Mark your calendars, Burnaby — it’s time to celebrate Canada Day with a bang. If you were one of those disappointed by Vancouver’s cancellation of fireworks again this year, this street fest is for you.
The City of Burnaby, in partnership with Concord Pacific, will be hosting a free celebration for the second year in a row, pulling all the stops — food trucks, live performances, family-friendly activities, and yes, fireworks.
The festival, StreetFest on Central, will bring food, dance and merriment to the streets of Burnaby on Canada Day; it will kick off at 6:30 p.m. in the Metrotown neighbourhood on July 1 and will include diverse celebrations and performances by various Canadian musical artists.
Five-time Juno and Canadian Radio Music award winner Lights, known for her electronic synth pop, will be headlining the main stage at Central Park, followed by Juno nominee and international recording artist Shawnee Kish, a soulful Two-Spirit Mohawk.
Kish was the winner of CBC Music’s Searchlight competition in 2020 and is an advocate for Indigenous and LGBTQ2+ communities.
The vibrant evening will have something for everyone — concert and food trucks at Central Park, family-friendly activities and entertainment in Civic Square and community displays, games, music, dance and activities along Central Boulevard. The evening will cap off with a fireworks show at 10:15 p.m..
If you’re driving, note that road closures will be in effect along Patterson Avenue, Central Boulevard and Beresford Street (between Patterson and Willingdon avenues).
Visitors are encouraged to take transit (Metrotown and Patterson SkyTrain stations are nearby), cycle or walk, and should leave their pets at home. A bike valet should be available at the corner of Patterson and Kingsway.
While the StreetFest on Central festivities take place in the evening, Burnaby will host other Canada Day festivities all day at other locations around the city — including at Burnaby Village Museum and Edmonds Park and Plaza.
