Canada Day 2012 Event Guide

                  

                                                               “Canada Day” by Flickr user Pablodda under Creative Commons licence

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1. Canada Day at Canada Place

The 2011 version won the BC Event Award for Best Festival and this year’s event promises more of the same, with a waterfront party from 10 am – 6 pm featuring tons of bands on three different stages and a parade at 7 pm. Best of all? It’s completely free. Canadaday.canadaplace.ca

 

2. Burrard Inlet Fireworks Show

A follow-up to the Canada Place celebrations, the fireworks start at 10:30 pm. $10 secures a reserved area with unobstructed views and easy access to restrooms–a savvy buy since it’s definitely going to be crowded. Canadadayfireworks.ca 

 

3. Canada Day at Waterfront Park

Venture with the family into North Vancouver and find a kids’ paradise at Waterfront Park, complete with a seawall-lined crafts fair, free art activities and, the crown jewel of the afternoon, a parade. 12 noon – 4 pm. NVArtscouncil.ca

 

4. Waldorf Hotel Block Party

At the Waldorf, you’ll find all the usual things that make a block party awesome (live music, a carnival, a DJ), plus something new that’s possibly even better: a food cart festival. Nine carts will be attending the festivities, including favorites like La Brasserie, Tacofino and Re-Up BBQ. 12 noon – 6 pm. Waldorfhotel.com

5. Canada Day at Hastings Racecourse

If Sunday doesn’t work for you, or you just want to keep the party going, Hastings Racecourse welcomes back Mario Gutierrez on Monday July 2nd for his first race back home since his run for the Triple Crown. A Canada Day-themed family zone, live music and deals on bets highlight the day at the track. Hastingspark.com

 

6. Vancouver Canadians

The Canadians on Canada Day. It’s enough to make your face turn red (with patriotism, that is). The Cs host back-to-back games on Saturday and Sunday, first against the Eugene Emeralds and then the Salem-Kaizer Volcanoes, with post-game fireworks scheduled for both days. And if Balbino Fuenmayor’s bat stays hot, expect them during the game too. MILB.com

 

7. Dockside Restaurant at the Granville Island Hotel

The culinary patriots at Dockside Restaurant will celebrate Canada Day on Granville Island with pancakes and Canadian bacon at 7 am, followed by a gourmet BBQ and, of course, some red and white cake to top it all off. Only $26.95 for a three-course meal that lasts 12 hours. Docksidevancouver.com

 

8. Canada Day Sunday Brunch at the Pan Pacific

For a more relaxed way to celebrate our nation’s 145th birthday, try Café Pacifica at the Pan Pacific Hotel. For $59, you’ll be treated to live music, and a gigantic all-you-can-eat menu encompassing 10 different sections (one per province!). Panpacificvancouver.com

 

9. Canada Day at the Museum(s)

What better way to celebrate Canada Day than to learn about our history – for free! Both the Vancouver Maritime Museum and the Museum of Vancouver are offering free admission all day (10 am – 5 pm) on Canada Day. Also opening its doors is the Binning Residence in West Van, a 1939 architectural inspiration to the likes of Arthur Erickson and Ron Thom. 1 pm – 4pm.

10. Steveston Salmon Festival

Since the end of World War II, the people of Steveston have been gathering on July 1 and drawing crowds of up to 70,000 to their charming fishing village. This year, the festivities begin at 10 am with a parade and officially kick off at noon with the singing of “O Canada,” followed by dozens of family-friendly events and activities. But it’s not called the Salmon Festival for nothing–the highlight of the day features 1,200 pounds of delicious B.C. salmon grilled over a massive wood fire. Stevestonsalmonfest.ca