The Cloverdale Heritage District runs along 176A Street (the old Main Street) for about three blocks in the historic core of Cloverdale. The buildings date mostly from the 1890s–1920s, built when Cloverdale was a separate farming town before Surrey amalgamated around it. Unlike most heritage streets in Metro Vancouver, Cloverdale's hasn't been over-prettified — the buildings are genuinely old, the businesses are independent, and the pace is noticeably slower.
The Cloverdale Rodeo and Country Fair, held every May Long Weekend since 1888, is the real reason most visitors come. It's one of the biggest professional rodeos in Canada, drawing top riders from across North America for three days of bull riding, barrel racing, team roping, and a country fair with concerts and midway rides. Attendance regularly tops 100,000 over the long weekend. If you've never been to a rodeo and you're curious, this is a legitimate reason to visit Surrey.
The Surrey Museum, tucked into a heritage building on the main street, is free to visit and has a surprisingly good permanent exhibit on Surrey's agricultural and immigrant history. The Cloverdale Antique Mall is one of the largest antique stores in Metro Vancouver. There are also several good independent restaurants and cafés along the strip — enough for a relaxing half-day visit from anywhere in the region.
How to get there
By car from Surrey City Centre, Fraser Highway east for 20 minutes, then south on 176 Street. By transit, the 502 bus runs from Surrey Central to 60 Avenue in Cloverdale.
Local tips
- The Rodeo on May Long Weekend is the can't-miss event
- Surrey Museum has free admission and a solid local history exhibit
- Parking in Cloverdale is free and plentiful except during the rodeo
- The antique mall is worth an hour of browsing even if you don't buy anything