more than 36 million guests at live events such as international sporting events, world-class concerts, community events, and trade and consumer shows. 

Over the past 40 years, BC Place has hosted hundreds of sporting events including BC Lions and Vancouver Whitecaps FC games, nine Grey Cup Championships, HSBC’s Canada Sevens, FIFA Women’s World Cup 2015, and Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

Renowned artists such as Paul McCartney, Elton John, and Madonna have performed at BC Place and in 2023 BC Place will host seven concerts by internationally recognized artists including Beyoncé, Ed Sheeran, and Coldplay. In 2024, the Grey Cup Championship will return to BC Place and in 2026, BC Place will welcome the world as Vancouver’s host stadium for FIFA World Cup 2026. 

To celebrate the milestone, BC Place is launching a contest from June 19 to September 30, 2023, offering British Columbians a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to win two free tickets to every public event at the stadium in 2024. Guests of the stadium can also expect to see activations and surprises throughout 2023. Enter to win by sharing your memories online here.

Related:

• Archive Photos of the Day: BC Place
• Visit the BC Sports Hall of Fall This Season
• How BC Place Will Light Up Green for World CP Day