Throughout the Fraser Canyon, communities celebrate their unique geography, history and heritage. These include Lytton's First Nations Healing Gathering in Botanie Valley; May Day celebrations in Boston Bar; a traditional Strawberry Social at Yale's Pioneer Tent Museum and local Farmers' Markets that are summertime mainstays as much for their fresh produce as for casual get-togethers. The largest is in Lytton on Friday mornings.
Lytton River Festival
The largest of canyon events, this three-day jubilee pays tribute to its two waterways, The Fraser and Thompson Rivers. The Lytton River Festival is a full-on community affair with rafting specials, river races and displays, live entertainment at Spirit Square and street dancing as well as plenty of children's activities such as face-painting and kite-flying. First Nations host a traditional Pow-Wow and there are fireworks in the evening.
Lytton Days
Held over the May long weekend, this three-day event celebrates the start of summer with pancake breakfasts, ball tournaments, special markets and the crowning of a May Queen who then leads a May Day parade.
Rotary River Run Regatta
Billed as a barrel of fun, this wet and wild annual event is an important fund raiser for Search & Rescue activities and the Yale Museum. The day starts with a Barrel Bearer's buffet breakfast at Hell's Gate Airtram, after which almost 40 barrels are thrown into the swirling Fraser River currents to travel down 20 plus miles to Yale. Then there's a wrap up BBQ with plenty of local, live entertainment. As the river equivalent to Nanaimo's Bathtub Race, barrel designs are wickedly engineered with colourful designs and whimsy.
Remembrance Day Pow-Wow
Held in various downtown locales, including the Lytton Memorial Hall, this annual Pow-Wow honours war veterans with traditional First Nations dance competitions, drumming circles, artisan and cultural displays. The event is free and a rare opportunity for visitors to participate in an authentic Pow-Wow at a grass-roots, community level. Enquire at the Lytton Visitor Centre on these and other canyon community events.