Coquitlam is an easy city to enjoy for free. Its parks are big and well kept, the lake loop at Town Centre Park is one of the best short walks in Metro Vancouver, and its galleries and library programs cost nothing. Here are 12 free things to do, all verified as of November 2026.
At a glance
- Town Centre Park and Lafarge Lake Loop, 1299 Pinetree Way
- Lights at Lafarge, November 27, 2026 to the end of February 2027
- Mundy Park, 641 Hillcrest St, with a free disc golf course
- Como Lake Park, 700 Gatensbury St
- Coquitlam Crunch, main access off Lansdowne Dr
- Minnekhada Regional Park, 4000 Quarry Rd
- ƛ̓éxətəm Regional Park, Colony Farm Rd, on the Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam border
- The Gallery at Evergreen Arts, 1205 Pinetree Way
- Place des Arts galleries, 1120 Brunette Ave
- Self guided public art tours, City Centre, Maillardville, and Burquitlam
- Coquitlam Public Library, City Centre and Poirier branches
- Coquitlam Farmers Market, 575 Poirier St, Sundays May to October
Parks and trails
Town Centre Park and Lafarge Lake Loop
A 42 hectare central park around Lafarge Lake, with a 1.2 km paved loop trail, a playground, a spray park, a skate bowl, tennis courts, sports fields, and an off leash dog area. It sits beside Lafarge Lake-Douglas SkyTrain station, and parking in the park lots is free. The spray park runs in summer only. Paddleboat rentals in summer are paid. Note the loop itself is 1.2 km; wider park trails stretch the walk further if you want more.
Mundy Park
Coquitlam’s largest urban park, about 178 acres, with about 16 km of forest trails, the Mundy Lake loop, a playground with a large wooden climbing tower, sports fields, and a free 9 hole disc golf course. Just show up and play, but bring your own discs. Parking lots are free. The outdoor pool in the park is paid, and is not part of the free offer.
Como Lake Park
A lakeside park with a 1 km lakeside loop trail, a playground, fishing docks, picnic areas, free Wi-Fi, and a table tennis area. Parking is free at both ends of the trail. The lake is stocked with rainbow trout, and fishing needs a BC freshwater fishing licence, which is a cost. The City has noted the trail from the south parking lot and the table tennis area were temporarily closed for upgrades, so check before visiting.
Coquitlam Crunch
A steep urban fitness trail, often called the Tri-Cities Grouse Grind, with hundreds of steps climbing about 2.2 km up to Eagle Ridge, with city and Fraser River views. Main access is off Lansdowne Dr, with parking and washrooms at the base, and there are multiple entry points. It is open year round. It is not wheelchair friendly and not suitable for strollers because of the stairs.
Minnekhada Regional Park
A 618 hectare regional park with forest, marsh, and rocky outcrops, more than 13 km of trails, the High Knoll lookout over the Pitt River, and the historic Minnekhada Lodge. Admission and parking are free. No cycling on park trails except Oliver Road. Dogs must be leashed at all times, and are not allowed in the marsh or the lodge. Lodge open houses run most Sundays, February to December, 1pm to 4pm, and you should reserve ahead. Minnekhada Farm is closed to the public. Gates lock when the park closes.
ƛ̓éxətəm Regional Park
A 260 hectare regional park along the Coquitlam River, with flat meadow trails, community gardens, and habitat for more than 200 bird species. It is good for easy walks, cycling, and birdwatching. It straddles the Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam border, so it belongs to both cities rather than just one. It was renamed ƛ̓éxətəm (pronounced tla-hut-um) Regional Park on July 1, 2023, in partnership with Kwikwetlem First Nation; older sources still call it Colony Farm. Access is off Colony Farm Rd.
Arts, culture and history
The Gallery at Evergreen Arts
A public art gallery inside Evergreen Cultural Centre, at 1205 Pinetree Way on the southwest shore of Lafarge Lake, with rotating contemporary exhibitions and free family activities on some days. Admission is always free, and donations are welcome. Hours found were Wednesday 12pm to 5pm, Thursday and Friday 12pm to 6pm, Saturday and Sunday 12pm to 5pm, closed Mondays and Tuesdays; check before visiting. Theatre shows and classes in the same building are ticketed.
Place des Arts galleries
A non profit arts centre in Maillardville, at 1120 Brunette Ave, with three galleries showing rotating exhibitions, plus free Family Days with hands on art activities. Gallery viewing has no admission charge. Classes, workshops, and some performances are paid. Gallery viewing times for the Leonore Peyton Salon are limited because it is a multi purpose space. Pre registration is encouraged for Family Days.
Self guided public art tours
Free self guided walking routes past murals and sculptures, with City PDF maps to download. The City Centre route is 1.4 km, from Lincoln Station to Town Centre Park Community Centre. The Maillardville route is 1 km around Brunette Ave. The Burquitlam route is 0.5 km around Clarke Rd. Some stops are inside City Hall or the library and are only accessible during those buildings’ hours.
Markets and events
Lights at Lafarge
The City describes this as Metro Vancouver’s largest free outdoor winter lights display, around Lafarge Lake in Town Centre Park. The 2026 season opens Friday, November 27, 2026, 5pm to 8pm, and runs to the end of February 2027, with the lights on nightly. No closing time is stated here because sources gave both 10pm and 11pm; check coquitlam.ca/lights before you go. Food trucks on opening night are paid. There is no event parking at Town Centre Park Community Centre or Evergreen Cultural Centre on opening night.
Coquitlam Farmers Market
A weekly farmers market with BC produce, baked goods, meats, and artisan crafts, running since 1996. It is at 575 Poirier St, in the Poirier Branch Library parking lot behind the Sports and Leisure Centre. Entry is free; you only pay for goods you buy. It runs Sundays 9am to 1pm, from the first weekend of May to the end of October. Check the market’s site for 2027 dates.
Indoor and rainy day options
Coquitlam Public Library
Free drop in story times, family programs, summer reading clubs, free Wi-Fi, and public computers at the City Centre Branch, 1169 Pinetree Way, and the Poirier Branch, 575 Poirier St. Most story times are drop in, though some programs may need registration. Borrowing needs a library card, free for residents.
Practical notes
Most Coquitlam parks have free parking, and the SkyTrain serves the city centre well: Lafarge Lake-Douglas station is beside Town Centre Park, and Lincoln station is the start of the City Centre art tour. For Lights at Lafarge opening night, take transit, since there is no event parking at the community centre or cultural centre. Fishing at Como Lake needs a BC freshwater licence. Check coquitlam.ca for current closures and hours before setting out, especially the Como Lake upgrades and the Lights at Lafarge nightly hours.
