Oh Canada!
Filed Under Events | June 30, 2009
We’ll be celebrating our great country all over our great city – and beyond – tomorrow. Here’s what to do on Canada Day. Unless otherwise noted, all events listed take place on July 1st, Canada’s 142nd birthday.
Granville Island’s Annual Canada Day Celebration
7:30 am – late, various locations, Granville Island, Vancouver
The island will be seriously hopping with a parade, jazz performances, a Canada Day ceremony (cake included), a pancake breakfast and lobster BBQ, a chocolate fountain and loads of family fun at the False Creek Community Centre and Kids Market. There’s simply too much fun to list it all here, so be sure to check there site for times and details: www.granvilleisland.com
Canada Day at Canada Place (including a parade & fireworks)
10 am - 7pm, Canada Place, 999 Canada Place, Vancouver
Oh Canada indeed! In addition to heaps of live musical acts, shows and entertainment, you can catch some 2010 fever and hit the bouncy castles – all part of the street festival. Then there’s the first annual parade starting at Georgia and Broughton Streets at 7 pm and you can top your day off with fireworks. Phew, you’ll need a holiday from your holiday after all that: www.canadaplace.ca
Vancouver Maritime Museum – Canada Day Family Crafts and Activities
10 am – 5 pm, Vancouver Maritime Museum, 1905 Ogden Avenue, Vanier Park, Vancouver
The museum will be celebrating Canada Day with Canadian themed crafts and activities all day long. Kids are free (as long as they’re with a paying adult): www.vancouvermaritimemuseum.com
North Vancouver Canada Day Celebration & Parade
Celebration: Noon – 5 pm, Waterfront Park, 200 block West Esplanade & Parade: 10 am starting at 13th Street & Grand Boulevard, North Vancouver
To encourage you to bike to these family-friendly celebrations there’ll be a free bike valet service, but first check out the parade. Then enjoy live entertainment, the official ceremony at 1:35 pm, maypole dancing, jugglers and lots more: www.northvancanadaday.com
Canada Day 2009 on Robson Street
Noon – 6 pm, Robson Street from Burrard to Jervis Street, Vancouver
Robson Street is hosting a great celebration including the 2010 mascots, live entertainment, free giveaways, free ice-cream treats in front of the Scotiabank at 1205 Robson at 2:30 pm, face painters, balloon artists, magicians and more: www.robsonstreet.ca
Canada Day Celebration at Victoria Park
12:30 pm – 3 pm, Victoria Park, 1415 Victoria Drive @ Kitchener Street, Vancouver
The park will be packed with live entertainment, bouncy castles, arts & crafts, games, food and – of course – cake. That’s lots of family-friendly free fun: britanniacentre.org
Canada Day – Kitsilano!
3 pm – 7:30 pm, Kitsilano Showboat, 2300 Cornwall, Kitsilano Beach, Vancouver
Bobs & Lolo, Whistles the Clown and lots of other entertainers will be celebrating Canada Day in Kits at the Showboat with a fun, free family concert: www.facebook.com
Canada Day Celebration – Red and White Picnic
5 pm – 10 pm, John Lawson Park, foot of 17th Street, West Vancouver
Pack a picnic and deck yourself out in your best red and white outfit and partake of family activities such as face painting, tattoos and high-flying kites. The Coho Festival Society will be cooking up salmon on a bun and the Blackforest Deli are providing gourmet sausages and burgers. The West Vancouver Youth Band will be performing in the evening and their program includes a rousing rendition of “Oh Canada”: www.westvancouver.net
Canada Day at Capilano Suspension Bridge
11 am – 4 pm, Capilano Suspension Bridge, 3735 Capilano Road, North Vancouver
Celebrate Canada’s birthday at the bridge with games, Canadian trivia, kid’s activities and temporary tattoos (of Canadian flags we presume). The cake cutting will happen at 2 pm: capbridge.com
Farther Afield:
Langley Canada Day
June 30th, 3 pm – 11:15 pm & July 1st, 11:00 am – 11:15 pm, McLeod Athletic Park located at the corner of 56th Avenue and 216 Street, Langley
With live entertainment and fireworks on both days, as well as food, children’s rides and games and a petting zoo, it’s small wonder this is on of BC’s largest Canada Day celebrations: www.langleycanadaday.ca
