NEWTON – The Vaisakhi Parade will once again hit Surrey streets on April 23.
The event marks the birth of the Sikh faith and pays tribute to the harvest. It also commemorates one of the most important days in the Sikh calendar – the creation of the Khalsa.
The Surrey event, held for the past 17 years, brings together more than 250,000 people in the largest celebration outside of India.
As always, the event will include live music, decorated floats and food – lots of food – compliments of local residents and businesses.
Organizers remind those who will be involved in the parade to refrain from using helium balloons, in order to decrease air pollution post-parade.
Also, parking is extremely limited near the parade route, and attendees are encouraged to travel to the event via transit.
The parade will begin at 9 a.m. at the Gurdwara Sahib Dasmesh Darbar at 12885 85th Ave.
On the main stage will be traditional Sikh hymn singers (from 11 to 11:45 a.m.), a ceremony honouring community volunteers (from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.) and a speaker series (from 12:45 to 1:30 p.m.)
For more information about the event, including the parade route, visit surreyvaisakhiparade.ca.
