Celebrate Canada Day 2024 in Ottawa, Eastern Ontario and beyond

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Updated June 19, 2024.

The forecast for Canada Day this year may be sultry, so grab your sunscreen, an umbrella and lots of water before heading out! Here are more than 30 places to celebrate our country’s birthday.

In the list below, all fireworks are SCHEDULED for July 1 unless otherwise noted. Please note that fireworks will be CANCELLED anywhere where a fire ban is in place that day (and note that any fire bans apply to all fireworks, public or private).

Downtown Ottawa-Gatineau

As you probably know, downtown Ottawa-Gatineau is one of the best places in Canada to mark the country’s birthday. This year, the July 1 festivities will be taking place in several locations across Canada’s capital. A major focus will be LeBreton Flats, but there will also be activities on Parliament Hill, in Confederation Park and in downtown Hull.

Here’s the scoop on Canada Day fun in downtown Ottawa-Gatineau. At LeBreton Flats (listed as “1 Vimy Place” on the Canada Day website), these include giant bubbles, Indigenous experiences, dance performances and more. There’s a midday ceremony from noon to 1:30pm featuring performances by Marie-Mai and Bedouin Soundclash, and an RCAF centennial flypast. The evening show will feature all sorts of acts from 8pm to 10pm, and a fireworks show will follow.

Both the SkyHawks (the Canadian Armed Forces parachute team) and the Snowbirds aerobatics team will be performing above Parliament Hill on Canada Day, weather permitting. The SkyHawks show starts at 3pm, followed by the Snowbirds at 4pm.

Closer to the day, the City of Ottawa usually posts a page of useful tips on Canada Day beach openings, transit schedules, road closures and more. I’ll link to it here, if and when it is available.

Fireworks at 10pm at LeBreton Flats (good visibility from Place des Festivals Zibi in Hull, too).

Canada Agriculture and Food Museum

Family-friendly fun at the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum on Canada Day include ice-cream making, face painting, learn-to-camp sessions with Parks Canada, Canadian trivia and more. Activities are scheduled for various times between 9:30am and 4pm. Admission is free but the museum advises visitors reserve online in advance. Tickets go on sale at 10am on Tuesday, June 25.

Orleans

The OHHH Canada Kids Festival Jeunesse is a new event that’s replacing the traditional Canada Day festivities on Petrie Island. Note that the new location is Millennium Park (100 Millennium Boulevard). The festival will offer lots of family-friendly activities—including bouncy castles, face painting and an obstacle course—between 11am and 5pm. Food vendors will be on site. For more details, see the event’s FAQ page. Free admission. No fireworks.

Kanata

Canada Day in Kanata at Walter Baker Park (100 Charlie Rogers Way) actually starts on Sunday, June 30, with an outdoor screening of Trolls Band Together at dusk. On Monday, July 1, the Canada Day fun will include a family fun zone, live music, balloon artists, a ’90s video dance party, magicians and bouncy castles. Here’s the FAQ page. Fireworks at 10pm.

Stittsville

Information to come.

Barrhaven

Canada Day celebrations in Barrhaven will be happening at Clarke Fields Park (93 Houlahan Street), and it’s a multi-day celebration. The midway will be open for 10 days, from June 20 to 23, and again from June 26 to July 1. On Saturday, June 29, there will be a Multicultural Day with lots of performances. Sunday, June 29, is Country Music and Classic Rock Day, with more live music.

On Canada Day itself, the fun starts early with a seniors’ and family breakfast (8:30am to 9:30am). The midway opens at 11am and runs until 11pm (hours differ on the other days). There will also be a kids’ zone, food and artisan vendors, a parade of flags, free birthday cake, and live music. Due to limited parking at the park, you’re urged to take the shuttle running from the Heart & Crown and McDonough’s Independent Grocer on Canada Day only (donations of $2 per person or $5 per family for the round trip are encouraged). Fireworks at 10pm.

Osgoode

Canada Day events in Osgoode will take place in several locations across the village. The fun is set to include a parade, face painting, a petting zoo, mini-putt, food trucks, a beer tent and live music. Check the event’s Facebook page for the full schedule. Fireworks at 10pm.

