Secret Salsa Pop-Ups in Chilliwack — Outdoor Salsa in Hidden BC Locations This Summer

Somewhere in the middle of planning the summer schedule, I had a thought: why are we always dancing inside?

BC is genuinely one of the most beautiful places on earth. Chilliwack is surrounded by mountains, lakes, gardens, and green space. And most of that just sits there all summer while we’re in studios and community halls with the fluorescent lights humming.

So this year I decided to do something different. Secret Salsa pop-ups — outdoor Latin dance events in locations I don’t reveal until right before the event. Attendees sign up knowing the date and time, and they get the location closer to the day. That’s the whole concept. Show up, find a beautiful spot, dance salsa and merengue outside in BC summer air, meet some people, go home happy.

It’s been more fun than I expected.

How the Secret Location Thing Works

When I announce a pop-up, I post the date and a rough description — something like “Sardis outdoor area” or “garden setting.” I keep the specific address back until close to the event, and I send it out to everyone who’s registered.

Part of the fun is genuinely not knowing exactly where you’re going. People show up a little curious, a little uncertain, and then they walk into whatever spot I’ve found and the whole energy shifts. It’s hard to be stiff and self-conscious when you’re standing outside in a garden with mountains in the background.

Where We’ve Been So Far

The first pop-up this summer was near Garrison in Sardis — an open outdoor area with real breathing room. That one had a relaxed feel to it. People spread out, there was actual space to move, and the weather cooperated.

The second one was in a labyrinth garden in Sardis, and that one surprised me. A labyrinth is not an obvious salsa venue. But the paths, the greenery, the sense of being tucked into something intentional — it created a completely different mood. People came out of their shells faster than usual. Something about the setting did that.

I’ve got Cultus Lake on the radar for an upcoming one. If you know Cultus Lake, you know why.

What to Expect If You Come

We always start with merengue. I do this with every group, and the reason is practical: merengue is a one-two, one-two step. One foot per beat, every single beat. No pauses, no syncopation, nothing to count. Your body figures it out in about five minutes, and then we can actually start doing fun things — turns, combinations, connecting with a partner.

Once the room has warmed up, we move into salsa. The footwork is more complex, but by that point people are loose and moving and it clicks much faster than it would cold.

No partner needed. I rotate everyone so you end up dancing with a bunch of different people throughout the event. If you came with someone and want to stay paired, that’s fine too — just let me know.

The events are genuinely beginner-friendly. I’ve had people with zero dance experience come to their first pop-up, spend two hours learning outside, and leave already planning to come back. That’s the point.

The Hat

There’s a suggested donation of $15. Drop it in Salsa Paul’s hat. That’s it. No ticket system, no complicated registration. If $15 is tight, come anyway.

The hat is a real hat, for the record.

When’s the Next One?

Pop-ups get announced on the events calendar as they’re confirmed, usually a week or two out. Check bclatindance.com/events to see what’s coming up, and register so you get the location when I send it out.

Summer won’t last forever. Come dance outside while it does.

— Salsa Paul