RiverFest 2026
*The event has already taken place on this date: Sun, 09/27/2026
Please help us keep this calendar up to date! If this activity is sold out, canceled, or otherwise needs alteration, email mindy@kidsoutandabout.com so we can update it immediately. If you have a question about the activity itself, please contact the organization administrator listed below.
This year, RiverFest will take place on September 26 and 27—offering a dynamic mix of exhibits, live performances, exhibitor expo and artisan market, the Lucille Johnstone Workboat Parade, and many fun activities for all ages.
On September 19, we're excited to offer a series of walks and workshops that invite you to connect more deeply with the river and its stories. These include an Indigenous plant walk, a forest health and ecology workshop, a guided walk along the quayside, and a workshop about aquatic animals in cities. Space is limited and pre-registration is required. Pre-registration will be open soon.
September 19
- Coast Salish Plant Walk with Senaqwila Wyss
Time: 10:00am-11:30am
Location: New Westminster Quayside
- Investigating Forest Health and Ecology in Mundy Park with Priya Puri
Time: 11:30am-1:00pm
Location: Mundy Park
- Quayside Tour
Time: 1:30pm-2:30pm
Location: New Westminster Quayside
- Discovering Aquatic Animals in Cities with Jaylen Bastos
Time: 3:30pm-4:30pm
Location: New Westminster Quayside
To celebrate World Rivers Day and BC Rivers Day, enjoy free admission to the Discovery Centre all weekend on September 26-27 and join the festivities! The festival program is below; different activities are planned for each day.
September 26
Family Fun Zone
Join us at the Discovery Centre from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm for the Family Fun Zone. Explore the FRDC's interactive exhibits and participate in hands-on activities located throughout the building to learn about the stories of the Fraser River.
Artist Workshops with Art New West
10:00am - 12:00pm and 1:00pm - 3:00pm @ FRDC
These river-themed workshops invite children and parents to create their very own river-creature using air-clay. Explore the world of sculpture while having fun learning basic clay shaping techniques. This workshop is presented by Arts New West.
Sturgeon Stage
The main stage will feature live performances throughout the day.
JB the First Lady @ 11am
Jerilynn Webster, aka JB the First Lady, is a member of the Nuxalk & Onondaga Nations. She is a Vancouver-based hip hop and spoken word artist, beat-boxer, cultural dancer and youth educator. With four studio albums under her belt, JB sees her songs as a way of capturing oral history and isn’t afraid to write lyrics that speak to challenging subjects like residential schools and missing and murdered indigenous women.
Uptown Swing @ 12pm
Uptown Swing Collective is a New Westminster based registered non-profit society. They are passionate about creating intergenerational connections between musicians, dancers, and toe tappers, by providing live music in accessible and welcoming spaces in the heart of New Westminster.
Tsatsu Stalqayu (Coastal Wolf Pack) @ 1:30pm
Returning to the Sturgeon Stage for their fifth year, Tsatsu Stalqayu (Coastal Wolf Pack) celebrates their ancestral lands and Coast Salish communities through traditional song and dance. Composed of near and extended family, Coastal Wolf Pack has members ranging from as young as 6 months old to over 50 years of age.
ZORNITZA Dance Ensemble @ 3pm
Zornitza Dance Ensemble is a group of young dancers who love and cherish their European roots and aspire to showcase their culture and celebrate their community. Most of them have been involved in Bulgarian dancing for over 10 years. The group’s mission is to highlight and showcase all of the unique and diverse qualities of Bulgaria and its surrounding Eastern-European regions. With colorful costumes and captivating music, Bulgarian folklore is an exceptional collection of spiritual wealth that has been built over centuries, and these dances embody that.
Lucille Johnstone Workboat Parade – presented by Ledcor
The Lucille Johnstone Workboat Parade takes place at approximately 2:15pm on the New West waterfront! Find a good place to watch vessels from a variety of companies and organizations cruise by. This is a great opportunity to learn about just a few of the 42,000 jobs that the Fraser River supports! The FRDC would like to thank Ledcor for sponsoring the workboat parade.
Exhibitor Expo & New West Craft Artisan Market
Soak up the sights as you stroll along the New Westminster Quay where exhibitors will share their expertise and makers will showcase their skills and wares.
Samson V Museum
It will be open from 12 to 4pm for visitors to interact with maritime community members aboard the vessel!
September 27
Family Fun Zone
Join us at the Discovery Centre from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm for the Family Fun Zone. Explore the FRDC's interactive exhibits and participate in hands-on activities located throughout the building to learn about the stories of the Fraser River.
Artist Workshops with Art New West
10:00am - 12:00pm and 1:00pm - 3:00pm @ FRDC
These river-themed workshops invite children and parents to create their very own river-creature using air-clay. Explore the world of sculpture while having fun learning basic clay shaping techniques. This workshop is presented by Sophie Davari and Arts New West.
Samson V Museum
It will be open from 12 to 4pm for visitors to interact with maritime community members aboard the vessel!
*Times, dates, and prices of any activity posted to our calendars are subject to change. Please be sure to click through directly to the organization’s website to verify.