One of White Rock’s most popular summertime traditions will be back this August after a four-year hiatus.
The torchlight parade – a much-loved feature of the White Rock Sea Festival and Semiahmoo Days – will return to the city’s waterfront on Aug. 3.
And the city is inviting participation from local and regional marching bands, businesses and community organizations interested in sponsoring floats for the 33rd edition of the event, part of the 73rd annual sea festival.
A brand-new element will also be part of the fun, White Rock Mayor Megan Knight said, in a media release.
“We invite everyone to come out and celebrate this cherished tradition and be one of the first to see the new city parade float,” she said.
It will be the first torchlight parade on the waterfront since the 2019 White Rock Sea Festival and Semiahmoo Days.
After two years of cancellations of the entire event during the COVID-19 pandemic, the annual summer celebration returned in 2022.
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But in that year, and in 2023, it was without the torchlight parade, with city organizers citing the difficulty of essentially starting over from scratch in co-ordinating entries and participants – lacking adequate lead-time and and an ongoing schedule of similar events in the region.
The release promises the event is returning “to its original torchlight essence” this year, however.
In the spirit of the event, participants are requested to make sure they have a lighting component planned for their parade entry.
The procession is scheduled to start at 8:30 p.m. from West Beach and continue down Marine Drive to East Beach.
To apply and for a more detailed view of the parade terms and conditions, visit whiterockcity.ca/seafestival