Tsawwassen is known as a safe and tight-knit community for families, and the neighbourhood activities available throughout the year reflect those demographics. Whether it’s children playing baseball in the local diamonds, or adults heading down to the gym to get their daily workout, there are plenty of things for families to do in Tsawwassen.
Tsawwassen Sun Festival
The Tsawwassen Sun Festival is an annual celebration of community life in Tsawwassen which is geared towards children and their parents. Featuring a parade in the streets, music shows, a public softball tournament, carnival rides, an antique fair, bingo, fireworks, and food vendors galore, the Sun Festival attracts upwards of 8,000 people a year over its 3 days of operation. More than anything else, the Sun Festival proves that you can still have small town charm in the suburb of a major city.
Winskill Aquatic and Fitness Centre
Conveniently located along 56th St. (the main artery of traffic through Tsawwassen), Winskill Aquatic and Fitness Centre offers residents a number of athletic amenities, including a 25-meter lap pool, a kiddie pool, a hot tub, a sauna, a fully-stocked weight room, and a fitness studio for yoga and pilates classes. Immediately adjacent to Winskill is a both Disc Golf Course (to the West), and a municipal park (to the East) which features baseball diamonds, soccer fields, a field hockey pitch, and an artificial turf field that can be fully lit for pre-booked nighttime games.
South Delta Recreation Centre
Winskill is not the only municipal recreation centre in Tsawwassen; the South Delta Recreation Centre is every bit as large and significant. Located a bit further North along 56th St. than 16 Ave., the South Delta Rec Centre features a full-size ice rink for skating and hockey, a curling rink, a fully-equipped gymnasium for Olympic-style gymnastics, and a banquet hall used by many groups, including the Royal Canadian Air Cadets. Immediately adjacent to the Rec Centre is a skateboard park, a lacrosse box, and the First Nations-influenced Kiwanis Longhouse, which is used by the South Delta Artists’ Guild.
Diefenbaker Park
Named after former Prime Minister John Diefenbaker, Diefenbaker Park is one of the most beautiful green spaces in Tsawwassen. It is defined by long, sloping hills that local children use for sledding in the rare event of snowfall, with a quiet pond in the middle that features both an automated water fountain and aquatic life, such as frogs and fish. On the northernmost edge of the park, the ground raises to meet the homes above, which are separated from the park with a small wooded area whose winding paths are popular for dog-walking and jogging alike. Furthermore, each year on Canada Day (July 1st), a patriotic celebration is held at Diefenbaker Park.
Centennial Beach
While Tsawwassen has water on two sides, Centennial Beach on its Eastern coast is by far the most popular public beach, due to its safe location in Boundary Bay and its accessible sandy terrain. In summer months, adults often enjoy activities like boating and suntanning, while children often enjoy building sand castles during low tide. As the winds in Boundary Bay are consistent but not overpowering, it is also a popular place for wind-based activities such as sailing, parasailing, and kite flying.
Ladner May Days
Located in Tsawwassen’s sister community of Ladner (both of them combined are known as “South Delta”), Ladner May Days are Ladner’s annual equivalent of the Tsawwassen Sun Festival. With the tagline “Small Town Fair, Big Town Fun,” May Days have been held in Ladner every year since 1896, making them a strong local tradition with lots of history. Featuring a public pancake breakfast, a parade, carnival rides, and a food fair, Ladner May Days has fun for the whole family.
Ladner Village Market
The Ladner Village Market is known as “Western Canada’s Largest Open-Air Market,” and for good reason! Each Sunday in the warm months of the year, a section of 48 Ave. in Ladner is blocked off to traffic and turned into a large pedestrian street market featuring fresh local produce, vendors from all over the Lower Mainland, and musicians to entertain the crowds. On top of being a great source of organic vegetables, the Village Market is yet another reminder that even though it’s conveniently close to downtown Vancouver, Tsawwassen (and nearby Ladner) still enjoy a wholesome small town feel.
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