We knew it was coming. Summer can’t last forever, though wouldn’t it be nice if it did? So, let’s make the most of the time we have left before fall rolls in and have some fun in Surrey!
Sunflower Festivals
If any flower could be described as happy, it could only be the sunny sunflower, and Surrey has 2 sunflower festivals happening this summer which means even more opportunities for the perfect summer selfie! Wander through rows and rows of sunflowers at the Surrey Sunflower Festival (August 4 – September 3 | 4334 186 Street) and Summer Sunflower Farm Days (August 12 & 13 and 19 & 20 | Gabriel Farms (18507 20th Avenue).
Sounds of Summer
August 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30
Various locations
The sweet sounds of live and local music will be wafting through the fresh air in Surrey’s parks and plazas each and every Wednesday evening, this summer. With genres that range from Jazz and Neo Soul to Motown and Latin and everything in between, there’s a free concert for all types of music genres. Bring your own chair or blanket or let the music move you and dance all night long, it’s all up to you! Visit the Sound of Summer website for the full schedule, including locations and performers, and to find out which events are pet-friendly.
On sunny, warm days, there’s nothing like a picnic in the park. And with over 200 parks and 6,000 acres of parkland, it’s easy to find somewhere in Surrey to spread out a blanket and enjoy dining al fresco. Choose from wide-open green spaces, “secret” woodland forests or a beach with a view, here are some great, and maybe lesser known, picnic destinations in Surrey. And if you’re looking for some tasty treats to pack in your picnic basket, we have some ideas for that as well!
Take a Dip at Surrey’s Outdoor Pools
Summer’s end also means the end of outdoor swimming pool season! Take advantage of Surrey’s many outdoor pools and enjoy a dip on a hot day before summer fades into a distant memory! Whether you bring the whole family or decide to go for a solo swim, there are plenty of easily accessible pools dispersed all across Surrey. An added bonus: admission is free at all eight pools!
Go Back in Time at Historic Stewart Farmhouse
What was life like for British Columbia’s nineteenth-century lower Mainland settlers? All you have to do is visit the grounds of the Historic Stewart Farm to find out. Book a guided tour, or explore on your own, and visit the grounds and buildings. There’s a pole barn with farm implements; apple and pear trees; heritage gardens bursting with scarlet runner beans, roses, snapdragons, calendulas and sunflowers; there’s even an old Hadden crab boat – a relic from the oyster farming and crab fishing days of old. Each weekend has themed activities – August 12 and 13 is all about farm chores, including milking and butter making, on August 19 and 20 play with old-fashioned toys from the Victoria era, and practice the domestic arts like sewing and handicrafts on August 26 and 27. The end of summer is the start of apple season, and on September 2, 3 and 4, learn about the different ways that apples were used on the farm, view the Stewarts’ orchard and try your hand at peeling an apple the old-fashioned way.
Take your tastebuds on a delicious global journey on the Surrey Spice Trail! Spread over six neighbourhoods, there are over 70 restaurants and shops ready to add a little flavour to your dining experience. Columbian, North Indian, Afghan, Mexican, Jamaican, Nepalese – no matter what flavour you’re craving, you’ll find it on this self-guided Spice Trail.
Catch a Sunset
Surrey is known for its lush greenery, incredible food, and vast, sprawling agricultural land. And with so much scenery and open space, it comes as a surprise to many that Surrey has several water-front oases that make for absolutely STUNNING sunset views. So whether you find yourself in sunny South Surrey or closer to the North Surrey neighbourhood, there’s a spot to settle in and watch the day turn to night. Great sunset spots include Kwomais Point Park, Crescent Beach, Elgin Heritage Park, Serpentine Fen, Brownsville Bar Park, Surrey Bend Regional Park and Mud Bay Park.
Watch a Movie Under the Stars
August 19: The Super Mario Bros. Movie
Holland Park
Movies Under the Stars is back! The Downtown Surrey Business Improvement Association presents Surreys’ free outdoor movie event at Holland Park. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets for a night of free family fun, outdoor activities, and great movies! Entertainment starts at 6pm and includes games, singers, crafts, draws, and lots more.
Nothing says summer like spending the morning at a farmers’ market and enjoying the bounty of fresh local produce. 30 per cent of Surrey’s land is dedicated to agriculture and committed to local food growing, so it’s no surprise that there are a variety of Farmers’ Markets and farm stores peppered across the city where you can pick and choose your weekly produce pickup.
- Surrey Urban Farmers Market – Saturdays (until October 7)
- Clayton Market – August 6 & 20, 2023
- Cloverdale Market Days – August 26, 2023