Steveston Salmon Festival
6:30 am – 5 pm, Steveston Community Centre, 4111 Moncton Street, Richmond
Start the day off early with a pancake breakfast, then there’s the kids bike parade at 9:30 am, a Canada Day Parade at 10 am and everything from a salmon bake to a craft fair, children’s festival and carnival at this all ages event: www.stevestonsalmonfest.ca
Port Coquitlam Celebrates Canada Day
8 am – Dusk, Lions Park (map & directions) and Castle Park (map & directions), Port Coquitlam
Start your day off with a fishing derby at Lions Park from 8 am – 11:30 am, then hit Castle Park for lots of live entertainment, an international bazaar and a fabulous fireworks finale to finish it all off: www.city.port-coquitlam.bc.ca
White Rock Canada Day by the Bay 2009
8 am – Dusk, various locations, White Rock
The town centre, East Beach and West Beach will be hosting everything from a pancake breakfast to a run to fireworks, while the Grandview Corners Main Stage is where the opening ceremonies and live entertainment are happening. There are also children’s games and crafts and a sandcastle competition. Check their website to find out what’s happening where: www.whiterockonline.com
Canada Day – Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, Haney House
various times and locations
From 10 am – 4 m the Memorial Peace Park will be packed with Canadian festivities, you can also check out the Haney Farmers Market and the official ceremonies which being at 12:30 pm. In Pitt Meadow there’ll be an 8 km walk/run starting at 8 am and then an official Canada Day ceremony at the cenotaph next to City Hall at 10:30 am as well as a pancake breakfast, a kids zone and more. Haney House will be hosting an old-fashioned tea and tours, as well as face painting and dress up clothes. Definitely check their site for more details, times and exact locations: www.mapleridge.ca
Canada Day Celebrations – Surrey
10 am – 11 pm, Cloverdale Amphitheatre, 176 Street & 64 Avenue, Surrey
This is Western Canada’s largest July 1st celebration and it includes live entertainment from the likes of 54-40 and Bif Naked, a great kids zone, amusement rides, interactive games for kids, a children’s matinee with magicians, jugglers, dancers and more, and it all wraps up with fireworks at 11 pm: www.canadaday.surrey.ca
Coquitlam Celebrates Canada Day
10 am – 6 pm, Lafarge Lake, Evergreen Cultural Centre, 1205 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam
Coquitlam will be buzzing with Canada Day fun including kid-friendly performances from Bobs & Lolo and Go Go Bonkers, an artisian market, arts & crafts, demos and workshops and lots, lots more: www.coquitlam.ca
Canada Day Celebrations – Burnaby
various times and locations, Burnaby
From 11 am to 2:30 pm Richmond Park (behind Eastburn Centre) will be busy with multicultural entertainment, face painting, road hockey, water games, cakes and more. From 11 am to 4:30 pm the Burnaby Village Museum is throwing a big party set against the backdrop of the 1920s village streets that includes a circus, displays, face painting, games and demos: www.burnaby.ca
Canada Day celebrations at Rocky Point Park
Noon – 5 pm, Rocky Point Park, 2800 block Murray Street, Port Moody
Play horseshoes, whiffle ball, badminton and blow bubbles and decorate the sidewalk. And don’t forget the enormous birthday cake and live entertainment. There’ll also be face painting, hot dogs, the blues and a spray park: www.cityofportmoody.com
New Westminster Canada Day Celebrations
11:30 am – 3:30 pm, Queen’s Park, New Westminster
In New West they won’t just be celebrating Canada’s birthday, but their own 150th anniversary with live entertainment including children’s entertainer Tony Prophet and the Blue Meenies and there’ll also be lots of activities, treats and, of course, cake: www2.canada.com
And we wanted to remind you to always call or visit the website for event info before you head out just in case any changes have been made since we posted it. And of course, have fun!
Leave a Comment
Let us know what you think or share your great finds with us so we can share them with other Vancouver mothers!
