File image of the celebrations at the Lytton River Festival. (Image Credit: Supplied)
Community event

Highway 1 reopens in time for Lytton River Festival

Aug 29, 2026 | 12:45 PM

LYTTON — Organizers of the Lytton River Festival say their prayers were answered after Highway 1 reopened through the Fraser Canyon this week, restoring easy highway access to the community ahead of the free Labour Day weekend celebration. The festival runs September 5 and September 6 in Lytton, at the confluence of the Fraser and Thompson rivers.

Jessoa Lightfoot, president of the Lytton River Festival Society, says the reopening is a “huge relief” after organizers closely watched the wildfire and highway situation. “We actually had a prayer circle going, asking for a little bit of help to reopen the highway,” Lightfoot said. “It’s important for everyone in the region — not just festival goers.”

The Chinese History Museum is expected to be one of the most popular attractions at the Lytton River Festival.
The Chinese History Museum is expected to be one of the most popular attractions at the Lytton River Festival. (Image Credit: Supplied)

The reopening removes one of the biggest concerns facing organizers after weeks of wildfire activity, highway closures and uncertainty throughout the Fraser Canyon.

The two-day event will include music, dancing, food, local artisans, family activities, cultural performances, community displays, pancake breakfasts, a horseshoe tournament and Chicken Poop Bingo.

Chicken Poop Bingo returns to the Lytton River Festival this year.
Chicken Poop Bingo returns to the Lytton River Festival this year. (Image Credit: Supplied)

A special focus this year will be Lytton’s Chinese heritage. The rebuilt Lytton Chinese History Museum is partnering with Fraser Lands Church, local First Nations and other community groups on a heritage showcase about early Chinese residents in the region.

The showcase will recognize the hardships and contributions of Chinese miners, merchants, railway workers and families, with historical photographs, artifacts, displays, traditional erhu music and calligraphy demonstrations on Xuan paper.

Festival-goers can also visit the rebuilt museum on Main Street. It reopened in 2025 after the original building and much of its collection were destroyed in the 2021 Lytton wildfire. The museum stands on the historic site of the Lytton Joss House, built in 1881.

New activities include gold panning along the Fraser River with Elder and Knowledge Keeper Dean Adams and cultural and historical talks led by Elder Byron Spinks.

Lightfoot said the festival honours the Nlaka’pamux people and their enduring relationship with the land and water while recognizing others who helped shape Lytton and the Fraser Canyon.

Organizers will continue monitoring wildfire activity, smoke, air quality and road conditions, and visitors are encouraged to check DriveBC before travelling.