Patriotic parties

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 28/06/2024 (847 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Canada turns 157 on Monday, which means it’s a long weekend.

It also means fireworks, red and white, maple leaf-painted faces and many, many tiny Canadian flags.

There are many celebrations taking place across the city and province. Here’s a few ideas to check out in Winnipeg on July 1.

 

Blue Bombers Bash

Princess Auto Stadium, 123 Stadium Rd.
Noon to 11 p.m.
Free tickets at bluebombers.com

Celebrate Canada Day at the home of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Join the festivities starting at noon with a tailgate party. Visitors can enjoy live music from local bands, treats from a variety of food trucks and family-friendly activities, including a roving magician and balloon twister.

Live music on the main stage inside the stadium starts at 3 p.m. with performances by Brandi Vezina, Neighbour Andy, Catie St. Germain, Indian City, Doc Walker and headliner the Sam Roberts Band.

Visitors can also experience a local makers market, kids’ activities and additional entertainment at the tailgate stage. Food vendors such as Beavertails, Just Loaded Food Truck, Blue Truck Smokies, Walleye Wagon and Tot Wheels will be on-site to keep everyone fuelled.

There are fireworks to cap off the day at 10:30 p.m.

The event is free. No tickets are required for the tailgate celebration, but tickets for the mainstage show inside the stadium must be secured in advance.

Attendees are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item for Harvest Manitoba.

 

Downtown Winnipeg Road Race

Waterfront Drive and Pioneer Avenue
9 a.m.
Registration is $55 for adults and $15 for kids at raceroster.com

Calling all runners! Get ready for the Canada Day Road Race Series on the waterfront.

Hosted by the Running Room, the races kick off at 9 a.m. with a one-kilometre Kids Run, followed by five-kilometre and five-mile events. Runners of all ages are welcome.

Every participant who crosses the finish line will receive a commemorative Canada Day finisher’s medal.

Registration is now open and has a maximum cap of 150 entrants.

 

Canada Day at the Park

Assiniboine Park
11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Free admission

Experience a day brimming with music, entertainment and patriotism at Assiniboine Park.

Festivities kick off with an Indigenous blessing at the Lyric Theatre, followed by a citizenship ceremony where new Canadians will take their oath. Throughout the day, visitors can enjoy live performances at the Lyric Theatre and the Performance Garden at the Leaf, featuring Viva Brasil Canada, Son of Dave, Andrina Turenne, School of Rock, Zrada, Onna Lou and more.

For those interested in outdoorsy workshops, the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society will host sessions from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Tannis M. Richardson Classroom in the Leaf.

Families can delight in a range of activities including bouncy castles and kids’ programming at the Lyric Field. Food trucks will also be on-site.

Visitors can explore the Happy Solstice Market in the Leaf’s Gardens, featuring unique goods from local vendors such as Bead ‘n Butter and Festie Boutique. Additionally, Cree Crowchild will be sharing fire teachings at the Indigenous Peoples Garden Fire Node throughout the day.

Another highlight of the afternoon will be the cake and fortune cookies event presented by the Winnipeg Chinese Cultural and Community Centre in the Kitchen Garden at 2 p.m.

For a full schedule of events and more details, visit assiniboinepark.ca.

 

Live Racing and Fireworks

Assiniboia Downs, 3975 Portage Ave.
7:30 p.m.
Free

Assiniboia Downs will host Canada Day with live horse racing followed by a display by CanFire Pyrotechnics. The races start at 7:30 p.m. with fireworks to start after the final race.

Free family-based activities start at 6:30 p.m., including bouncy castles, face painting and other entertainment.

Admission is free and parking is complimentary until 8 p.m. After that, it’s $10. For more, visit asdowns.com.

 

Celebrate at the Forks

The Forks
11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Free

The Forks is always a great place to be on Canada Day. From cultural performances to live music across multiple stages, there’s something for everyone.

Families can enjoy craft-making, storytelling, games and children’s entertainers throughout the day. Dance battles, skateboarding demonstrations and art workshops are on tap, while Basketball Manitoba’s Peg City Summer Slam 3×3 tournament reaches its climax with the championship game.

There will be special events such as a wheelchair basketball demo, slam dunk contest, shooting competition and appearances by the Winnipeg Sea Bears.

New this year, The Forks partners with 2Spirit Manitoba and Tunngasugit Inuit Resource Centre to present creative cultural performances and programming. Local artists curated by Manitoba Music will deliver musical performances throughout the day.

Bike valet service and a free Winnipeg 150 shuttle bus between The Forks and Assiniboine Park are available. For more information and scheduling, visit theforks.com.

 

thandi.vera@freepress.mb.ca

If you value coverage of Manitoba’s arts scene, help us do more.
Your contribution of $10, $25 or more will allow the Free Press to deepen our reporting on theatre, dance, music and galleries while also ensuring the broadest possible audience can access our arts journalism. BECOME AN ARTS JOURNALISM SUPPORTER Click here to learn more about the project.