Festivals and Events
Festivals and other special celebrations are an important part of Richmond's cultural calendar as they capture our imaginations and foster a sense of collective belonging.
Photo: Richmond Maritime Festival at Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site
The City of Richmond is proud to present a number of annual events and festivals that showcase the arts:
Children’s Arts Festival
Children’s Arts Festival ignites the imaginations of children and families through music, hands-on activities, literary and performing arts each February with a week of school field trips and a large-scale public event held on Family Day.
The festival takes place in the heart of City Centre at the Richmond Cultural Centre and the interactive workshops, activities and events — all presented by professional artists — are tailored for young people ages 3 to 12.
Photo: Ginalina performing at the Children’s Arts Festival. Photo credit: Jon Pesochin
Culture Days
Culture Days is a national celebration of arts and culture. Held annually during September and October, millions of people across the country attend thousands of free participatory arts and culture events both in-person and online. Culture Days programs invite the public to get hands-on and behind-the-scenes to highlight the importance of arts and culture in our communities.
Richmond is a Culture Days leader (regularly ranked nationally as a top participating community), organizing numerous artist-led workshops, demonstrations, exhibitions and creative activities across the city each year.
Photo: Culture Days, 2025. Photo Credit: Rachel Topham Photography
Richmond Arts Awards
Richmond Arts Awards recognize the artistic achievements and contributions of individuals, organizations and businesses to the local arts and culture community.
Each year, awards are presented to the well-established and rising stars of Richmond’s arts landscape in six categories: Business and the Arts, Volunteerism, Cultural Leadership, Artistic Innovation and Excellence, Arts Education and Youth Arts.
The Richmond Arts Awards are presented through a partnership with the Richmond Arts Coalition and sponsored by the Richmond News.
Photo: Isidora Hoi-Ching Chan, 2025 recipient of the Youth Arts Award
Youth Art Mart
The Youth Art Mart is an annual event hosted by the Richmond Youth Media Program. Youth (13-24 years) can participate as a table vendor to showcase and sell their homemade artwork to the public. There is no cost for youth artists to participate and 100% of sales during the Youth Art Mart go directly to the artists. The Youth Art Mart has supported a network of youth artists over the years and has been a place for these youth artists to gather, create community and grow in their art practice together.
This low-barrier initiative runs annually in November at the Richmond Cultural Centre and Richmond Cultural Centre Annex. Youth can sign up via an artist call in September. For further inquiries contact: MediaLab@richmond.ca
Photo: Art Work by Aiden Chan at Youth Art Mart, 2025
Richmond Maritime Festival
Richmond Maritime Festival is an annual celebration of Richmond’s Maritime Heritage that brings Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site to life with musical performances, hands-on workshops, live demonstrations and storytelling and much more.
Photo: Richmond Maritime Festival favourite, Rikki the Rat (Brent Hirose, Puppeteer), 2025
Doors Open Richmond
Doors Open Richmond is a free annual celebration that showcases the city’s diverse, multicultural places and communities. Presented by the Richmond Museum, this popular event invites people to discover heritage sites, unique buildings, and culturally significant spaces through engaging activities and hands-on programming across the city.
Photo: Doors Open Event, 2024. Photo credit: Jennifer Strang
The City of Richmond’s Community Services works in partnership with local artists, community associations and organizations to present cultural events in neighbourhoods across the city, such as:
Pride Week
Pride Week is a celebration of members of the Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and gender diverse (2SLGBTQI+) communities in our city. Beginning the last Monday of July, Pride Week features inclusive events and interactive activities with local artists, performers and community members. Events are presented by the City of Richmond in partnership with community associations, societies and the Richmond Public Library.
Photo: Pride Week in Richmond, 2024. Photo credit: Kai Jacobson
Invite the Light
Celebrate the magic of the Winter Solstice at City Centre Community Centre every December 20. Past celebrations have featured live owls, Richmond Nature Park presentations, Indigenous activities like cedar weaving, live music, arts and crafts, and free dumpling sampling. Don’t miss the highlight of the evening: a glowing labyrinth of light, a winding, guided pathway, where hundreds of LED candles light up paper bags to illuminate the longest night of the year.
Photo: Winter Solsitce at City Centre Community Centre, 2025
National Indigenous Peoples Day
June 21 is National Indigenous Peoples Day and June is National Indigenous History Month. There are a variety of in-person and virtual events and activities taking place in Richmond to recognize the heritage and strength of Indigenous Peoples.
Photo: Welcoming the Sun event at Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site
Steveston Salmon Festival
Since 1945, the Steveston Salmon Festival has been Richmond’s marquee Canada Day celebration. Evolving over the decades, the festival is renowned for its food offerings, featuring a traditional salmon bake and chow mein tent, along with many more options; a community parade; cultural demonstrations and performances; and hands-on activities for the whole family, capped off with a fireworks display.
Photo caption: The Butterfly Biscuits performing at Steveston Salmon Festival, 2025
Winter in the Village
Winter in the Village is a collection of fun and festive programs, events, and activities taking place in Steveston Village through the month of December. Steveston is transformed into a winter wonderland with twinkling lights, decorated windows, and beautifully lit historic sites. A festival of trees, holiday window contest, Santa’s arrival by boat, and outdoor live music round out the long list of activities everyone in the family can enjoy.
Photo: Winter Tram illuminations at Steveston Tram
Richmond Cherry Blossom Festival
Richmond Cherry Blossom Festival is set amongst 255 Akebono cherry blossom trees at Garry Point Park and features a day of music, dance performances, food and cultural activities traditionally celebrated in Japan.
Photo: Vancouver Okinawa Taiko performing at the Richmond Cherry Blossom Festival, 2026
What’s happening this weekend? Check out the City of Richmond’s Events Calendar.