10 Free Things to Do in Richmond BC

Richmond’s harbourfront village of Steveston is one of the city’s main attractions, and one that you can freely visit and explore. Steveston Harbour has a fish market and waterfront dining spots overlooking docked watercraft and sails, but short walks out lead you to several other interesting sites. These include the tiny Steveston Museum (which also serves as a post office and visitor centre), the Gulf of Georgia Cannery, and Moncton Street, which stood in as the fictional town of Storybrooke in the TV fantasy drama, Once Upon a Time.

Richmond contains 2 places on the list of National Historical Sites of Canada, both of which hark back to the fishing and canning industry that helped shape the waterfront city. One of these is Britannia Shipyards, which lies on the eastern end of the Steveston Harbour. The shipyards provide you with an opportunity to explore an authentic riverfront community, complete with preserved and restored canneries and boatyards. You can hop into the visitor centre to ask for the next tour schedules that takes you around Chinese bunkhouses and the house of the boatbuilding Japanese Murakami family.

A number of timber boardwalks and walking trails crisscross Richmond Nature Park – an 81-hectare peat bog that’s become a vibrant habitat for various local birds and wildlife. A walk through this well-preserved park gives you a hint at how Richmond might have looked like over a century ago. Along the trails, you’ll see wildflowers and berries growing throughout the park, and you’ll come across a series of feeding posts where sparrows, woodpeckers, chickadees, and even grey squirrels stop for a snack. Best time to visit is during spring, roughly between March and June.

To Richmond locals, Minoru Park is home to some of the city's cultural and community services, such as a public library, swimming pools, skating rinks, and a baseball field. To visitors, it’s better known for its beautiful park spaces. Once you enter this urban oasis, you’ll be surrounded by a cool blend of nature’s artistry and intricately designed manmade features. There’s a duck pond surrounded by a small forest, plenty of flower gardens, a waterfall, and a jogging track from which you can take it all in.

Richmond has 3 farmers’ markets where you can check out the freshest local produce from across British Columbia on display. A fresh take on a farmers’ market is Langley Farm Market by the Landsdowne subway station. You’ll see crates piled high with freshly picked fruits arranged in a modernised layout and under a single roof. Further south is Orchards Farm Market on Westminster Highway, which is more like a large grocery store. Kin’s Farm Market is a great spot to pick up local ambrosia apples, grown in and supplied from Similkameen Valley. Markets open daily, with opening times generally around 8am to 8pm and 10am to 10pm.

This public art gallery in Richmond regularly hosts innovative exhibitions and art programmes. The collection of contemporary visual arts continuously change, and range from expressionistic paintings to unseen and innovative sculpture works by local and international artists. However, the gallery has a permanent collection of works acquired since the late ‘70s, comprising various prints, photographic works, and textiles. The gallery is free to visit. Check out their Family Sunday programme for art studio activities.

The scenic and tranquil riverfront of McDonald Beach features wide green spaces, sparse cottonwood forests, and picnic benches overlooking the water. It’s a great place to escape the traffic scenes of downtown Richmond, with only the occasional log boats passing by, as well as the aircraft flying in and out of Vancouver International Airport, which is just next door. In between, all you’ll have is birdsong and the sounds of nature. Locals love the beach for walking their dogs, so it’s also a great spot to make new friends.

If you visit Richmond during the summer months, around May to October, be sure to check out Richmond Night Market on weekend evenings. It has a festive vibe and can be a great place for families to enjoy a host of fun and games. The market is held on a large space by the Fraser River, with carnival-like tent setups covering a large variety of local vendors serving street food such as grilled seafood, slushies, and satays. You’ll also find an assortment of fun goods like souvenirs and shirts at sale prices.