The Little Paper

There are lots of ways to celebrate our country this Canada Day – fireworks, picnics, festivals and barbecues abound in and around the city. We’ve gathered together a list of the best among them and hope that City-run events (marked with an asterisk) will be in full swing by the 1st of July.
In the event that the strike continues, some of the events will be unable to use their park or facility permits. They may, however, change venue locations. Make sure to contact the event before heading out (or giving up!)

7th Annual Canada Day Jam

Woodbine Park
Lakeshore Blvd E near Coxwell Ave
www.country953.com
Free Admission
A Family Friendly celebration by the lake with headliners Emerson Drive, Jason Blaine, Amanda Wilkinson, Tara Oram, One More Girl and more! Buy some wares in vendor alley and whoop it up in the Family Fun Zone!

* Canada Day Fun at Fort York

Historic Fort York
100 Garrison Rd
416-392-6907
10am-5pm; Regular admission applies
Celebrate Canada’s birthday with a visit to the Birthplace of urban Toronto! See the Fort York Guard perform hourly musket drill and artillery demonstrations, as well as fife and drum music. There’s lots of fun for the whole family. Take a guided tour of the fort. Enjoy cooking and dance demonstrations. Kids may practice musket drill with the fort guard.

* Canada Day at Gibson House

Gibson House
5172 Yonge St
416-395-7432
12-5pm; Free admission
Journey to the rural community of Willow Dale, circa 1851, this Canada Day. Taste the past with homemade ice cream, children’s activities in the Discovery Gallery, old-fashioned games on the lawn and samples of 19th-century cookery from the historic kitchen.

Canada Day Celebrations

Harbourfront Centre
235 Queen’s Quay West
416-973-4000
www.harbourfrontcentre.com
Harbourfront Centre brings together artists and activities that reflect Canada’s rich cultural mosaic. Join new immigrants at the annual swearing-in ceremony and experience diverse cuisine, music and dance. Amnesty International presents a day of crafts, dance, exhibits and music celebrating the contributions of refugees to Canada.

Canada Day HBC Run for Canada

Starts and ends in Ontario Place
1-866-JULY-1ST
www.hbcrunforcanada.ca
8am: 10K/$43, 9:30am: 1K(Kids Run)/$20, 10am: 3K/$25.
Do a 10K run, 3K Family Fun Walk or 1K Kids Run for fun and a good cause on Canada’s most patriotic day. The run raises funds for Canada’s athletes. Event includes Family Activities & Entertainment.

Canada Day Strawberry Festival

Caledon Fairgrounds & Caledon Village Place
www.caledonfairgrounds.ca
10am-4pm; Free Admission
Strawberries and lots of family fun including a petting zoo, pony rides, clowns, crafts, tea room, music, food booths, strawberry pancake breakfast and a Canada day ceremony at noon.

* Canada Day

Mel Lastman Square
5100 Yonge Street
416-338-0338
Free
A grand celebration done up Mel Lastman style with fireworks and live music at the square.

Festival of Fire

Ontario Place
955 Lakeshore Blvd W
416-314-9900
www.ontarioplace.com
Incl with admission, For reserved grandstand seats, call TicketMaster at 416-870-8000.
The best fireworks Canada has to offer, choreographed to music, light up the city’s waterfront. Either go directly to the source or go down to the waterfront to sneak a peak.

Caledon Canada Day Strawberry Festival

Downey’s Farm Market & Winery
13682 Heart Lake Rd, N of Brampton
905-838-2990
www.downeysfarm.on.ca
9am-5pm, pancake breakfast : 9am, opening ceremonies: 10:30am; Free admission, Pancake breakfast: $6/person
Live entertainment, Antique cars and tractors, games, goat walk, farm animals. And last but not least, delicious strawberries to pick.

East York Toronto Canada Day

Stan Wadlow Park
Woodbine/O’Connor Aves
416-238-9913
Parade: 9am, Motorcade starts at East York Town Centre, 11am, Park events start at 10:15am, Fireworks display at 11pm.;
The longest running all day community event in Canada. Parade, midway, fireworks. Tents filled with booths full of crafts, food and valuable community information. There will also be street displays and demonstrations. The stage show includes muti-cultural dancing and lots of entertainment. A 15-20 minute fireworks display at dusk.

Beaches Lions Canada Day Family Festival

Kew Gardens
Lee Ave at Queen St E
416-820-0790
www.beacheslions.com
12-6pm;
Good old-fashioned birthday celebration with Beach Idol, a kids carnival, craft show and live entertainment on the bandshell at Kew Gardens.

