Canada Day in Parksville 2026

May 22, 2026

NEWS RELEASE

Here’s an update to Parksville’s Canada Day when we celebrate the 159^th anniversary of Canada’s confederation. Hosted by the City of Parksville, we strive to make the day the best free, family-friendly event for the community. The day kicks off with the Canada Day parade and pancake breakfast followed by activities and events in the Parksville Community Park.

CANADA DAY PARADE

10 am - Island Highway East (Shelly Road to Alberni Highway)
7.30-11 am - Shriners’ breakfast - Craig Street (Middleton to Island Highway)
8.30-10.30 am - Music with Chaz Booth - Craig Street

Please note – to address safety concerns at large events, we will institute new safety measures in 2026. As announced in March, the parade will end at Craig Street on the Island Highway. The parade will not travel up Craig Street. Enhanced safety measures include additional traffic control and security, more street barricades, more signage, additional hours for first-aid service, pedestrian only access on Pioneer Crescent at the start of the parade with parade dispersal on Harrison Avenue. Parade applications may be found on Let’s Talk Parksville, deadline June 22.

PARKSVILLE COMMUNITY PARK
Sandcastle Drive to Arbutus Point and Ravenhill Road will be closed to vehicles with general parking in the large gravel lot and accessible parking within the park. The day’s activities are detailed on Let’s Talk Parksville and updates on social media.

Mainstage at Parksville Outdoor Theatre - 11.30 am to 5.30 pmBring Your lawn chairs and dancing shoes for an afternoon of fantastic entertainment at the Parksville Outdoor Theatre; something for everyone!

11.30 am - Opening Ceremony and O Canada
Noon - Oceanside Music Band
12.30 - Ten Souljers
2.30 pm - Kinda Country
4.30 pm - Abbotsford Youth Orchestra

Activities throughout the Parksville Community Park, from noon to 9 pm.

9.30 am-7 pm - Free bike valet parking and Project 529 Garage free bike registry
11 am-evening - Food trucks
1-5 pm - Face painters
1-5 pm - Park Golf experience
2-5 pm - Learn to build sandcastles with master sculptor David Kaube and Beach Festival staff
2 pm - Canada Day cake and cupcakes
1-6 pm - Displays, Amtgard demo, family games, Canada Day photo op
1-7 pm - Quirk the Magician
1-9 pm - Waterfront music

Although leashed dogs are allowed in the Parksville Community Park, if possible, please leave your pups at home. We all love a good celebration, but crowds, warm weather and noise can be overwhelming and harmful for furry friends. Consider leaving your dogs safe and sound at home where it’s quiet and familiar.

Our appreciation to the Department of Canadian Heritage, Government of Canada for funding assistance and sponsors Neway Traffic Management, Isle Golf Cars, Thrifty Foods, Telus, Black & White Event Rentals, Absolute Septic Service, PQB News, and 88.5 The Beach and 99.9 The Lounge.

Our theme for this year’s Canada Day is Proudly Canadian, Proudly Parksville, a day we come together to celebrate and shine a light on our country and whatever it is that makes you proud! We hope you will share in the day and connect with families, neighbours and friends at Parksville’s Canada Day festivities.

Should you have questions about Canada Day, please email canadaday@parksville.ca.

For more information:
Deb Tardiff, Manager of Communications
communications@parksville.ca; 250 954-3073

March 20, 2026

NEWS RELEASE

For the third year, the City of Parksville will host Canada Day celebrations in Parksville; a great family-friendly event for the community with a little more to do and see in 2026. Our theme for this year is “Proudly Canadian, Proudly Parksville.”

We are announcing a change to the parade route for 2026. The parade will no longer turn up and travel along Craig Street. The one-way portion of Craig Street is narrow and the turn at the Island Highway continues to prove difficult for parade participants. It is challenging to keep spectators away from parade vehicles, despite using traffic control personnel to secure the area.

This minor adjustment to the route is being done in consultation with local emergency service organizations, City operations, and traffic control management. This decision was not taken lightly, and many factors were considered when making the decision. We are aware of evolving safety concerns at large events in our country which has caused us to evaluate the route. Our primary concern will always be the safety of parade participants and spectators.

As usual, the parade will begin at Shelly Road and Island Highway East travelling along Island Highway towards Alberni Highway where the parade will end. The dispersal area will now be along Harrison Avenue where public parking lots are located. The decision to change the route for the Canada Day parade was made to ensure everyone's safety and is a proactive measure to protect participants and spectators. We understand many people who watch the parade from Craig Street will need to move to a different location along the Island Highway route.

From early morning until early afternoon, Craig Street from Middleton to the Island Highway will close to vehicles. The Shriners’ Pancake Breakfast along with a few activities will be planned for Craig Street as a space open to pedestrians. This change will also open more street parking along Craig Street as well as access to public parking lots.

On Canada’s 159^th birthday, we come together to celebrate and shine a light on our country and whatever it is that makes you proud! We hope you will share in the day and connect with families, neighbours and friends at Parksville’s Canada Day festivities. Canada Day details as they come available are posted to Let’s Talk Parksville. A map showing the revised parade route is available at this link and included with this release.

For more information:
Deb Tardiff, Manager of Communications
communications@parksville.ca; 250 954-3073