What’s Happening Around the Lower Mainland This Week
Whether you’re looking for family-friendly activities,, live entertainment, or cultural celebrations, the next week is packed with events worth checking out in lower Mainland, BC.
Hyack Multicultural Parade & Festival
By Jenny Holly Hansen | Langley News | May 23, 2026
Your guide to festivals, family fun, concerts, and community events happening across Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley this week.
Spring in the Lower Mainland always feels like the region waking up all at once. Farmers markets return, festivals spill into the streets, patios fill up, and every community seems to have something happening. Whether you’re looking for family-friendly activities, networking opportunities, live entertainment, or cultural celebrations, the next week is packed with events worth checking out.
Hyack Multicultural Parade & Festival – New Westminster
Date: May 23, 2026
Cost: Free
One of the Lower Mainland’s most iconic community celebrations returns to New Westminster this weekend. The Hyack Festival features a massive multicultural parade with floats, marching bands, performers, and cultural groups from across the region. After the parade, the festival continues with food vendors, live entertainment, and family activities throughout downtown New Westminster. It’s one of those events that captures the spirit of community in Metro Vancouver.
More information:
Hyack Festival Details
Ladner May Days – Delta
Dates: May 23–24, 2026
Cost: Free admission (rides and food extra)
Ladner May Days is one of the Lower Mainland’s longest-running community festivals. Expect carnival rides, live music, a beer garden, food trucks, family activities, and sporting events throughout the weekend. The atmosphere feels nostalgic in the best way — a classic community fair that still brings generations together every year.
More information:
Ladner May Days Information
Vancouver International Children’s Festival – Vancouver
Dates: May 25–31, 2026
Cost: Many activities free; ticketed performances vary
This beloved annual festival transforms Granville Island into a hub of creativity, music, theatre, storytelling, and interactive performances designed for children and families. The festival has become one of the signature family events in Metro Vancouver and offers a mix of free outdoor programming alongside ticketed stage performances from artists around the world.
More information:
Children’s Festival Schedule
Shipyards Night Market – North Vancouver
Date: Friday evenings
Cost: Free admission
The Shipyards Night Market continues to be one of the most popular summer-style events on the North Shore. Visitors can expect live music, artisan vendors, food trucks, local breweries, and waterfront views. It’s an easy recommendation for anyone looking for a relaxed evening out with friends or family.
More information:
Shipyards Night Market Info
Art Vancouver – Vancouver Convention Centre
Dates: Running through late May
Cost: Ticketed event (prices vary)
Art Vancouver brings together galleries and artists from across Canada and around the world. Visitors can explore contemporary paintings, sculpture, photography, and mixed-media installations while connecting directly with artists and collectors. For business professionals, creatives, and anyone who enjoys the arts community, this is one of the larger cultural events happening in the city this month.
More information:
Art Vancouver Details
PoCo Public Works Open House – Port Coquitlam
Date: May 23, 2026
Cost: Free
Families with young kids — especially those obsessed with trucks and heavy equipment — will love this event. The Public Works Open House gives visitors a behind-the-scenes look at city equipment, demonstrations, interactive exhibits, and family entertainment. There’s also a by-donation BBQ supporting community initiatives.
More information:
PoCo Public Works Open House
MomChoir Spring Showcase: “Intertwined” – North Vancouver
Date: May 24, 2026
Cost: Ticketed event
This uplifting musical showcase highlights themes of connection, community, and shared experiences through live choral performance. The event offers a more intimate cultural experience compared to the larger festivals happening around the region and has become a meaningful annual performance for many local families.
More information:
MomChoir Showcase Information
OWL Open House – Delta
Dates: May 30–31, 2026
Cost: Admission by donation
The Orphaned Wildlife Rehabilitation Society (OWL) opens its doors to the public for a weekend of wildlife education and conservation awareness. Visitors can meet rescued birds of prey, watch raptor demonstrations, and learn about wildlife rehabilitation efforts happening here in British Columbia. This is one of the most unique family-friendly educational events happening in the Lower Mainland next weekend.
More information:
OWL Open House Details
Final Thoughts
The Lower Mainland really comes alive this time of year. What stands out most isn’t just the number of events happening — it’s the variety. In a single week, you can attend a multicultural parade, browse local art, network at community markets, take your family to children’s performances, and finish the evening listening to live music by the waterfront.
For business owners and professionals, events like these also create opportunities to connect naturally with people in the community. Sometimes the best networking happens when you’re simply out enjoying the city alongside everyone else.
TAGS: #Jenny Holly Hansen #Protect Your Business #Community Impact #Langley Connect #Surrey Connect #Connect Network #Hyack Multicultural Parade & Festival – New Westminster #Ladner May Days – Delta #Vancouver International Children’s Festival – Vancouver #Shipyards Night Market – North Vancouver #Art Vancouver – Vancouver Convention Centre #PoCo Public Works Open House – Port Coquitlam #MomChoir Spring Showcase: “Intertwined” – North Vancouver #OWL Open House – Delta
Let’s Keep Talking: Jenny Holly Hansen, Business Insurance Broker since 2006. Phone: 604-317-6755 Email: jenny.hansen@brokerbc.ca LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenny-holly-hansen-365b691b/.