Pancakes, petting zoo, pony rides, parades and more happening in Jasper’s neighbouring village in B.C.
The village of Valemount, B.C., is gearing up for this year’s Valemountain Days festival, an annual three-day event for locals and visitors alike.
This year’s festival, taking place from Friday, June 13 through Sunday, June 15, may be the biggest one yet, event organizers say.
The annual festival has existed in some form since before Valemount was incorporated as a village in 1962, according to Laura Keil, one of the event organizers.
“It’s a very longstanding tradition,” Keil said. “Valemountain Days, by that name, has been going on since 1979, but Valemount Sports Day, the prototype of Valemountain Days, has been happening since the ‘50s.”
Over those several decades, the Valemountain Days parade has become one of the festival’s most popular events. Keil looks forward to seeing parade floats, familiar faces and visitors each year.
“I think the parade epitomizes a lot of what’s so awesome [about the festival] because it’s really quite exciting,” Keil said. “What other chance do we have to shut down an entire street – which, let’s be honest, is most of Valemount – and have almost the entire community be either in the parade or watching the parade?”
That community spirit is part of what has made the parade – and Valemountain Days as a whole – a fixture of Valemount summers, Keil says. She added that welcoming visitors to the village is one of the highlights of the parade, since it’s a good chance for locals to connect with people visiting for the weekend.
The parade is still a Valemountain Days staple, but this year brings brand-new activities such as a petting zoo and pony cart rides for kids.
Additionally, the festival will include classic events like the softball tournament and face painting. Food trucks and concessions will be available throughout the weekend so attendees can always grab a bite to eat between activities, according to Keil.
The festival caters to people of all ages and energy levels, Keil added. Teenagers might enjoy a concert from local artists on Saturday evening, while adults can relax at the beer garden or play bingo Sunday afternoon.
“We’re trying to get a bit of something for everyone: a little bit for seniors, lots for kids,” she said.
The full schedule of events can be found on the Valemountain Days 2025 Facebook group. A map of the parade route will be posted there too, according to Keil.
Keil encourages anyone who’s been thinking about visiting Valemount to take the event as an opportunity to explore the village and meet locals.
“It’s an exciting time where the whole community can come together and just have fun,” Keil said. “I think that’s what makes it so enduring – it’s a time where you make memories, but you look forward to the next year as soon as it’s done.”
Abigail Popple // info@thejasperlocal.com