Canada Day Celebrations

Black Creek Pioneer Village
1000 Murray Ross Pkwy
416-667-6295
www.blackcreek.ca
11am-5pm; $15/adults, $11/children
Witness history in the making as 40 people become Canadian citizens at this one-of-a-kind Swearing in Ceremony. Special activities include crafts, games, and music.

Canada Day Celebrations

Toronto Zoo
N of Hwy 401 on Meadowvale Rd
416-392-5900
torontozoo@torontozoo.ca
www.torontozoo.com
Canadian Domain: 2pm; Free w/admission: $21/Adult , $13/4-12yrs, Free/ 3yrs-
Celebrate Canada’s birthday in the Canadian Domain with free face painting, busker activity and birthday cake served at 2pm (while supplies last).

Multicultural Canada Day Festival

Yonge-Dundas Square
North-East Corner of Yonge St at Dundas St
www.ydsquare.ca
12-8pm; Free
The Community Folk Art Council of Toronto, hosts this event which showcases ethnic folk dance performances on the main stage as well as performing arts, visual arts, crafts, information and foods representing cultures from around the globe. Special events just for kids and an International Arts and Crafts village with artisan vendors and a coffee and tea tent with tea and coffee ceremonies from around the world.

Canada Day Celebrations & Fundraising BBQ

Scarborough Historical Museum
1007 Brimley Road, N of Lawrence in Thomson Memorial Park
416-338-8807
10am-5pm; pwyc
Foods to sample and a pie eating contest for the brave. Fundraising sales include Peameal Bacon on a Bun and Fresh Strawberries with Ice Cream.

* Canada Day at Todmorden Mills

Todmorden Mills Heritage Museum & Arts Centre
67 Pottery Road
416-396-2819
12-4pm; Free admission
Pack a picnic lunch and celebrate Canada Day in the Valley! Visit 19th-century homes, sample treats prepared in the historic kitchens, and enjoy activities for children.

Caledon Canada Day

Albion Hills Conservation Area
www.trca.on.ca
10am-4pm,; Free Admission
Canada Day strawberry festival with silent auction, strawberry pancake breakfast, Canada Day Celebration Ceremony at Noon, entertainment, tea room, petting zoo and more.

Canada Day Celebrations at the CanStage TD Dream in High Park

High Park Amphitheatre
High Park (near Grenadier Café)
416-367-1652
www.canstage.ca
A special Canada Day Celebration with a fun-filled day of activities: backstage tours, family workshops with artists, crafts, button-making, and a community potluck with a Canada Day Birthday Cake. Then, relax under the stars and watch one of Canada’s treasured traditions: the Dream in High Park production of William Shakespeare’s The Tempest.

Canada Day Celebrations & Toronto Ribfest

Centennial Park, Etobicoke
256 Centennial Park Rd
www.torontoribfest.com
Toronto Ribfest holds a massive Canada Day celebration in Centennial Park, Etobicoke. Come enjoy live music, succulent ribs, carnival rides, climbing wall and pony rides. At dusk, a lively fireworks display lights up the sky. The vendor area includes an arts and crafts show.

Paint the Town Red

Port Credit
www.paintthetownred.ca
Live music, children’s entertainers and family fun. Ceremony to cut the gigantic Canadian Flag Cake at noon, fireworks at dusk in Memorial Park.

* Canada Day at Downsview Park

Downsview Park
416-952-2222
www.downsviewpark.ca
10am-sunset; Free
An annual celebration in the park with a free midway, games and spectacular fireworks at dusk.

* Dominion Day Celebration

Montgomery’s Inn
4709 Dundas St W
416-394-8113
1-4pm; $8.85/person, tours of the inn included with your tea
Visit the Inn for a Dominion Day celebration. Enjoy music in the historic Inn, guided tours, yummy treats in the historic kitchen, and homemade strawberry rhubarb shortcake with whipped cream.

Queen’s Park Canada Day

Queen’s Park
416-314-7524
12-5pm; Free
Citizenship ceremony at 11am, twenty-one gun salute at noon. Musical entertainment, rides, clowns, and exhibits.

Canada Day

Westfield Heritage Village
1049 Regional Rd, Rockton
1-800-883-0104
www.westfieldheritage.ca
12:30-4pm; $7.50/adults, $6.50/6-12yrs, Free/under 5yrs
Tour the historical buildings of the village or walk the 120 hectares of nature trails. Enjoy meeting great Canadians as you watch History on Parade at 1:30 pm and 3 pm. An historical fashion show will take place at 2 pm followed by a period dance.