Free Burnaby park events to plan this week

Burnaby has two practical free park options this week if you are planning around kids, daylight, and transit access: the next block of **Summer Stages** performances at Confederation Park and a **Jim Lorimer Park** playground reopening celebration. The useful part is timing. Summer Stages has daytime shows on **Tuesday, July 21** and **Wednesday, July 22**, then a Thursday evening family night on **July 23**. The Jim Lorimer Park celebration is a one-hour Wednesday event from **1 to 2 p.m.**. ## Summer Stages is built for repeat visits The City of Burnaby says Summer Stages runs **July 14 to August 27, 2026** at **Confederation Park, 250 Willingdon Avenue**, near the spray park. Tuesday and Wednesday shows are listed at **11 a.m.**, **12:15 p.m.**, and **2:30 p.m.** Thursday Family Nights run from **5:30 to 8:30 p.m.** For July 21 to 23, the city's schedule lists puppet theatre, storytelling, ventriloquism, Balkan folk music, Celtic music, Morris dancing, and juggling across the three event days. The page also says there are free family-friendly art sessions and lawn games between performances. The weather caveat matters. Burnaby says events run rain or shine, but may be cancelled for extreme weather, so the event page is worth checking before you pack up kids and chairs. ## Jim Lorimer Park reopens its playground The Jim Lorimer Park reopening is more specific and shorter. Burnaby lists it for **Wednesday, July 22, 2026**, from **1 to 2 p.m.** at **2338 Gilmore Avenue**. The city says the event marks the brand-new playground, including a new play tower and slide, swings and spinners, and a dedicated toddler play area. The listing also mentions free ice cream cones while supplies last and an official ribbon-cutting at **1 p.m.** The transportation note is the reader job. Burnaby says there is **no parking onsite**, so visitors should walk, roll, cycle, or take SkyTrain to **Gilmore Station**, which is next to the park. Visitors using Gilmore Station can also check [current TransLink fares after the July increase](/transit/translink-july-fare-increase-what-riders-pay) before loading a Compass Card or tapping a payment card. ## How to choose Pick Summer Stages if you want a flexible drop-in outing with multiple showtimes and spray-park time around it. Pick Jim Lorimer if you specifically want to see the new playground and can make the 1 p.m. ribbon-cutting window. If you are trying to avoid the hottest part of the day, the Thursday Family Night is the later Summer Stages option. If you are bringing a toddler, Jim Lorimer has the more specific draw because the city says the refreshed playground includes a dedicated toddler play area. For both, the low-friction plan is the same: check the official event page the morning you go, bring shade or rain gear based on the forecast, and do not assume parking will be the easy part. ## Sources - [City of Burnaby events calendar](https://www.burnaby.ca/recreation-and-arts/events) - [City of Burnaby Summer Stages](https://www.burnaby.ca/recreation-and-arts/events/summer-stages) - [City of Burnaby Jim Lorimer Park Re-opening Celebration](https://www.burnaby.ca/recreation-and-arts/events/jim-lorimer-park-re-opening-celebration)