19 best Canada Day events

Happy Birthday, Canada! On July 1, 1867, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and the province of Canada were united into a single country – the one we are now lucky enough to call home. As our nation turns 146, check out one of these amazing family-friendly Canada Day events throughout the country. Whether your favourite celebrations include fireworks, birthday cake or rocking out to some great music, there's a little something for everyone. Just don't forget to sport your red and white! 

Canada Day Celebration in Spruce Grove, Alberta The city of Spruce Grove, just outside of Edmonton, is the place to be on Canada Day. The fun starts at Jubilee Park at 8 a.m. with a pancake breakfast (for $3 a person) and continues through to 11 p.m., where the fireworks display is not to be missed. Among the KidZone with bouncy castles and tons of activities (for children up to age 10) the ActivityZone with laser tag, a climbing wall and more (for kids and adults eight and older), performers, and the food and product vendors, there is something for the whole brood. Click here to visit their website.

Canada Day at Bower Ponds The Red Deer Cultural Heritage Society brings around 20,000 people a fun-filled celebration with ethnic food, dance and music. The party starts at 11 a.m., with the opening of the food court, and music fills the air from 11:30 a.m. to 11:15 p.m., around the time where the fireworks finale fills the Bower Pond skies. The Parade of Nations is not to be missed (neither is the Red Deer centennial cake), and souvenirs are available so you won’t forget the big day. This event is fun for the whole family, but you’ll have to leave your four-legged friends at home this time – the event is simply too busy for Spot and Fluffy to get around safely. Click here to visit their website.

Canada Day at Canada Place in Vancouver

The biggest Canada Day celebration outside of Ottawa takes place in Vancouver at Canada Day Place. The 13-hour family-fun-filled event includes music, dance, exhibits and food from every corner of the nation – there’s even a celebration of Canadian inventions and an extreme-sports show. The parade begins at 7 p.m. and the double-barge fireworks show at 10:30 p.m. is awe-inspiring. Not only do you get to celebrate Canada’s birthday with more than 450,000 of your closest friends, but you can also experience it all for free! Click here to visit the website.

Victoria Celebrates Canada Day The party starts on June 30 in Victoria, BC, with the opening of A Flavour of Canada village of multicultural food and family activities. Entertainment begins for the little ones at noon, and continues all the way through to the big fireworks extravaganza at 10:20 p.m. on July 1. Don’t forget to check out children’s music group The Kerplunks at 4:45 p.m. on Monday on the Legislature Lawn main stage, and the living flag (made with volunteers in red and white) is a must-participate (or at least a must-see) for sure! Click here to visit their website.

Regina Canada Day The big draw to this celebration is the Western Canada’s Strongest Man competition, back by popular demand, where you can experience men doing a truck pull, a limousine squat, and even a shoulder press with a giant 180 lb. dumbbell. When you’re tired from just watching the brawny men at work, little ones can check out the 21 Gun Salute at noon, get their faces painted or watch the entertainment on the Kid/Teen Stage. Mom and Dad can peruse the beer tent for a little bit, too. Click here to visit their website.

Canada Day Celebrations in Saskatoon The Optimist Club of Saskatoon presents a day of family fun at Diefenbaker Park. Roll straight out of bed to join them for a pancake breakfast at 8 a.m., peruse the stock car displays, check out the food and flea market vendors, and see what’s happening on both entertainment stages. The official opening ceremonies include a “reaffirmation of citizenship” ritual, where all Canadians are asked to repeat the oath of citizenship and celebrate their country by eating cake served off a four-by-eight-foot piece of plywood. Now that’s a lot of cake! Click here to visit their website.

Celebrate Canada in Boissevain This event has a little bit for every member of your brood. Among the Show & Shine Car Show, the Art Show, the Lions Canada Day Parade and the children’s carnival, fun is to be had by all. The Turtle Mountain Steppers (pictured) are scheduled to go on the Boundary Co-op Stage at 6:30 p.m., and there is face painting and free popcorn from 6 to 9 p.m. for the little ones. There is a spectacular fireworks display at dusk (don’t forget your lawn chairs!) and you can even get ice cream until midnight (yum!). Click here to visit their website.

Canada Day at the Forks This national party is not to be missed! Not only is there some great music to be heard throughout the day, but kids can also make their own Canada Day flag, visit the children’s museum for some crafts or play their favourite (larger-than-life-sized) board games. Don’t forget to bring your bikes, too, since the Railbridge Stage amp system is bicycle-powered, meaning it needs you to generate its power by riding on a stationary setup – you can literally power your own concert! Fireworks are at 11 p.m., weather permitting. Click here to visit their website.

Niagara Falls Canada Day Celebration The Falls are a great place to be to celebrate with Canadians from across the country. Start off the day at City Hall with the Niagara Falls Concert Band, see the parade along the downtown area, and check out the Rosberg Family Park for a mad science fun station, free face painting, children’s inflatables and a reptile kingdom. Your extreme-sport lovers won’t want to miss the Krisher BMX stunt team at 3:30 p.m., and the fireworks are a perfect way to end the night. While you’re there, you might as well experience the Falls, too. Click here to visit their website.