Greely

In Greely, the hub of Canada Day festivities will be the Greely Community Centre (1448 Meadow Drive). The family-friendly party starts at noon and features bouncy castles, a petting zoo, a beer garden and live music. Food and drink will be available for purchase. Fireworks at dusk.

Wakefield

In Wakefield, the Canada Day celebrations include a parade, a cookie contest and a concert by the Urban Science Brass Band.

Mont Tremblant

Canada Day at Tremblant will amuse visitors with face painting, live music by tribute band The Gracefully Hip, hula hooping and a flag raising.

Arnprior

The hub of Arnprior’s celebrations is Robert Simpson Park (400 John Street North) from noon to 5pm. The free activities include cake, live music, face painting and backyard games.

Canada Day fun elsewhere in Arnprior ranges from a pancake breakfast and a bike parade to a duck race, a historical fundraising walk and a strawberry social. Details are available via the link above.

Fireworks will be set off around 9:30pm from an island near the Madawaska Bridge; Hydro Park (70 Madawaska Boulevard) will be the best place to see them.

Renfrew

Canada Day celebrations in Renfrew will take place in Ma-Te-Way Park (1 Ma-Te-Way Drive) starting with a 2pm opening ceremony with the Bonnechere Algonquin First Nation. Amusements will include live music, bouncy castles, games, a free barbecue (starting around 4:30pm and available while supplies last) and a beer tent. Fireworks at about 9:30pm.

Eganville

Festivities for the Township of Bonnechere Valley are taking place all over Eganville, including the Bonnechere Museum, the Eganville Arena and the Eganville Legion. You can celebrate Canada Day with cupcakes, fossil walks, bouncy castles, a selfie scavenger hunt, bingo, live music and more. Fireworks at 9:30pm.

Pembroke

The Canada Day festivities in Pembroke in Riverside Park begin the day before with a lumberjack festival and family-friendly Panda-Monium fun on Sunday, June 30 (culminating with an outdoor screening of Kung Fu Panda 4 at 9:30pm). On Canada Day itself, events will be taking place in three venues—Waterfront Park, the Royal Canadian Legion and Riverside Park. The fun will include trampoline shows, stilt walkers, balloon artists, food and craft vendors, live music, and a barbecue. Fireworks at Riverside Park at 10pm.

Petawawa

Petawawa is marking Canada Day with an afternoon of free activities at the Pembroke Civic Centre (16 Civic Centre Road) from noon to 4pm. The fun includes a fire department slip and slide, children’s games, live music, and inflatables.

Wilno

Wilno’s Canada Day festivities are taking place at Heritage Park from 11am to 3pm. The fun will include live music, sweet treats and kids’ activities.

Kemptville

Kemptville’s Canada Day celebrations will centre on Riverside Park on Reuben Crescent and will run from 11am to 10:30pm. The fun will include a pancake and sausage breakfast, dog agility shows, a car display, henna tattoos, face painting, a beer garden, live music and more. Fireworks at 10pm.

Oxford Mills

Free Canada Day festivities in Maplewood Park (Maplewood Avenue) from 11:30am to 4pm include a sword-fighting demonstration, kids’ activities and three live bands. Barbecue goodies, crepes, cupcakes and ice cream will be available. Only handicapped-accessible parking is available onsite, so visitors are advised to park at Crozier Park or a nearby school and walk to Maplewood Park.

Carleton Place

Free Canada Day activities in Carleton Place start at 12:30 at Riverside Park (179 John Street) and include live music, puppet shows, bouncy castles, and food and beverage vendors. Fireworks start at 9:45pm.

Almonte

Almonte is celebrating Canada Day with a day of activities at Gemmill Park (182 Bridge Street), starting at 3:30pm. There will be bouncy castles, live music, face painting, crafts and more. Fireworks at dusk.

Pakenham

As usual, Pakenham is getting a jump on the festivities with Canada Day Eve celebrations—a parade, along with face painting, live music and a barbecue—at the Stewart Community Centre (112 Macfarlane Street) on Friday, June 30, starting at 5:45pm. Fireworks start at dusk ON JUNE 30. 

