1. Surrey’s Canada Day party is always a blast, and this year’s gathering should be no different next Wednesday, July 1. Venerable roots-pop-rock band Blue Rodeo (pictured) headlines the event, with The Zolas, Zerbin, The Hip Show (a fine, local Tragically Hip tribute band), Me and Mae, Cedar Hills Caledonian Pipe Band, the award-winning Langley Ukulele Ensemble and others slated to perform on the big stage. As always, the flag-waving festival will be held at the spacious Bill Reid Millennium Amphitheatre in Cloverdale, at 64th Avenue and 176th Street. Be there for midway rides, food and show-closing fireworks, too, from 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. All the details are online at Surrey.ca/CanadaDay.
2. Follow the rainbows to Holland Park on Sunday (June 28) for Surrey’s annual Pride Festival, put on by the Surrey Pride Society every year since 1999. That initial community barbecue has grown to a full-on fest, with related events such as “Bowling with Pride†(7 p.m. Thursday, June 25 at Dell Lanes, 10576 King George Blvd.) and the wickedly titled “Hot Bitch Rock n Roll Music Bingo†(Friday at the Dell pub). Sunday at Holland Park, the festival runs from noon to 5 p.m., with MC Barb Snelgrove and entertainment by The Rainbow Concert Band, Kevin Armstrong’s “Opera for Heathens,†tribute band Stix, Shock & Rock, Squares Across the Border (“Vancouver’s only modern western square dance clubâ€) and more. Details are posted at Surreypride.ca and also Facebook.com/SurreyPride.
3. The heart of North Delta will be strong during another of “Family Day†parade, happening Sunday morning (June 28, 11 a.m. start) along the 112th Street/84th Avenue route. The post-parade barbecue will start cooking at noon at North Delta Community Park (salmon and chicken on the grill), with stage shows, games, rides and other activities happening until 4 p.m. The North Delta Lions club (NorthDeltaLions.org) has again led the way with the parade and festival, in partnership with the Corporation of Delta.
