Surrey Police Service is providing the public with information and helpful tips on having a safe and exciting Surrey Khalsa Day Vaisakhi Parade on Saturday, April 19^th.

Surrey’s Khalsa Day Vaisakhi Parade is one of the largest Vaisakhi celebrations in the world outside of Punjab, India. The Parade is a major attraction for Surrey, always drawing visitors from across the Lower Mainland and around the world. Surrey Police Service will be on site not only for public safety and traffic control, but to also take part in all the festivities and celebrate this annual event with the community.

“We look forward to joining the community, families, businesses, and visitors to this year’s Parade. The key to having fun and enjoying the event to its fullest also means having a plan in place with your family and friends prior to the event,” says Staff Sergeant Lindsey Houghton, Senior Media Relations Officer at Surrey Police Service. “Every year, one of the types of help that police provide the most at the Parade is to help people find and be reunited with lost loved ones. Being prepared ahead of time and planning with your family can ensure everyone stays safe throughout the celebration.”

With the significant crowds, it can be very easy for people to become separated from their group or loved ones. During previous Vaisakhi celebrations, the police have responded to dozens of incidents of missing children or elderly persons.

A safety plan may include these simple tips:

• Take a family photo before you leave the house on the morning of the Parade, this will help in locating them if needed.
• Familiarize your family members with their surroundings and have a pre-planned meeting place for the end of the event or in case you get separated.
• Make sure your family members have some form of identification and your contact information.
• Keep a current photo of your child on you in case you need to describe them to police.
• Keep your children within eyesight at all times.
• If a family member goes missing, notify the nearest police officer to you.
• If you live in the area that has been closed, please have your driver’s license with current address to provide to police at check point in order to get to your residence.
• We encourage people to leave their pets at home, as they may become easily startled and scared.

Road closures will be in place in the City of Surrey through the weekend due to the Parade. Police ask that members of the public make arrangements ahead of time to use alternate routes.

On the day of the Parade, road closures will be in place from 7:30 am to 6:00 pm. Delays should be expected for travel between 72 Avenue to 88 Avenue, and Scott Road to King George Boulevard. For a full list of road closures and route details please visit the City of Surrey’s website.

Parking passes for businesses and staff will be required to access closed off areas and for parking. To request parking passes for employees working during the Khalsa Day Vaisakhi Parade, business owners and representatives are asked to follow these steps:

• Step 1: Submit Your Request
  • Email parkingpasses@surreypolice.ca with the following details:
    • Business Name
    • Business Location
    • Number of Parking Passes Requested
    • Employee Names (with ID required on event day)
    • Personnel for Pickup (name, contact number, email)
    • Attach a Business Card or Official Document
  • Note: Do not visit the SPS’s District 3 Newton Office to request passes. You will be redirected to follow the online process
     
• Step 2: Confirmation and Pickup Details
  • Once verified, you’ll receive pickup details by email or phone
     
• Step 3: Pick Up Passes
  • Parking passes can be picked up by the designated person by Thursday, April 18th. It is the business's responsibility to distribute passes to employees
     
• Deadline: April 14th, 2025 (Late requests will not be accepted)

More Information on the event can also be found at https://www.surreypolice.ca/news-events/events/surrey-khalsa-day-vaisakhi-parade and https://www.surreyvaisakhiparade.com/.