Canada Day falls on Saturday, July 1 this year with Monday, July 3 being a statutory holiday. Here’s what’s going on in Newmarket, Aurora, and surrounding communities this long weekend.
Newmarket:
To celebrate Canada Day on July 1, Newmarket will be offering residents an entire day of free festivities. There will be a daytime concert and festival with four performer stages around the Riverwalk Commons and Main Street from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. That will be followed up by an evening concert and fireworks from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m.
There will be multiple performers and stages set up for festivities, as well as vendors, rides on the Tim Hortons Express Train, roaming busker entertainment, face painting, and more.
The Lonely Hearts will perform on the Riverwalk Commons main stage from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. A busker stage at Timothy Street and Main Street will alternate between The FireGuy and Mighty Mike from 11 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.
The stage at Main Street and Botsford Street will feature performances by duos Genevieve Cyr and Brad Canning from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. followed by JJ and Alyssa from 1 to 4 p.m. The second Main Street stage at Water Street will have performers Bianca Rollo and Cale Crowe from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Newmarket Citizens Band will be playing from 7:30 to 8:45 p.m., followed by Switchbeat from 9 to 10 p.m. at George Richardson Park (Bayview Parkway). Fireworks will take place from 10:10 to 10:30 p.m.
Those who attend both the daytime concert and evening concert will have the opportunity to enter to win coffee for a year from Tim Hortons.
More information is available at newmarket.ca/canadaday.
Aurora:
In Aurora, Canada Day events will be taking place on both Friday, June 30 and Saturday, July 1.
On Friday evening from 7 to 11 p.m., the town will be hosting Dance in the Park at Aurora Town Park (49 Wells St.). Attendees will be able to dance to the music of Morris & Brown, who will be performing at 7 p.m., and The Beresfords, who take the stage at 9 p.m. Along with dancing, there will be food and the rotary beer garden.
Saturday festivities start early with the Canada Day parade beginning at 10 a.m. and travelling north on Yonge Street from Edward Street to Aurora Heights Drive. There will be marching bands including the Governor General’s Horse Guards, cultural performers, and more.
Following the parade, there will be a live multicultural showcase and children’s activities at Lambert Wilson Park and the Aurora Family Leisure Complex from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be stage entertainment at Lambert Wilson Park and leisure activities such as public swim and skate at the Aurora Family Leisure Complex.
Following the kids activities, Lambert Wilson Park will feature performances from Fiddlestix at 6:15 p.m. and Off the Rock, a Great Big Sea tribute band, at 8:15 p.m. Fireworks will begin at 10 p.m.
Also running from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 1 will be the Aurora Farmers Market (49 Well St.) with a variety of vendors with fresh food and artisan products. Aurora Community Band will be performing from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. and then again from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
More information is available at aurora.ca/canadaday.
Georgina:
Canada Day festivities take place on July 1 from 2 to 10 p.m. at the ROC (26479 Civic Centre Rd.), performances, vendor markets, activities for kids, local food options, and more. Fireworks begin at 10 p.m.
Free Canada Day shuttle bus service from Keswick, Sutton, Virginia, Pefferlaw and Udora to and from the ROC.
More information is available at georgina.ca/canadaday
East Gwillimbury:
Canada Day festivities on July 1 are from 6 to 10 p.m. at Mount Albert Lions Community Centre (5057 Mount Albert Rd.), with a live band, kids activities, a barbecue, and food vendors. Fireworks begin at 10 p.m.
Shuttle buses are available from the Holland Landing Community Centre, EG Sports Complex and Ross Family Complex.
More information is available at eastgwillimbury.ca/canadaday
Whitchurch-Stouffville:
For the Canada Day long weekend, the Strawberry Festival will be taking place at Whitchurch-Stouffville’s Memorial Park (2 Park Dr.) on June 30, July 1, and July 2. There will be performances, vendors, kids activities, and food each day at Memorial Park and nearby locations
Festivities run Friday from 5 to 9 p.m., Saturday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Fireworks will be on Saturday at 9:30 p.m.
More information is available at strawberryfestival.ca
Richmond Hill:
Canada Day festivities are taking place July 1 from 2 to 11 p.m. at Richmond Green Park (1300 Elgin Mills Rd.), with live entertainment all day as well as a beer garden, artist exhibits, and more.
Fireworks begin at 10 p.m.
Juno Award-winning artist Kardinal Offishall will be performing at 8 p.m.
Canada's Wonderland:
It’s a week-long party for Canada a the Vaughan amusement park from July 1 to 9 (park is open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; festival runs noon to 8 p.m.).
Celebration Canada returns to Canada’s Wonderland July 1 with authentic Canadian food, drinks, street performers, live music, traditional Indigenous performances and interactive family activities.
The park’s big fireworks show takes place July 1 at 10 p.m. and is included with admission. The show will feature more than 6,000 colourful explosions, choreographed to music and reaching heights well over 800 feet.
