The Squamish art scene celebrates artistic expression through industrial heritage museums, contemporary galleries, outdoor public art, and vibrant festivals that draw artists and visitors year-round. From exploring BC’s mining and railway history to discovering local Squamish art, these cultural destinations offer authentic connections to the region’s creative spirit. In Squamish, the spirit of outdoor adventure and the stunning mountain valley landscapes inspire much of the artistic expression.
Table of Contents
Heritage Museums & Industrial History
Railway Museum of BC
Canada’s largest heritage railway collection preserves the golden age of rail travel in this sprawling outdoor museum featuring over 90 restored locomotives, passenger cars, and railway equipment. The Railway Museum of BC celebrates BC’s railway history through authentic rolling stock displays, working restoration shops, and the iconic Royal Hudson steam locomotive. Visitors can climb aboard heritage railcars, explore the miniature railway, and discover how trains connected BC’s coastal and interior communities throughout the 20th century.
Highlights:
- Royal Hudson 2860 steam locomotive on display
- 90+ heritage railway cars and locomotives from 1890s–1950s
- Working restoration shops where visitors can watch preservation in action
- Miniature railway offering scenic rides through the grounds
- Heritage railway station and authentic period displays
- Special events including seasonal railway-themed celebrations
Why Visit: This living museum preserves BC’s railway legacy through one of the continent’s most significant heritage rail collections, offering hands-on exploration of the trains that once transported passengers and freight through the province’s dramatic landscapes.
Perfect for: Railway enthusiasts, families with train-loving children, history buffs, photographers seeking vintage railway settings, anyone fascinated by transportation heritage.
Location: 39645 Government Road, Squamish
Learn More: wcra.org
Britannia Mining Museum
BC’s industrial heritage comes alive at the Britannia Mining Museum, where the story of Canada’s largest copper mine unfolds through interactive exhibits and underground experiences. This National Historic Site preserves over a century of mining history on the shores of Howe Sound, offering visitors the chance to explore the 20-storey mill building, witness the live BOOM! demonstration (must see!!), and descend into the mine tunnel aboard a vintage train. The museum balances heritage preservation with environmental education, showcasing both the human stories of mining communities and contemporary sustainable mining practices.
Highlights:
- Guided underground mine tours aboard an authentic mining train
- BOOM! live-action show in the historic 20-storey mill building
- Interactive geology and mineral exhibits
- Restored heritage buildings and equipment displays
- Waterfront location with stunning Howe Sound views
- Educational programs on environmental remediation and sustainability
Why Visit: Britannia Mining Museum offers one of BC’s most immersive industrial heritage experiences, combining authentic underground exploration with powerful storytelling about the communities, challenges, and innovations that shaped the province’s mining legacy.
Perfect for: History enthusiasts, families seeking educational adventures, geology and science learners, or anyone interested in BC’s industrial heritage and environmental restoration stories.
Location: Highway 99, Britannia Beach (15 minutes south of Squamish)
Learn More: britanniaminemuseum.ca
Art Galleries & Creative Spaces
Brackendale Art Gallery
This beloved community hub showcases Squamish art while merging gallery, performance venue, and café into one vibrant cultural space. The Brackendale Art Gallery has served as Squamish’s grassroots arts center for decades, hosting rotating exhibitions, live music, theatrical performances, workshops, and community events in a historic building surrounded by the natural beauty that inspires local artists. The gallery champions community engagement, offering a welcoming space where visitors can view local artwork, catch intimate concerts, join creative workshops, or simply enjoy refreshments while connecting with Squamish’s artistic community.
Highlights:
- Rotating exhibitions featuring local and regional artists
- Live music concerts and theatrical performances
- Community workshops and creative programming
- Zephyr Café serving refreshments in artistic atmosphere
- Historic building with unique character and charm
- Strong focus on community accessibility and cultural engagement
Why Visit: The Brackendale Art Gallery embodies Squamish’s collaborative creative spirit, offering an authentic community arts experience where gallery exhibitions, live performances, and casual café culture converge in one welcoming space.
Perfect for: Art lovers seeking community gallery experiences, live music enthusiasts, workshop participants, anyone wanting to connect with Squamish’s local creative community in an informal setting. Note, not wheelchair or stroller friendly.
Location: 41950 Government Road, Brackendale, Squamish
Learn More: brackendaleartgallery.com
Annual Art Events & Festivals
Brackendale Eagle Festival
Each January, Squamish hosts one of North America’s largest gatherings of wintering bald eagles, and the Brackendale Eagle Festival celebrates this spectacular natural phenomenon with art exhibitions, live music, educational programs, and community events. The festival combines wildlife viewing with cultural celebrations, featuring local artisan markets, Indigenous cultural presentations, environmental education, and family-friendly activities that honor the eagles’ annual return to feast on spawning salmon along the Squamish River.
Highlights:
- Viewing opportunities for 1,300+ bald eagles in natural habitat
- Art exhibitions and artisan markets featuring eagle and nature themes
- Indigenous cultural performances and storytelling
- Live music and community entertainment
- Environmental education programs and guided nature walks
- Family-friendly activities celebrating wildlife and conservation
- Photography workshops focused on eagle documentation
Why Visit: This unique winter festival combines spectacular wildlife viewing with community arts celebrations, offering visitors the chance to witness an awe-inspiring natural event while engaging with local culture and conservation efforts.