Canada Day at Marina Park in Thunder Bay Celebrate the true north strong and free in Thunder Bay this Canada Day. Explore Prince Arthur’s Landing by picking up a passport at the beginning of the day and filling it with stamps by participating in certain activities. Among the parade, disc golfing, a photo booth, the youth zone scavenger hunt, craft and circus workshops and the fireworks, display your little ones won’t know where to go next! Click here to visit their website.

Canada Day Ottawa The capital truly comes alive on July 1 to celebrate our nation’s birthday. Parliament Hill hosts thousands of people (dressed in red and white, of course) for the changing of the guard, a flag-raising ceremony, a 21-gun salute, a fantastic Canada Day evening show featuring some great Canadian musicians, and so much more! Major’s Hill Park will have a variety of cultural performances and displays, as well as the annual chicken barbecue, whereas Jacques-Cartier Park in Gatineau is full of family-friendly events, including bouncy castles, inflatable slides and games for the whole crew. There is a free shuttle bus connecting all sites together, and the breathtaking fireworks display can be seen from any location. Click here to visit their website.

Canada Day Montreal Montreal likes to celebrate the nation by swearing in twenty-five families as new Canadian citizens. The Canadian Forces lead the singing of our national anthem, and everyone in attendance celebrates by sharing the Canada Day cake. In addition, multiple inflatable games are available for children to bounce upon, street entertainers will put smiles on the faces of your entire crew, and the (temporary) tattoo service will delight even the youngest of children. Show off your less marketable skills by trying a round or two of the “Do It and Win” game, and learn as much as you can about our country at the Canada Quiz. End the day with some great French-Canadian singers and a “Dancing on the Docks” themed fireworks display. Click here to visit their website.

Canada Day in Paradise Spend your day in Paradise – literally – by participating in the town’s family fun day. There are bouncy castles, face painting, games of chance, best-dressed pet contests and a dunk tank to be enjoyed by all! At 2 p.m. there is a free barbecue and concert featuring the Frequency School of Music Youth Band and Blue Eyed Blonde, and the fireworks display at the Rotary Paradise Youth & Community Centre is the perfect end to a jam-packed day. Click here to visit their website.

Moncton’s Whoa Canada! Celebrations Come celebrate Canada Day in Moncton where six-time Juno Award winner Colin James will perfect a free concert for partygoers of all ages. Start the day off doing a Canada Day bike ride through Riverfront Park, play in the Kids’ PlayZone in the afternoon, be entertained by kid-friendly Shelley Bean and Art Richard, and enjoy the wares of many local food vendors. The concert starts at 5 p.m. and the fireworks close of the evening at 10 p.m right where all the fun began. Click here to visit their website.  

Charlottetown Big Red Music Festival Charlottetown celebrates all weekend long with its Big Red Music Festival featuring artists such as Metric, Hedley, Great Big Sea, Ludacris, Faber Drive and many more. Its Canada Day activities include balloon twisting, face painting, horse-and-wagon rides, a petting zoo, Calico dancers, and, of course, one of the largest fireworks displays in Canada: You won’t want to miss it! Tickets range from $20 to $150, depending on what kind of a pass you’re looking for, and children five and younger are free. All Canada Day events (include the outdoor concert in Victoria Park) are free to the public. Click here to visit their website.

Fredericton Canada Day Celebrations This volunteer-run event is dedicated to providing a full day of family-focused entertaining for people of all ages.  This neighbourhood block party kicks off at noon in the Officers’ Square with many activities, including bouncy castles, face painting and more! There are tons of food vendors to discover, celebratory birthday cake to be had and music to be enjoyed non-stop throughout the day. The night comes to a close with a concert by indie-rock band Slowcoaster and an amazing fireworks display. Click here to visit their website.

Halifax-Dartmouth Presents – Canada Day 2013 With two different pancake-breakfast events happening throughout the city, no one will go hungry in Halifax. Then, from noon to 4 p.m. kids will love the family fun fest presented by Maple Lodge Farms, featuring a discovery centre, a dog show, free bouncy castles and obstacle courses, laser tag, free birthday cake and more! The fun continues at Alderney Landing, where there is the largest free concert in Atlantic Canada with Juno nominees Tokyo Police Club, and is also, coincidentally, the best place to watch the official Canada Day fireworks display. Click here to visit their website.

Canada Day Weekend in Dawson City Celebrate Canada’s birthday all weekend long in Dawson City, starting on June 28 at Tombstone Territorial Park, where kids can find and identify local flora and fauna on a guided highland hike or join one of many kid programs at the Interpretive Centre. On the big day, join in on the bike parade, where kids and adults alike dress up their bikes and parade through town. Everyone will love (and are welcome to join) the Yukon Gold Panning Championships in the afternoon, while some may prefer to spend their time birdwatching or going for a swim ($2). There is live music to end the night at the Gazebo. Click here to visit their website.

Canada Day Celebrations in Yellowknife The fun begins at 11 a.m. at the Yellowknife Community Area with the Canada Day parade making its way downtown. Then hop over to Somba K’e Civic Plaza for 12:30 p.m. with the opening ceremonies, where a reaffirmation ceremony takes place, as well as the singing of our national anthem. Throughout the afternoon, there is a lineup of six great performers, and a variety of entertainment, including frozen-fingered magicians, face painting, chair massages and a pirate bouncer, all in the same place! Click here to visit their website.

For more great summer activities to do with the whole family, see 50 essential summer activities.