Vaisakhi parade, Sun Run and more things to do in Metro Vancouver this weekend

More than 550,000 people attended the Surrey Khalsa Day Vaisakhi Parade on Saturday, April 19, 2025. (X.com / @SurreyMayor)

A week after Vancouver’s Vaisakhi parade, the celebration moves to Surrey, where more than half a million people are expected to turn out for what organizers say is the largest Vaisakhi parade in the world.

Whether or not you’re planning to be part of the crowd on Saturday, there’s plenty to do in Metro Vancouver this weekend. Here are some events and activities to check out.

Surrey Khalsa Day Vaisakhi Parade

The annual Surrey Khalsa Day Vaisakhi Parade will depart Gurdwara Sahib Dasmesh Darbar around 9 a.m. Saturday and head south on 128 Street before completing a loop along 82 Avenue, 124 Street and 75 Avenue and returning to the gurdwara.

As always, lining the route will be food stalls, community stages, live music and performances.

More information, including road closure, parking and shuttle details, can be found on the event’s website.

Vancouver Sun Run

On Sunday, streets around downtown and False Creek will close for the annual Vancouver Sun Run.

The full-length course makes its way through the West End and over the Burrard Street Bridge before ending outside B.C. Place. There’s also a free expo at the Vancouver Convention Centre on Friday and Saturday ahead of the race.

Founded more than 40 years ago in 1985, the event remains Canada’s largest 10K road race. More information can be found on the Sun Run website.

At the theatre

Several theatre productions are in their opening weekends or holding limited runs this weekend. Among the offerings are an Australian dance and drum show, a musical interpretation of a beloved animated film, and the premiere of a new opera. Learn more about each performance by following its link.

• DanceHouse presents: Stephanie Lake Company’s Manifesto: Thursday through Saturday at the Vancouver Playhouse, 600 Hamilton St. in Vancouver
• Royal City Musical Theatre presents: Shrek – The Musical: Friday through May 3 at the Massey Theatre, 735 8th Ave. in New Westminster
• Opera Unbound presents: The Fox: Friday through Sunday at Annex, 824 Seymour St. in Vancouver
• Firehall Arts Centre presents: The Undeniable Accusations of Red Cadmium Light: Saturday through May 3 at Firehall Arts Centre, 280 E. Cordova St. in Vancouver
• End of Greatness at The Cultch: Thursday through Saturday at Historic Theatre, 1895 Venables St. in Vancouver

Lapu Lapu Day of Togetherness

As the first anniversary of last year’s Lapu Lapu Day Festival tragedy approaches, Filipino BC is organizing a more muted celebration this year.

Lapu Lapu Day of Togetherness is scheduled for Sunday at Il Centro Italian Cultural Centre on Slocan Street in Vancouver. Organizers say it will be an opportunity for people to come together to “lift each other up, reflect on shared healing and honour culture and community with care.”

Earth Day celebrations

Earth Day is next Wednesday, April 22, but a pair of celebrations are happening in Metro Vancouver this weekend.

The Stanley Park Ecology Society is hosting a day of nature education and connecting with local ecosystems at Lumberman’s Arch on Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Organizers promise “nature walks, information booths and hands-on activities” at the free event.

Out in Maple Ridge, the Ridge Meadows Recycling Society is planning its own Earth Day event at Memorial Peace Park on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This one promises a special farmers’ market, repair cafe, electric vehicle display, food trucks and live entertainment.

For the sports fans

With the Canucks’ season officially over Thursday and the B.C. Lions starting away from B.C. Place until July 25 due to the World Cup, the city’s professional sports calendar is a little thinner than it has been in recent weeks.

This weekend, the Vancouver Whitecaps host Sporting Kansas City on Friday at 7:30 p.m.

The following night, the Vancouver Warriors host the Philadelphia Wings at Rogers Arena at 7 p.m.

With files from MOVE 103.5’s Leanne McLaren