Chaharshanbe Suri 2027 in Vancouver: Persian Fire Festival Dates, Locations & Safety

When is Chaharshanbe Suri 2027?

Chaharshanbe Suri, the Persian fire festival, is held on the evening before the last Wednesday of the Iranian year. Nowruz 2027 arrives on Saturday, March 20, 2027, so the last Wednesday of the year is March 17 and the fires are lit on Tuesday evening, March 16, 2027.

2027 status: as of November 2026, none of the Metro Vancouver organizers have published 2027 locations, times or fees. Event pages usually go up in late February or early March. Until then, the 2026 details below are the best guide to what to expect.

This year the fire festival does not share a date with St. Patrick’s Day, as it did in 2026: St. Patrick’s Day 2027 is the next day, Wednesday, March 17.

What is Chaharshanbe Suri?

The name means “red Wednesday” or “festive Wednesday.” It is one of the oldest parts of the Nowruz season, with roots in Zoroastrian traditions that honour fire and light. On the last Tuesday night of the year, people light small bonfires in a row and jump over them, leaving the pallor and troubles of the old year behind.

As they jump, they sing:

• “Zardi-ye man az to, sorkhi-ye to az man” — roughly, “my yellowness (sickliness) to you, your redness (warmth and health) to me.”

Other customs include fireworks, lanterns, banging spoons on pots and pans door to door (qashoq-zani), and sharing ajil-e moshkel gosha, a “problem-solving” mix of nuts and dried fruit. Today the Metro Vancouver gatherings add live DJs, Persian music and dancing, and food stalls with kebab, ash reshteh and saffron tea.

Where to celebrate in Metro Vancouver

Three locations have hosted Chaharshanbe Suri in recent years. All 2027 details are still to be confirmed.

Fire and safety rules

Chaharshanbe Suri is about open flames, so a little caution goes a long way. These points come from municipal rules and common sense at past events:

• Jump only at organized fires. The public events use small, supervised fires set up with permission. Do not light your own fire in a park or on a beach.
• Leave fireworks at home. West Vancouver banned the purchase, possession and discharge of consumer fireworks in October 2023, with no permits sold, and the City of North Vancouver bans the sale and use of fireworks except at approved special events. Many other Metro Vancouver cities restrict them too; check your city’s bylaw before buying anything.
• Dress for fire. Tie back long hair, avoid loose scarves and flowing synthetic fabrics, and wear closed shoes. Cotton or wool layers are safer than nylon jackets.
• Follow the volunteers. Wait your turn, jump in the direction you are told, and never push or jump in pairs over the same fire.
• Watch the children. Hold small children’s hands, or let them watch instead of jump. Keep pets well back from the flames.
• Plan for rain and cold. Mid-March evenings are often wet; bring a rain jacket rather than an umbrella in the crowd.
• Know where first aid is. Note the first aid tent when you arrive. For a burn, cool it with cool running water and seek help.

Getting there

• Ambleside Park: parking inside the park is limited and the lot closes once full, so walk, cycle or take the bus along Marine Drive. The District asks visitors to use transit, walk or cycle.
• The Shipyards: SeaBus from Waterfront Station to Lonsdale Quay, then a short walk east along the waterfront.
• Town Centre Park: Millennium Line to Lafarge Lake–Douglas Station, about a 10-minute walk. TransLink has recommended this route for the festival in past years.

Plan the rest of the Nowruz season

Chaharshanbe Suri is only the start. Nowruz 2027 begins at the equinox on Saturday, March 20 at 1:24 p.m. Vancouver time, and Sizdah Bedar, the outdoor picnic day, falls on Friday, April 2, 2027. Our Nowruz 2027 guide covers Haft-Seen shopping, restaurants and community events.

For more March happenings, see the March events calendar, the holidays and celebrations page and all upcoming events.