You can wave the flag, wear a flag or be part of a flag to show off your national pride at Victoria’s Canada Day celebration on Monday on the grounds of the legislature.
The downtown event is the region’s biggest gathering, with an estimated 50,000 people venturing downtown to enjoy 12 hours of entertainment and activities.
Lots of people will be wearing red and white. You can go one step further by being part of the now-traditional Living Flag photo, for which up to 2,500 people don red or white T-shirts to form a human Canadian flag on the legislature lawn.
Bring your own shirt or grab one of the free shirts available for pickup at noon. Gather at 1:30 p.m. The photograph will be taken at 2 p.m.
There is ample opportunity to break out in a heartfelt rendition of O Canada with thousands of fellow Canadians at 3:30 p.m.
Enjoy cultural and traditional entertainment throughout the day, including the Lekwungen Dancers, Caleb Hart, Fortune Killers and others.
The headliner act is nêhiyawak, an Indigenous indie-rock band from Edmonton. They will tell stories, with vocals to the accompaniment of analog and electronic sounds, in an unique expression of “Indiegeneity” in Canada.
Indulge in the cuisine of many of Canada's immigrants at the Food Village, featuring Chinese, Mexican, Greek and Indian dishes, among others, from noon to dusk on Belleville Street.
Younger celebrants will find entertainment and activities at the family zone (near the corner of Belleville and Menzies streets), which runs from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
A fireworks display over the Inner Harbour closes off the day at 10:20 p.m.
City parkades and on-street parking downtown will be free on Monday. People are encouraged to leave cars at home and travel downtown via bus and bike. There will be a bicycle valet service on the corner of Menzies and Belleville streets. Road closures around the Inner Harbour will begin at 4 p.m. and continue until midnight.
B.C. Transit will run a Sunday schedule on Monday, with additional buses available along Douglas Street to depart after the fireworks.
Some routes will offer later departures, with the last buses leaving downtown between 1:15 a.m. and 1:30 a.m.
Alcohol is prohibited on transit buses, including in closed containers. Victoria police will assist transit personnel in enforcing the policy, as part of a strategy to prevent public drunkenness.
Victoria police will deploy temporary cameras in public spaces to support public safety.
The Canada Day celebration is free. It runs 10:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. at the Inner Harbour and on the grounds of the legislature on Belleville Street.
For more information, go to canadadayvictoria.ca.
Head to Gorge picnic on July 1
Downtown isn’t your only option when it comes to places to celebrate Canada Day.
The Gorge Canada Day Picnic has been hosted every year since 1999 by the Gorge Tillicum Association on the Gorge Waterway Park.
The usually busy Gorge Road is closed to cars between Admirals and Tillicum roads to welcome neighbours and visitors alike to the community get-together.
You won’t go hungry at this event, with 28 food vendors, including a pancake breakfast and traditional strawberry tea.
The day starts with a family parade, with children riding decorated bicycles along car-free Gorge Road at 9 a.m.
Children and their games feature prominently, with games of road hockey and soccer on the blacktop.
The main stage will be in a natural amphitheatre at the park, near the Gorge Road West and Tillicum Road intersection.
There are stages for both musicians and buskers. A family theatre will feature Theatre SKAM, Morris dancers and clowns. The Gorge on Art Stage features performances by members of the Victoria Conservatory of Music.
There will be a car show featuring electric cars, along with more than 65 vendors with their wares and community engagement displays.
Line up early for the traditional strawberry tea, strawberries on a slice of sponge cake served with a choice of tea, coffee or juice, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. But come early to avoid disappointment, as it always sells out.
The event is free and runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Gorge Road between Admirals and Tillicum roads.
Neighbourhood parking is limited and public transit is encouraged.
For more information, go to gorgecanadaday.ca.
Sidney Days festival, cake at Fort Rodd Hill
Join in Canada Day celebrations in communities and federal historic sites across Greater Victoria.
• Sidney celebrates Canada Day and Sidney Days with three days of music, food, dancing and fireworks, Saturday to Monday.
Celebrations kick off on Saturday with Dinner en Rouge, at which diners wear red and white outfits for a seaside dinner.
On Sunday, enjoy a street festival all day, then music at the bandshell from 2 to 4 p.m., and cultural performances and music in Beacon Park, including food trucks, starting at 5 p.m., capped off with fireworks set to music at 10:15 p.m.
On Canada Day, tuck into a pancake breakfast at the Mary Winspear Centre starting at 8 a.m. and take in a parade on Beacon Avenue at 11:30.
In the afternoon, you can tour the new Community Safety Building, take the family to a fun fair in Iroquois Park or observe the build-a-boat race at Beacon Park (building starts at noon and race time is 4:30 p.m.).
All events and activities are free. Celebrations run 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Sunday and 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday. For more information, go to sidney.ca.
• No candles to blow, but you still get to get a piece of cake at the Canada Day celebration at Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Sites on Monday.
The historic site promises to have Canada Day’s biggest birthday cake to share. Your gift for Canada’s birthday is free admission for that day.
The celebrations include fun activities for children and a chance to explore the 155-year-old Fisgard Lighthouse, Canteen, Belmont and Lower Batteries, the Fortress Plotting Room or other historic buildings on the property
Free admission on Canada Day. The celebrations run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday at 603 Fort Rodd Hill Rd.
For more details, go pc.gc.ca.
