More than half a million people are expected in Surrey on Saturday for, if not the largest, one of the Sikh community’s largest Khalsa Day and Vaisakhi events in the world outside India, with Vancouver Island celebrations happening in the coming weeks.

Here on the Island, some communities will hold festivities of their own later this month including Victoria and Port Alberni which held its first ever festival last year.

Khalsa Day marks the creation of the Khalsa in 1699, a solidifying moment in the Sikh faith order and it’s celebrated with a large, vibrant Vaisakhi parade, food, and neighbourhood gatherings that represent the community’s pillars of sharing and generosity.

Here in Victoria, Khalsa Day celebrations will take place on Sunday, April 26 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Victoria Vaisakhi Parade starts at 470 Cecelia Road, winding its way through the streets of the Burnside Gorge neighbourhood towards Mayfair Mall.

READ MORE: Khalsa Day celebrations return to Victoria, bringing community together

More information will be provided closer to the date, but traffic delays are expected and residents are encouraged to plan ahead if travelling in the area. To learn more, visit Gurdwara Singh Sabha of Victoria.

Then, further north on the mid-Island, the Guru Nanak Sikh Society and the Sikh community of Port Alberni are hosting the second annual parade on Saturday, May 9 from 11:00 a.m. to 2 p.m. The parade starts at the 8th Avenue Sikh Temple and follows along Rogers Street, to 10th Avenue, then loops back to Redford and 8th Avenue, eventually returning to the temple.

“Last year, we had an incredible response from all over the island and the mainland, and we hope to see even more this year,” stated the Guru Nanak Sikh Society in Port Alberni online.

READ ALSO: Port Alberni hosts Vaisakhi Day parade for the first time

The event is entirely free for the community and includes a “devotional kirtan, martial arts, free turban-tying, informational flyers, candies, and a variety of delicious, free food—samosas, pakoras, rice, lentils, and vegetarian pizzas,” it states.

The main event, the Vaisakhi parade in Surrey, kicks off Saturday at 9 a.m. and those planning to attend are advised to plan their travel routes ahead of time, especially families with young children as over 500,000 people are expected to pack the streets to celebrate.

Organizers have provided information including a map of the parade route, street closures, as well as a resource page in case you get disconnected from your family.

The month of April also marks Sikh heritage month in B.C. where a series of events take place across the province providing teachings on Sikh history and culture.