Happy first week of summer! It’s certainly been a strange start to the season — did we have warmer weather in April than we did in June? If rainy days and smoky skies have kept you locked inside the past few weeks, it’s time to pull out those barbeques, lather up in sunscreen, stock the fridge with cold drinks, and finally welcome summer with a long weekend celebrating our country.
Communities and organizations across the greater Kawarthas region are hosting a range of family-friendly Canada Day events this weekend, complete with parades, good food, all-ages activities, and, of course, lots of fun. Although a total fire ban is still in place for most of the region and restricting residents from using personal fireworks this Canada Day, several local events will be lighting the sky with extravagant fireworks displays.
Here are 15 events happening across the Kawarthas to help you get festive and summer-ready this Canada Day long weekend.
1. The Peterborough Canada Day Parade
This year, Peterborough’s Canada Day Parade theme is “Happy Birthday Canada!” Pre-parade festivities kick off at 10 a.m. at Confederation Square with children’s activities including face painting, henna, temporary tattoos, a bike decorating contest, giveaways, and more.
It’s not a birthday party without cake, and Peterborough Pop Ensemble will take the stage beginning at 10:30 a.m. to lead the crowd in singing “Happy Birthday” to Canada before the cake is served, courtesy of Morello’s Your Independent Grocer.
The parade starts at noon at City Hall before heading down George Street to the Memorial Centre at Lansdowne Street. If you can’t be there in person, the parade will also be broadcast live by Cogeco on YourTV.
For more information and a full list of activities visit peterborough.ca/canadaday.
2. Kawartha Country Music Festival in Fraserville
If you’re looking to shake your boots this weekend, Kawartha Downs is hosting their second annual Kawartha Country Music Festival on Saturday and Sunday in Fraserville, just 20 kilometres south of Peterborough.
On Saturday, Baillieboro-born Jade Eagleson and a surprise act will set the stage for headliner Dean Brody, before a massive fireworks show ends the celebrations. On Sunday, Sacha will be kicking off the night, before Juno award-winners The Recklaws return to the Kawartha Downs stage for the second year, followed by the James Barker Band to end the weekend festivities.
Tickets are still available at $129.44 for weekend passes and $83.04 for day passes. VIP tickets, which includes a dinner with visits from the artists, are still available. To purchase tickets, visit www.kawarthadowns.com.
3. Canada Day at Buckhorn Community Centre
There’s something for everyone up in Buckhorn this Saturday with free family-fun activities running all afternoon from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Buckhorn Community Centre at 1782 Lakehurst Road.
Rain or shine, guests can enjoy a magic show, pony cart rides, a marketplace, walk a farm animal, play games, watch the Birds of Prey show, get creative in the Play Zone, engage in games of skill, and much more.
More information can be found at www.buckhorncommunitycentre.com/2023/06/canada-day/.
4. Strawberries on Canada Day at the Peterborough Downtown Farmer’s Market
Nothing says the beginning of summer like strawberries, and the Peterborough Regional Farmers’ Market will be celebrating the delicious seasonal fruit during a special Canada Day celebratory market from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Along with the usual wide range of local produce, prepared foods, and crafts, there’ll be strawberries with whipped cream and strawberry honey lemonade.
Running every Saturday and Wednesday, the Peterborough Downtown Farmer’s Market is located at Quaker Foods City Square on Charlotte Street just east of Aylmer.
5. New Canadians Centre’s “Lessons of the Land” at Beavermead Park in Peterborough
Peterborough’s New Canadians Centre is using Canada Day to celebrate the Indigenous culture and heritage with “Lessons from the Land,” which also encourages Canadians to reflect on the work of Truth and Reconciliation in Canada, the historic unjust, violent, and racist treatment of Indigenous Peoples, and Canada’s path forward.
From 9:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. at the pavilion at Beavermead Park, the public is welcome to attend a family-friendly day of guided nature walks, an interactive educational “river race” game, a community lunch, storytelling, a dance and drum circle, a beading circle, and more.
More information and registration for guided walks can be found at nccpeterborough.ca/lessons-from-the-land/.
6. Canada Day fun at Sir Sam’s Ski & Bike in the Haliburton Highlands
On Saturday, Sir Sam’s Ski & Bike at 1054 Liswood Road on Eagle Lake in the Haliburton Highlands will be celebrating Canada Day with good food, music, and outdoor adventure.
From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., visit Sir Sam’s for live music with Bill Black, a barbeque lunch by Truss Foodworks on Haliburton’s largest sundeck, and enjoy the scenic chairlift taking you to 23 kilometres of biking and hiking trails.
Visit Sir Sam’s website at www.sirsams.ca for more information.
7. Canada Day Kids’ Fishing Derby in Minden
July 1st marks the beginning of Family Fishing Week in Ontario, where residents can fish for free and without a license until July 9. Kick off the week of fun by casting out in downtown Minden at the Kids’ Fishing Derby for kids 14 and under on Saturday. Prizes have been donated by local organizations, and the first 350 kids to sign up will get a custom T-shirt.
The Kids’ Fishing Derby runs from 8 to 11 a.m. with registration beginning at 7:30 a.m. and ending at 10 a.m. Legal guardians must sign a waiver for kids to participate, and fish must be caught between the walking bridge and the boat launch dock off Anson Street. The event encourages a live fish weigh-in. All provincial fishing rules apply.
More information about the derby is available on Facebook.
8. Canada Day celebrations during the Cobourg Waterfront Festival
Head to the historic town of Cobourg on the Lake Ontario shoreline on Saturday for a full day of Canada Day celebrations as part of the annual Cobourg Waterfront Festival, which runs from Friday until Sunday.