Perfect for: Wildlife enthusiasts, photographers, families, nature lovers, anyone seeking meaningful cultural events that celebrate the intersection of natural heritage and community creativity.
When: Annual event in January (typically mid-January weekend)
Location: Brackendale and surrounding Squamish River areas
Learn more about the Brackendale Eagle Festival
Squamish ArtWalk
The annual Squamish ArtWalk celebrates local creativity, displaying Squamish art across 60+ artists and 20+ venues throughout town for a month-long celebration of visual arts. Presented by the Squamish Arts Council, this inclusive event transforms the entire community into an accessible gallery experience, showcasing artwork in cafés, studios, community spaces, and businesses across Squamish. Visitors explore diverse artistic styles during regular business hours, democratizing art access while supporting local creators and fostering community engagement.
Highlights:
- 60+ artists exhibiting throughout the community
- 20+ participating venues from cafés to galleries to studios
- Month-long event allowing flexible exploration at your own pace
- Free admission to all participating venues during business hours
- Diverse artistic mediums including painting, sculpture, photography, mixed media
- Video studio tours and artist profiles on social media
- Interactive map and venue guide
- Opportunities to meet artists and purchase original works
Why Visit: ArtWalk offers an intimate, community-scaled art festival experience where discovering local creativity happens organically as you explore Squamish’s neighborhoods, cafés, and gathering spaces throughout the month.
Perfect for: Art collectors, gallery enthusiasts, anyone seeking authentic local art experiences, visitors who enjoy self-guided cultural exploration, supporters of community arts initiatives.
When: Annual event typically in July or November (month-long)
Location: Multiple venues throughout Squamish
Learn More: squamisharts.com/squamish-art-walk
Squamish Arts Festival
This multi-week summer celebration showcases Squamish’s diverse artistic community through workshops, live performances, public art installations, and large-scale festival events. The Squamish Arts Festival typically features everything from hands-on creative workshops and artisan markets to live music, cultural performances, and family entertainment. The festival emphasizes accessibility and community participation, offering both free and ticketed events that invite locals and visitors to experience, create, and celebrate Squamish art together.
Highlights:
- Multi-week festival spanning late July to mid-August
- Free art workshops including ceramics, printmaking, dance, and more
- Live music performances featuring local and regional artists
- Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Nation cultural showcases and traditional performances
- Artisan markets featuring local makers and craftspeople
- Family-friendly activities and interactive art experiences
- Multiple venues including parks, galleries, and outdoor spaces
- Artist talks and public art discussions
Why Visit: The Squamish Arts Festival captures the community’s collaborative creative spirit through diverse programming that makes art accessible, participatory, and celebratory across multiple disciplines and cultural traditions.
Perfect for: Families, workshop participants, live music lovers, cultural event enthusiasts, anyone seeking immersive summer festival experiences combining visual arts, performing arts, and community celebration.
When: Annual event, typically late July through mid-August (multi-week)
Location: Multiple venues including Junction Park, Sp’akw’us Feather Park, and community spaces throughout Squamish
Learn More: squamishartsfestival.com
Squamish Mural Walk Festival
Each July, the annual Squamish Mural Walk Festival brings the downtown core alive with artists painting new large-scale murals, live music, street entertainment, and community celebrations. This multi-day festival event expands the year-round Downtown Squamish Mural Walk by adding 10+ new permanent and temporary mural installations, offering visitors the chance to watch artists at work, participate in Open Street Day activities, and explore the growing collection of public art.
Highlights:
- Live mural painting by local and international artists
- 10+ new murals added to the permanent collection annually
- Open Street Day with pedestrian-friendly downtown shopping
- Free self-guided tours with printed maps and QR codes
- Live music and street entertainment throughout downtown
- Family-friendly activities and community engagement
- Artist meet-and-greets and Instagram-worthy photo opportunities
- Three-day festival typically in late July
Why Visit: This festival transforms public art from static viewing to dynamic cultural experience, allowing visitors to witness large-scale murals being created while celebrating Squamish’s commitment to accessible, community-driven art.
Perfect for: Street art enthusiasts, families, photographers, festival-goers, or anyone interested in public art creation processes and community cultural celebrations.
When: Annual three-day festival in late July (typically last weekend of July)
Location: Downtown Squamish, centered at Stan Clarke Park
Learn more about the Squamish Mural Walk
Exploring the Squamish art scene reveals a community where heritage preservation and contemporary creativity coexist naturally. The town’s compact size makes cultural touring accessible—you can visit the Britannia Mining Museum in the morning, browse Brackendale Art Gallery in the afternoon, and stroll the Downtown Mural Walk before dinner.
Seasonal timing enhances your visit: January brings the spectacular Brackendale Eagle Festival combining wildlife viewing with art celebrations, while July and August transform Squamish into a festival hub with ArtWalk exhibitions, the Arts Festival’s multi-week programming, and the Mural Walk Festival’s live art installations.
Plan to spend at least a full day exploring Squamish’s cultural attractions, though a weekend allows for more relaxed gallery browsing, museum visits, and outdoor mural discoveries. The town’s walkable downtown core makes it easy to combine cultural touring with local dining, craft brewery visits, and shopping. BONUS: As you walk downtown, be sure to check out the window display at the local Pearl’s Value and Vintage shop where they feature local volunteer display designers each month!
