The first big community event on Maple Ridge’s calendar for 2026 is happening this weekend – it’s the Ridge Meadows Home Show.
The loss of the Caribbean Festival shows that community festivals organized by non-profit groups are susceptible to the vagaries of the economy. If we want to keep these events that give the community its character and vitality, we need to support them.
And in the case of the annual home show, which has been running for almost half a century, it’s also a lot of fun, and an incredible value. This event earns and deserves your participation.
Just $8 gets a family admission.
The home show inside Planet Ice of course offers a huge variety of products and services for home and garden. You can find support for renovations, landscaping, and other decorating and building projects of all sizes, whether it’s a new deck or a whole outdoor kitchen.
There are also housewares and gadgets in the marketplace, whether it’s cosmetics or a new pillow. Sit on a chair that will give you a massage, or try out out a new mattress.
You can even have your cards read at the psychic fair, or buy jewelry made from crystals.
There’s big fun outdoors, with the rides and games supplied by Shooting Star Amusements.
The Family Fest has musicians, contortionists, magicians and more on stage; a beer garden for a hot day, a food truck festival, competition ribs being served, and more.
This is where the Ridge Meadows Home Show truly lives up to its billing as “The Everything Show.”
New this year is the Paw Patch, with pet products, demos, and speakers. Trainers will demonstrate nose work, dancing with your dogs, rally and trick dogs, and agility.
The Monster Foam Party offers kids a unique play environment with piles of suds being shot out of a cannon.
There’s the Bring Back Play giant sandbox, balloon artists, mini golf, and much more.
It’s easy to get behind this show, and to promote the businesses involved, because most are local operations are run by people who are part of this community.
Maple Ridge also boasts other great community festivals and celebrations. Canada Day on July 1 has grown into a can’t miss event, Country Fest on July 24-26 is the longest running community event – celebrating its 125th anniversary this year. And don’t forget Celebrate The Night during the Halloween season brings costumes and fun, and the Santa Claus Parade in early December kicks off the Christmas season.
The downtown music festival known as Our Neck of the Woods is the newest addition, and appears destined to join these as can’t miss events, as an end-of-summer celebration.
This community has a great lineup of feature festivals and events upcoming, and it kicks off this weekend with the Ridge Meadows Home Show. See you there!