Perth

In Perth, the hub of activity is Conlon Farm Recreation Park, starting at 3pm. Enjoy an OPP canine unit demonstration (subject to OPP availability), the farm’s splash pad, a magic show, face painting, a canteen and live music. Fireworks at 10pm.

Smiths Falls

Stay tuned for details!

Merrickville and Eastons Corners

Merrickville’s Canada Day activities include a parade starting at 11:30am, followed by a pipe band and other live music, a barbecue, and cake at Blockhouse Park (279 St. Lawrence Street) until 4pm. In nearby Eastons Corners, there will be Canada Day fun in Centennial Park from 4pm to 6pm.

Westport

Information to come!

Kingston

There will be a lot to enjoy in Kingston on July 1 in multiple locations, including a rock-climbing wall, a yo-yo show, bouncy castles, magic shows, live music and a beer garden. Fireworks at Confederation Park at 10pm.

Brockville

Brockville’s formal Canada Day commemorations will start at 11:45am, when a procession of pipes, drums, re-enactors, veterans, first responders and dignitaries will parade along King Street to Court House Green, for cupcakes, speeches and O Canada. From 1pm to 5pm. the Brockville Legion is hosting family-friendly fun—games, puppet and magic shows, and more—at 180 Park Street. In the evening, fireworks will light up the St. Lawrence waterfront (rain date for the fireworks is July 2). Fireworks at 9:30pm.

Prescott

Canada Day festivities in Prescott will be spread across multiple locations, including Kelly’s Beach, Fort Wellington (370 Vankoughnet Street) and the new Prescott Pop-Ups site (191 Water Street East). Between 10:30am to 10pm, you can enjoy a parade, cannon firings, live music, canine water sports demonstrations, visits with critters from Little Ray’s Reptiles, live music, a vendor market and more. Fireworks at dusk.

Morrisburg

In Morrisburg, Earl Baker Park and Waterfront Park are the hubs for Canada Day activities, which include helicopter rides, a petting zoo, wagon rides, a barbecue, children’s games and live music. Fireworks at 9:45pm.

Russell

Stay tuned for details!

Long Sault

Long Sault’s Canada Day activities will take place at Arnold Bethune Park on Simcoe Street, from 11am to 7pm, and at the Lost Villages Museum (16361 Fran Laflamme Drive) from 10am to 4pm. Fireworks at dusk, in Long Sault.

Cornwall

The fun in Lamoureux Park (100 Water Street East) starts with opening ceremonies at noon and continues all day, with everything food trucks, a beer garden, a kids’ fun zone and live music—with headliner Kim Mitchell taking to the stage at 8:45pm. A free shuttle bus will bring people to the park throughout the day. Fireworks at 10pm.

L’Orignal

The municipal beach (772 Front Street) is the site of l’Orignal’s Canada Day festivities, which start at noon and run until 10pm. More information to come soon!

Lefaivre

Lefaivre is celebrating Canada Day at Riverside Park (1965 Lajoie Street) with canoe-kayak races, bouncy castles, line dancing, a canteen and bar, live music, and more. Fireworks at 10pm.

Rockland

Canada Day fun is part of the longer Clarence-Rockland Festival from June 25 to July 1 at Simon Park (1450 du Parc Avenue, Rockland). On Canada Day, there will be inflatables, escape rooms, food trucks, a car show and lots of other family-friendly fun. Fireworks at 10pm on July 1, followed by a DJ dance party.

Montreal

The main celebrations are happening on Canada Day in the Old Port from 1pm onward. See a citizenship ceremony, take a Parks Canada workshop, nosh on mini cupcakes, catch a concert, dance to DJ tunes…that’s just the start of the list. Fireworks at 10pm.

Looking for more tips on things to see and do in Eastern Ontario, the Outaouais, northern New York state and beyond? Subscribe to my free weekly newsletter or order a copy of my book, Ottawa Road Trips: Your Weekend Getaway Guide.

As the owner of Ottawa Road Trips, I acknowledge that I live on, work in and travel through the unceded, unsurrendered territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg Nation. I am grateful to have the opportunity to be present on this land. Ottawa Road Trips supports Water First, a non-profit organization that helps address water challenges in Indigenous communities in Canada through education, training and meaningful collaboration.

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