Sun’s out, fun’s out! Time to dive into summer, celebrate with friends and family, and make the most of this beautiful province we call home. Maximize your summer with these great festivals and events across BC. Many are free or low-cost, making them perfect for families and budget-friendly fun. Check ‘em out:

Greater Vancouver Area

Richmond Night Market

Did you know that the Richmond Night Market is the largest night market in North America? This multicultural food and shopping destination is an absolute summer must. New this year: you can whiz OVER the crowds on the world’s first and only night market zipline! Open April through October, the Richmond Night Market gives you all your favourites like deep-fried squid, bubble tea, 500+ global food options, 100+ retail booths, giant bouncy castles, live performances, and endless games. Expect large, happy crowds, delicious flavours, and big fun.

Dates: April 25 to October 13

Website: richmondnightmarket.com

Instagram: @richmondnightmarket

Khatsahlano Street Party

Vancouver's largest free music and arts festival is back. Inspired by the nostalgia of summer camp, this summer’s street party-meets-music-festival spans 10 blocks of West 4th Ave with dozens of live bands (you have to see Stephen “Theremin Man” Hamm), food trucks, art vendors, singalongs, scavenger hunts, and camp games.

Date: July 5

Website: khatsahlano.ca

Instagram: @khatsahlano

Evo Summer Cinema

Canada’s largest free outdoor movie series is back in Stanley Park. Bring a blanket and enjoy a movie under the stars every Tuesday summer night. VIP seating available, in the exclusive Tentree treetop VIP Zone!

Dates: Every Tuesday from July 8 to August 26

Website: summercinema.ca

Honda Celebration of Light

Billed as ‘Vancouver’s Most Beloved Summer Event’, the Honda Celebration of Light is one of the best fireworks displays in the world. This year, two provinces and one territory (Yukon, Quebec, and Nova Scotia) will compete to light the sky ablaze over English Bay with mind-blowing fireworks set to perfectly synchronized music. Bring your picnic blanket. Find a good spot on the grass or beach. Make it a special date night or family outing. Food trucks open at 2 pm and fireworks start crackling at 10:15 pm.

Dates: July 19, 23 & 26

Website: hondacelebrationoflight.com

Instagram: @celeboflight

Vancouver Pride

Western Canada’s largest Pride celebration celebrates the diverse 2SLGBTQAI+ community in Vancouver. On Sunday August 3, Vancouver Pride begins with a joyful, family-friendly parade from Robson & Thurlow to Sunset Beach. Watch for our BCAA & Evo float and our team along the route. Not in Vancouver? There are Pride festivals throughout BC over various dates in the summer. Check out your local Pride Festival in Victoria, Abbotsford, Kelowna, and more!

Dates: August 3

Website: vancouverpride.ca

Instagram: @vancouverpride

^Source: PNE

The Fair at the PNE

The Fair has been an awesome BC tradition since 1910 (!). The Fair has it all: midway rides, mini donuts, rock shows, daily pig races, and SuperDogs. Go see the Summer Night Concert series with shows by Counting Crows, Lynyrd Skynard and Foreigner. Bonus: you’ll save 30% on gate and ride passes online and $5 on concert tickets with your BCAA Membership!

Dates: August 16 to September 1

Website: pne.ca/fair2025

Instagram: @pne_playland

Across BC

Summer Lavender Festival – Victoria

Soak in the beauty of blooming fields of lavender at Bilston Creek Farm. Celebrate the season with farm tours, live music, food and drink specials, and hands-on workshops for all ages. Enjoy product demonstrations, hunt for pollinators in the lavender field, watch the team harvest and distill lavender, or relax in the shade of heritage apple trees while munching on fresh made pizza.

Dates: Every Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday from June 1 to August 19

Website: bilston.ca/pages/summer-lavender-festival

Instagram: @bilstoncreekfarm

Kelowna Ribfest – Kelowna

Bring a bib because this is a long weekend of mouthwatering rib competitions, live bands to keep you dancing, and a ton of family fun! You'll see top rib chefs battle it out in City Park, kiddos will love the kids zone, and everyone’s taste buds will enjoy diverse flavours, plus there are even vegan options for all to enjoy.

Dates: July 4-6

Website: impactevents.ca/kelowna-ribfest

Instagram: @kelownaribfest

Five Acre Shaker Festival – Port Alberni

This August, hit the island and head to the Alberni District Fall Fair Grounds for this banger of a music and arts festival. Expect a jam-packed day of music, food trucks, art installations, and community vibes. Port Alberni’s Ultimate Summer Music Festival is a brilliant way to soak up summer on Vancouver Island.

Date: August 9

Website: albernivalleytourism.com/events/five-acre-shaker-festival

Instagram: @fiveacrecoevents

Crankworx Mountain Bike Festival – Whistler

The defining celebration of mountain biking and the crown jewel of a mountain biking world tour, Crankworx Whistler turns 20 this year—and it’s going to be epic. This August, the world’s top mountain bikers head up the mountain to descend on Whistler for 10 days of gravity-defying stunts, racing, and celebration.

Dates: August 7 to 17

Website: crankworx.com/whistler

Instagram: @crankworx

Going on a road trip?

If you’re driving to these, or any other events across BC, don’t forget to:

• Fuel up at Shell where Members save 3 cents per litre on gas and 10% on car washes and in-store purchases. 
• Use your BCAA Membership to save up to 15% on hotel/resort rooms at Hilton, Choice Hotels, Fairmont, Sheraton, and Marriott International.
• Eat your way through the Okanagan with our foodie-focused road trip guide to Okanagan food fairs, restaurants, fruit stands, and snack shacks
• Save $10 on a round-trip fare ticket to Nanaimo with Hullo Ferries and your BCAA Membership. Plus, grab an Evo Return right at the Nanaimo ferry terminal.
• Know your range, if you’re driving an EV, and read our EV road trip guide to travelling around BC.
• BCAA Roadside Assistance is available 24/7. Download the BCAA App for faster access to roadside help.

Staying close to home?

There are loads of ways that BCAA Members can enjoy summer while using their BCAA Membership to keep budget-friendly summer vibes. Some great staycation ideas include:

• Pizza night: bring home a pie from Freshslice Pizza (Members get a medium thin crust pizza with unlimited toppings and a can of pop for just $10).
• Catch a movie at Landmark Cinemas: Members save up to 25%.
• Take a date to the Vancouver Art Gallery, where Members save $2 on admission.
• Eat your way through Italy or France (with an Italian or French cookbook) by shopping for groceries at Meridian Farm Market where Members save 5% on groceries over $100.

Not a Member? Join today and you can save over $1,500 a year on everyday essentials, insurance, experiences, travel, dining out, and more.

Do you have any summer activity tips? Share your experiences with other BCAA Members in our new online community, BCAA Connect.