Saturday’s festivities will begin in Victoria Park with a hearty breakfast, before the Canada Day Parade kicks off at 10 a.m. Following will be the opening ceremonies and multicultural performances. A lineup of musical acts will set the soundtrack all afternoon as guests check out the festival’s food vendors and amusement rides. A spectacular fireworks display over the water will end the Canada Day celebrations, though the festival will continue to run all weekend long.
For the full entertainment schedule, and list of food vendors, visit experiencecobourg.ca/portfolio/cobourg-waterfront-festival-2023/.
9. Canada Day in Bobcaygeon
The Canada Day Bobcaygeon Committee is hosting a full day of free fun at the Bobcaygeon Community Centre and Fairgrounds on Saturday.
Family-friendly programming will run between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., including children’s races, free draw prizes, creative dance classes, face painting, bouncy castles, photo booths and live entertainment by Burrows and Clark. Kids can satisfy their sweet tooth with birthday cake and cupcakes donated by Strang’s Your Independent Grocer and ice cream donated by Kawartha Dairy.
The parade will commence at 2:30 p.m. beginning at the fairgrounds, heading along Mansfield, Canal, Bolton, King Street and ending at the Bobcaygeon Community Centre. A 360-degree fireworks extravaganza will dazzle the audience beginning at 10 p.m. at Tommy Anderson Park.
For the parade route and more information, visit canadadaybobcaygeon.com.
10. An outdoor play at 4th Line Theatre in Millbrook
Spend your Canada Day evening enjoying an outdoor play with the first production of 4th Line Theatre’s 31st season at the Winslow Farm near Millbrook: the world premiere of The Tilco Strike. Written by D’Arcy Jenish and directed by Cynthia Ashperger, the play recounts the year-long battle in 1965 between 35 female employees of Peterborough manufacturer Tilco Plastics and their male bosses.
The play begins at 6 p.m. sharp. If you can’t make it to the Canada Day performance, The Tilco Strike runs every Tuesday to Saturday until July 22. Tickets are $50 ($45 for youth aged five to 16) and can be purchased online at www.4thlinetheatre.on.ca, by calling 705-932-4445 (toll free at 1-800-814-0055), or in person at 4th Line Theatre’s box office at 9 Tupper Street in Millbrook.
11. Canada Day in Fenelon Falls
Fenelon Falls has always made Canada Day one of the best days of the year. This year, the festivities are taking place on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., with a long line-up of fun for all ages. Activities take place at Maryboro Lodge, Garnet Graham Park, Country Cupboard, Colborne Street Gallery, Fenelon Falls Brewing Company, the Legion, Lotus Indian Bistro, and more.
Throughout the day, visitors will have the chance to hold a snake, take a pony ride, have their picture taken in a barrel headed over the falls, jam to some live music, join a ’90s dance party, hoola hoop, participate in the pool noodle Olympics, play ski ball, jump in a bouncy castle, and much more.
If that’s not enough fun, the day of fun will come to a close with a spectacular fireworks display. See the full line-up at maryboro.ca/events/canada-day/.
12. Canada Day in Bancroft
Head to Riverside Park in Bancroft on Saturday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. for an afternoon of community Canada Day celebrations.
The park and playground will be taken over with live music, crafts, the Bancroft Farmers’ Market, and a barbeque, drinks, and donuts from Wattle & Daub. Community organizations including Think Turtle, Art Gallery of Bancroft, and Bancroft Cruisers, will have booths at the event, and there will be visits from the Bancroft Fire Department, Rocky the Rockhound, and Sparky the Fire Dog. Colouring contest and free draw winners will be announced in the afternoon.
Visit bancroftontario.com/canada-day-bancroft-ontario/ for more information.
13. Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy perform at Peterborough Musicfest in Del Crary Park
At 8 p.m. on Saturday in Del Crary Park in downtown Peterborough, Celtic fiddling sensations Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy will launch the 36th season of Peterborough Musicfest, Canada’s longest-running free-admission concert series.
The Canada Day performance will be the first of 15 free-admission shows happening every Saturday and Wednesday until mid-August. Following the performance, a fireworks display provided by the City of Peterborough will be held over Little Lake from 9:30 to 10:00 p.m.
Visit www.ptbomusicfest.ca for the full line-up of performers this summer.
14. Canada Day in Brighton
Start your Canada Day celebrations in Brighton at the Owen Gibb Community Hall with a pancake breakfast hosted by the Kinsmen Club at 8 a.m. Then head to King Edward Park for free family fun, including face painting, bouncy castles, a kids’ fishing pond, and Brighton Arts Council display. Come hungry as vendors like Just like Grannys, Harry’s Hots, Rotary Food trailer, Lions Food Trailer, and Pollywogs will be set up all afternoon.
There will also be a vendor market at Proctor House Museum from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., live music by Down Beat at King Edward Park from 12 to 3 p.m. and Ian Roy Entertainment at Memorial Park from 7 to 9 p.m. The day will end with a bang with a fireworks display just after dusk.
View the full line-up of events at www.brighton.ca/en/discover-brighton/festivals-events-and-activities.aspx.
15. Canada Day in Minden Hills
Along with the kids’ fishing derby in Minden (#7 on our list), a full line-up of festivities will be taking place on Canada Day in Minden Hills township. in downtown Minden, visitors can enjoy a fashion show, magic shows, and a rubber duck race. The Haliburton County Farmers Market and the Minden Hills Artisan Market will be open from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. in the downtown municipal parking lot.
From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Minden Hills Cultural Centre, visitors can tour the museum and participate in hands-on activities, play games with bouncy inflatables, and get free ice cream from Kawartha Dairy. At dusk, a fireworks display will light the sky at the Minden Fairgrounds.
Visit www.mindenhills.ca/en/News/media-release-23-47-township-of-minden-hills-presents-canada-day-2023.aspx for the full line-up.
