There will be dozens of musical acts — and some local talent — spread out across the Tri-Cities over the weekend.
As someone who grew up in Coquitlam, I remember this weekend serving as the (unofficial) gateway to summer.
I remember waking up and watching the National Hockey League’s free agency palooza on television, clinging to rumours that the Vancouver Canucks would sign some impact player. I remember going for long runs around Town Centre Park, cooling off in the Coquitlam River, before returning to the park for fireworks at Lafarge Lake.
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Memories like those are integral to my youth — and no matter how you decide to celebrate Canada Day this year, I hope you have a safe and restful long weekend.
If you decide to venture out for local entertainment, the Tri-Cities Dispatch has you covered.
From country music in Port Coquitlam’s Castle Park to Dua Lipa covers in Coquitlam, here are all of the Canada Day-themed events that are taking place in your neck of the woods.
Port Moody
If you remember the days when the wave was new and the ballads had power, this is the concert for you.
Honeymoon Suite is set to headline Golden Spike Days on Canada Day, according to a release from the City of Port Moody.
With hits like “New Girl Now” and “Stay in the Light,” the Niagara Falls-based band’s marriage of guitar solos and synth riffs won them a strong following in the 1980s.
Besides recording the title track for buddy cop movie Lethal Weapon, the band’s tune “Bad Attitude” was the soundtrack for Crockett and Tubbs slipping into a Ferrari and tearing up the streets of Florida in the TV series Miami Vice.
“In Port Moody, the City of the Arts, we value artistic expression in all its forms, including music. I’m thrilled to share the news that we’re bringing Honeymoon Suite to Port Moody for a special concert in Rocky Point Park,” stated Port Moody Mayor Meghan Lahti in a press release.
Kicking off June 30, the four-day festival is also slated to include tribute bands playing the music of Heart, Led Zeppelin, David Bowie and the Beatles. Other entertainment includes the Golden Spike Can Can Dancers and the Inlet Jazz Band.
Golden Spike Days will also feature a “Tri-Cities Got Talent” competition that will get started with 12 live acts on July 1. Nine contestants will move onto the semi-finals on Sunday, and six finalists will cap off the festival with their third and final performance of the weekend on Monday.
You can find out more info here.
Outside of the concert stage, the Port Moody Fire Department is hosting their 46th annual pancake breakfast on July 1 and 2.
The breakfast will begin at 8:30 a.m. on both days, and you won’t be able to make a reservation — meaning you’ll have to line up first to get a taste of those fluffy pancakes.
And if the water is calling you, the North Shore Power Squadron is hosting a raft-up in Bedwell Bay for folks who want to drop an anchor and socialize in the Indian Arm.
Coquitlam
In Coquitlam, Suits are in style on Canada Day.
Coquitlam’s Canada Day celebration is set to feature food trucks, full-site liquor service, mini-golf, a climbing wall, and to top things off, Vancouver-based band The Suits is set to take the stage at Town Centre Park.
With two crooners trading lead-vocal duties and a horn section anchoring their slick funk founds, Suits covers artists ranging from Prince to Kary Perry, Aretha Franklin and Dua Lipa.
The event is scheduled to begin at noon and end with a 10 p.m. fireworks finale.
Pinetree Way between Guildford Avenue and Pinewood Avenue will be closed from 9:30 to 11:00 p.m. for the fireworks show. But the city has provided a designated pick-up and drop-off area in parking lot A — which is on the west side of the park next to Trevor Wingrove Way.
Overall, the day-long event is meant to focus on community and multiculturalism, according to a release from the city.
“Coquitlam recognizes that Canada Day can mean different things for different members of our community. As a result, the city aims to provide an experience that is sensitive to the diverse range of community perspectives,” the release stated.
Elsewhere in the city, IKEA is hosting an in-store scavenger hunt for kids over the entire Canada Day long weekend.
Port Coquitlam
Rock band Big Sugar is set to co-headline the Canada Day concert with country star Chad Brownlee.
Best known for their reggae-infused hit “Turn the Lights On” and the 1990s Canadian rock staple “Diggin’ a Hole,” Big Sugar took a hiatus in 2018 following the death of bassist Garry Lowe.
In October of 2022, the band announced a 25th anniversary tour of their Heated album as well as a new lineup featuring Ben Lowe – son of Garry Lowe – on bass.
Along with a little rock n’ roll, the night is set to feature a little country as B.C. singer-songwriter Chad Brownlee shares the main stage.
Brownlee’s music is a balance of pop sounds, country twang, and stories full of regret, empty bottles, and irresistible temptation.
Following a Lions Club pancake breakfast and fishing derby in the morning, the festivities are also set to feature food trucks, a beverage garden and, after the sun goes down, the city is set to stage a “grand finale pyro musical,” according to a release.
“I am excited for our signature Canada Day event at Castle Park, where we come together to connect, engage and show our diverse community pride,” stated Mayor Brad West in a release.
The city is set to provide free round-trip shuttle service to downtown Port Coquitlam every 30 minutes from noon to 10 p.m. on Canada Day.
