For the first time since 2004, Peterborough’s Multicultural Canada Day Festival will not be celebrated in Del Crary Park.
New Canadians Centre (NCC), which organizes the family-friendly event, announced on Wednesday (April 29) that the July 1st celebration won’t be going ahead as planned due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The organization will instead be providing alternative programming, which will be announced in the coming weeks.
The annual celebration usually draws more than 10,000 people to Del Crary Park for international food and craft vendors and multicultural sports and stage performers from around the world, supported by more than 130 volunteers.
“For everyone’s safety, we have made the difficult decision to proceed with alternatives to the regular in-person festival program,” says Bhisham Ramoutar, NCC outreach worker and lead festival organizer.
The theme of the 2020 festival is “Peterborough Is My Home”, recognizing newcomers and their families who have contributed to the cultural fabric of the community.
The festival will return to Del Crary Park in 2021, organizers say.
