OCEAN PARK DAY

The South Surrey community's annual festival happens this Saturday, June 16, with heritage-related attractions at the hall at nearby venues. Family-friendly live entertainment is planned, including music and dance, plus an antiques "road show" event, food, clowns, face painting and more. New this year is the creation of a plus mascot called Ocean Park Eagle, on sale at the Cotton 'N' Crayon store. The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. throughout the village, at 128th Street and 16th Avenue.

SURREY FEST DOWNTOWN

The 14th annual Surrey Fest Downtown happens Saturday, June 16 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Central City Plaza and North Surrey rec centre, in the 13400-block of 102nd Avenue. The festival (originally known as Whalley Community Festival) was formed in 1999 to promote and celebrate community pride during a day of fun and entertainment for all ages, and also provide a venue for groups and organizations to inform the community of their services. This year, close to 7,000 people are expected to take in live entertainment, exhibits and food. Planned are performances by the bands Fab Fourever (a Beatles tribute act) and Agent C & Top Secret, bhangra and break dancers, trick skateboarders and finalists from the recent B.C. Junior Talent Search contest. For more details, click on surreyfest.com.

SUMMER FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS

The Corporation of Delta, in partnership with Lyon's Pride Studio and Gallery, is currently staging a Summer Festival of the Arts exhibition at Firehall Centre for the Arts, to June 30 at 11489 84th Ave., North Delta. Festival organizers say it's a "must-see show" for the serious art collector. Patrons can meet 10 artists from the gallery at a reception on Saturday, June 16, from 2:30 to 5 p.m. Denis Mayer Jr., voted artist of the year, for 2012, by Ducks Unlimited, will be there to sign prints of his work. For fest info, contact Marilyn Lyon via 604-502-9878 or marilyn@lyonspridestudio.com.

SURREY INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

The studio and main stage at Surrey Arts Centre will be busy with Surrey International Film Festival-related activities on Friday, June 29 and Saturday, June 30, with screenings and an awards gala. Best of all, admission is free for all who attend, as a way to attract more people and showcase the talents of young filmmakers involved in the festival. Look for complete festival details, including films to be shown, at www. surreyfilmfest.ca.

CANADA DAY

Canadian flags also fly at special events in White Rock and North Delta, but Surrey's Canada Day party has become a go-to place for one of the largest celebrations in the nation. Cloverdale's Millennium Amphitheatre plays host to the party Sunday, July 1, with headliner Sam Roberts Band and many other entertainers on two stages, plus midway rides, food and interactive activities for all ages. Other performers this year include Hannah Georgas, Jerry Doucette, The High Bar Gang (a band featuring Shari Ulrich, Colin Nairne, Barney Bentall and others), Andrew Allen, Jordan Cook and Blaze of Glory (a Bon Jovi tribute act), plus 20 finalists in the Peak Performance Project band contest. More info: www.surrey.ca/canadaday.

SURREY PRIDE FESTIVAL

The region's annual gay-pride festival returns to Holland Park in North Surrey on Sunday, July 8, with several related events in the works, including a Stonewall Youth Dance, a cabaret night and community picnic. The group that stages the yearly festival recently changed its name to Surrey Pride Society, replacing OIS Rainbow Cultural Society - the same organization with a more relevant name, according to society president Jen Marchbank. The theme for this year's festival is "Bridge the Rainbow." On Saturday, June 16, Surrey drag queen Mz Adrien is in the spotlight during a special cabaret-night fundraiser for Pride societies in Surrey and New Westminster. For event info, visit www. surreypride.ca.

SURREY FUSION FESTIVAL

Tens of thousands of people will converge on Holland Park for the 2012 version of Fusion Festival, the City of Surrey's annual celebration of music, food and culture, happening this year on July 21-22. Hawksley Workman, Los Lobos and Delhi 2 Dublin have been announced as headliners for the festival, which will boast 30-plus cultural pavillions and cuisine from around the world. Close to 100 acts will perform on the festival's four stages, with close to 100,000 people expected to attend the two-day gathering. Fusion Festival runs daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and admission is free (tickets for the great variety of food must be purchased at special booths). For more info, visit www.surrey.ca/fusionfestival.

WHITE ROCK INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL

Held July 21-22 on a stage adjacent to White Rock's famous white rock, this inaugural event will compete for attention with Surrey's Fusion Festival. Admission is free for the wide range of music planned; sponsorship money has been difficult to secure, however, and event organizer Janice Savage said this week the festival will probably be postponed until the summer of 2013. "If we don't get the needed sponsorships by Friday (June 15), we'll be postponing the festival," she told the Now on Tuesday. "The idea is definitely not dead, but the concept might have to be reworked and be done in a different way." Festival info is on the web at www.whiterockmusicfest.com.

SPIRIT OF THE SEA FESTIVAL

White Rock's big annual community celebration is set to happen again on the city's two-kilometre beach area, from Friday, Aug. 3 to Monday, Aug. 6. A wide range of activities and attractions are in the works, including a waterfront marketplace, Battle of the Blades paddleboard races, fashion show, torchlight parade, live entertainment and a play area for kids. Volunteers are needed to help make the festival happen; those who interested can attend a production team meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday, June 14 at Semiahmoo First Nation church (on Beach Road, south of Marine Drive). "It takes at least 250 volunteers to make the Spirit of the Sea Festival a safe and fun weekend," says a message posted at spiritofthesea.ca. "With good weather, we expect 80,000 visitors. W are currently looking for people to plan arts activities, organize races, guard road barricades during the parade, and set up/take down signs and equipment at night."

SURREY INTERNATIONAL WORLD MUSIC MARATHON

A festival atmosphere is promised during this inaugural event, which runs from Sept. 28-30 through the streets of North Surrey (the start and finish lines will be on University Drive, near the Central City plaza). Unique to this marathon will be "Cultural Music Miles" - live music performances at various miles along the marathon route that will "highlight the diversity of Surrey," showcasing the art, music, costumes, food and beverage of the city's many cultures. An evening "Finish Line Concert" on Saturday, Sept. 29 will feature top national and international performers playing to a crowd of fans and runners who just completed the 5K, plus marathon runners primed for the following day's big event. Also planned is a weekend expo of the latest in sports gear, nutrition, apparel, footwear and fitness-related products. Check for event updates online at www.surreymarathon.com.