Thunderbird Show Park (tbird)

If you have driven out past 72 Avenue on 248 Street and seen a very tidy set of jumps, a grandstand and a lot of horse trailers, that is Thunderbird Show Park, known locally as tbird. The park describes itself as one of North America’s premier equestrian event facilities, and it is one of the reasons Langley is often called horse country.

What it is

Tbird hosts hunter and jumper tournaments. Its site says it welcomes junior and amateur riders who are new to the show ring as well as top international athletes in FEI Grand Prix competitions. The Township’s agriculture page notes the park covers about 34 hectares (85 acres), and a 2023 news story put the site at 83 acres. The same story says the park holds six major hunter and jumper tournaments a year.

A short history

According to the Langley Advance Times, George and Dianne Tidball bought land at 200 Street and Highway 1 in 1970. Their first show, a quarter horse show and team roping event, was held in 1972 at what was then Thunderbird Equestrian Centre, and the first hunter/jumper show followed in 1973. The venue later moved to its current site at 248 Street and 72 Avenue. The 2023 season was the venue’s 50th, and the park marked it by drawing a bursary winner each day of its tournaments so winners could compete for free.

Major shows

The official site lists FEI Grand Prix competitions, a Grand Prix Day Guide, a summer event called Summer Sound Off, and a GROW Series October show on October 24 to 25 (an indoor schooling show for novice riders and green horses). It also announces a 2027 season of five circuits and ten tournaments beginning in April. We have not republished a full 2026 calendar here because the tournament dates are on the park’s own site and may change; use the tbird.ca schedule.

Visiting as a spectator

• Tickets: Sold on the Tickets page of tbird.ca. Plan ahead for Grand Prix days.
• Entrance: The official site lists 6975 248th Street as the spectator entrance.
• What is there: The park lists restaurants, bars, boutique shops, face painting and pony rides at main events.
• Weather: A 2023 ticket page for a Grand Prix advised that the grandstands are not covered, so dress for the weather.
• Accessibility and maps: The site lists a park map, directions, and wheelchair and stroller access information.
• From home: Tbird TV on the official site carries live show jumping.

For a sense of price, a 2019 news story about a World Cup day reported general seating at $5 with free parking; the park sets prices each year, so check the current ticket page.

Why it matters to Langley

Equestrian sport brings visitors to Langley’s farm roads, and the Township’s agriculture page reports about 2,553 horses and ponies on local farms in 2016. See our things Langley is known for page, and for other big days out try Langley’s annual events and our events page.

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