Golden City Days kicks off in Rossland with parade, Fall Fair and weekend events
An archival photo from the Rossland Museum & Discovery Centre shows Rossland’s Golden City Days parade in September 1985. The 2026 celebration runs Sept. 11 to 13, with the parade and Fall Fair scheduled for Saturday.
Photo: Rossland Museum & Discovery Centre, 2311.0182
Golden City Days begins in Rossland today, launching a weekend of community events that will bring the annual parade, Fall Fair, live entertainment and family activities to locations around the city through Sunday.
The festival runs from Sept. 11 to 13. Friday’s schedule includes the Golden City Ho Down at Rossland Beer Co., which begins at 1 p.m. and includes a weekend-long costume contest and live music starting at 5 p.m.
The Rossland Eagles will hold a 19+ meat draw and serve free hot dogs from 4:30 to 6 p.m., while a free Golden City Days Family Dance runs from 6 to 8 p.m. on Third Avenue.
Saturday carries much of the festival program, beginning with the Rossland firefighters’ annual pancake breakfast from 7:30 to 10 a.m. at the firehall. CommUNITY Yoga is scheduled from 9 to 10 a.m. at Madhu Studio, with donations supporting Save Record Ridge efforts, and the Rossland Thrift Store will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Golden City Days parade is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. Saturday. The City of Rossland is warning drivers to expect flaggers and traffic delays while the parade is underway.
The Rossland Fall Fair runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Rossland Arena, with craft vendors, exhibits, displays and live entertainment. Golden City Days activities will also continue around the Third Avenue fairgrounds, where the festival tent will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and food vendors will operate from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The afternoon program includes the Airband Jamboree at the arena from 2:45 to 3:45 p.m., followed by the Fall Fair’s Zucchini Grand Prix at 3:45 p.m.
The Rossland Museum and Discovery Centre is also taking part in the weekend, with a parade float and a booth at the Fall Fair. Admission at the museum will be by donation from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Special Golden City Days programming at the museum includes crafts, games, scavenger hunts and gold panning. Guided outdoor tours will be offered at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on both days.
Festival activities will also affect traffic around the event area.
Spokane Street between Second and Third avenues closed at 7 p.m. Thursday and is scheduled to remain closed until 8 p.m. Saturday.
Third Avenue from Washington Street to the arena will close at 4 p.m. Friday and remain closed until 8 p.m. Saturday. The closure includes the EV charging stalls in that area.
The city has also approved a noise exemption for the corner of Third Avenue and Spokane Street from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday and from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday.
Golden City Days continues Sunday with the Golden City Grind fun run. Races begin at 9 a.m., with 10-kilometre and five-kilometre courses along with three-kilometre and one-kilometre children’s courses. The current festival schedule lists Black Jack Ski Club as the event location.
The West Kootenay Toy Run will also make its way into Rossland Sunday. A reception is scheduled at the Rossland Eagles from noon to 2 p.m., where donations will be accepted, and motorcycles participating in the annual ride are expected to travel along Columbia Avenue at about 2:30 p.m.
A historic mine opening near Rossland’s Kootenay Columbia Trail will be permanently sealed, with a three-week trail closure beginning Sept. 28 so crews can complete the work.