The world's largest Vaisakhi parade takes place in Metro Vancouver on Saturday, April 19.
Half a million people are expected to attend the 2025 Surrey Khalsa Day Vaisakhi Parade, which commences at the Gurdwara Dashmesh Darbar Temple and travels along 124th Street, turns left onto 75th Avenue, continues on 76th Avenue, onto 128th Street, and then heads back to the temple.
The parade features multiple floats, community groups, live music, dancers, and performers. Temporary stages along the parade route will feature singers and dancers, as well as people giving speeches and well wishes.
Food prepared by citizens will be handed out for free at various points along the parade route, aligning with the tradition of "celebrating the harvest through the giving away of food." Eats include everything from traditional Indian items to sweets to "mainstream food offerings."
Road closures
To facilitate parade activities, area residents and businesses should be advised that there will be road closures, traffic disruptions, restricted access in some areas, and temporary parking restrictions.
Temporary road closures will be in place from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. or "until the RCMP deem the route is safe to be opened to vehicular traffic."
Organizers note that "access to 128th Street and road sections along the parade route will be impacted most significantly." Between 72nd Avenue and 88th Avenue, and Scott Road to King George Highway, increased travel delays may be expected.
What to know about Vaisakhi
Vancouver's Vaisakhi parade took place on April 12, with thousands of people congregating for the celebration.
Vaisakhi is an important religious occasion for the Sikh community, celebrating the creation of the Khalsa, which is "a spiritual order founded by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699, a defining moment in Sikh history," according to a City of Vancouver news release.
Vaisakhi also marks the beginning of the spring harvest in Punjab.
Learn more about Vaisakhi online with the Surrey Vaisakhi Parade.
Surrey Khalsa Day Vaisakhi Parade
When: Saturday, April 19, from roughly 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Begins at the Gurdwara Dashmesh Darbar Temple - 12885 85th Ave, Surrey
Cost: Free to attend.
