Looking for something to do on Canada Day? Want to get into the Canada 150 spirit that the CBC is hyping up? If so, here are some events that you might want to attend.
Taking place over the course of July 1 and 2, the annual Canada Day celebrations at Canada Place will include a parade through downtown Vancouver, a pancake breakfast, a ceremony celebrating the recently-granted citizenships of 150 new Canadians, an exhibit of the Canadian Special Forces and a lounge area serving beer and wine. There will also be musical performances from artists such as Dragonette, Sam Roberts, Hey Ocean! and Emerson Drive.
Also organized by Canada Place, the annual Canada Day fireworks show in downtown Vancouver will take place at 10:30 p.m. over the ocean between West Vancouver and Coal Harbour. You can view them from Stanley Park, Coal Harbour, Canada Place, Harbour Green Park and the West Vancouver seawall.
The YVR Food Fest’s Canada Day Cook Out
This massive event is part of YVR’s annual Food Fest, which takes place in Olympic Village from June 27 to July 3. Their Canada Day Cook Out features barbecue cooking — which includes hamburgers, hot dogs, brisket, ribs and more — live music, DJs, local craft beer and cocktails.
Located at “the peak of Vancouver,” Grouse Mountain is hosting a number of events and activities on Canada Day. They include: axe-throwing lessons, a complimentary yoga lesson, a barbecue, a beer garden, a series of films at their “Theatre in the Sky,” a lumberjack show and an attempt to earn the Guinness World Record for “the largest human maple leaf.” For the true Grouse Mountain experience, bring a water bottle and hike up the Grouse Grind to the top of the mountain.
Canada 150 Atlantic to Pacific Drumming Celebration
Taking place in eight cities across Canada, this event is celebrating confederation through a series of multicultural drumming circles featuring many distinct nationalities. In Vancouver, they are aiming to set a Guinness World Record for “most nationalities in a drum circle” by having over 50 nationalities perform a rehearsed drum piece for five minutes.
Burnaby’s Canada Day Concert with Steven Page
Burnaby’s Canada Day celebrations include a number of concerts and a fireworks show, but their most notable attraction is a performance from Steven Page, the front man of the Barenaked Ladies. Admission is free, so it’s definitely worth it to go if you’re a fan.
The Burnaby History Museum’s Canadian History Exhibit
Want to get a glimpse of Canada in the 1920s? The Burnaby History Museum has recreated a 1920s Canadian city where people in 2017 can explore various facets of early Canadian society, from the blacksmith’s workshop to the schoolhouse. Their Canada Day event also includes photo ops with characters from the 1920s, a First Nations activity centre and an airing of the film Working People: A History of Labour in British Columbia.
Canada Day at Granville Island
Granville Island is jam-packed with events and activities this Canada Day. Their festivities include Canada Day crepes, performances from Indigenous dancers, a lobster cookout, various food markets and musical performances.
Scotiabank’s Run Canada Day 10km and 5km Run at Wesbrook Village
Feel like being athletic instead of gluttonous on Canada Day? Consider taking part in this 10 km run in Wesbrook Village or its 5 km counterpart. It’s at UBC too, so it’s very convenient for those on campus.
Good Company Canada Day Block Party
Good Company Lager is throwing a Canada Day block party at the Waldorf Hotel in East Vancouver. The event features a beer garden, a barbecue, food trucks and musical performances from over two dozen artists.
The Cobalt’s Saturday night series Glory Days is hosting a Canada Day Poutine Party, where 150 Monarch Burger poutines will be given out for free to those who RSVP in advance. Various DJ’s will be performing throughout the night, and they’ll also be serving Duffin’s Donuts for those who “Ain’t Feel’n Da Curds.”
And now for something completely different! Cannabis Day is exactly what it sounds like — a 420-styled celebration of marijuana that’s been hosted on Canada Day for more than two decades. In previous years it was held at the Vancouver Art Gallery, but this year it’s being held at Thornton Park by the Pacific Centre Terminal on Main Street.
Happy celebrating!
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