Canada Day falls on a Tuesday this year, which means many of us will be here in the city rather than at a cottage. Lucky for us, there are lots of fun and free events and activities for families in Toronto on July 1.
Here are a dozen free options for family fun on Canada Day:
Canada Day at Fort York
Celebrate history on Canada Day with musket drills and fife and drum music. Also on the schedule: hula-hooping, face-painting, and rocket-making workshops.
100 Garrison Rd. | 10 to 5 | more info
Canada Day Extravaganza at the Harbourfront Centre
TOP PICK | The Harbourfront Centre’s Canada Day celebration is happening all weekend and the fireworks take place Canada Day “Eve” on June 30 at 10:40 pm (Canada Square). The day is packed with entertainment: road-trip games for kids, a free doughnut giveway, a dance battle, a life-size Canadian flag made of mini cupcakes, the Triciclo Rojo Mexican clown theatre troupe, a roller derby demonstration, an all-star fiddle band, music on the Redpath Stage, and the chance to be part of a human Canadian flag. See the full schedule on July 1.
235 Queens Quay W. | 11 am to 11 pm | more info
Scotiabank CHIN International Picnic
In its 48th year, this is the world’s largest free multicultural picnic, with more than 250,000 people attending each year. It takes place Saturday and Sunday (June 28 and 29) as well as on July 1. The Canada Day lineup includes a Chinese, Portuguese, and Caribbean festivals; circus performances, a petting zoo, pony rides, dog shows, and midway rides and games.
Exhibition Place, 200 Princes’ Blvd. | noon to 11 pm | more info
East York Canada Day Parade & Celebrations
The parade begins at 9:30 am at East York Town Centre (see a parade route map). Enjoy steel drum bands and other live music. Beginning at 7 pm there are more bands and, at dark, a fireworks display.
East York Town Centre, 45 Overlea Blvd. (parade start point) | 9:30 am to dark | more info
Canada Day in Richmond Hill
TOP PICK | Kid-friendly live entertainment includes BMX stunt riders, yo-yo experts, circus and drumming performances, and musicians. There’s also a children’s village and teen zone, food from around the world and beer tent for mom and dad. The fireworks display starts at 10 pm.
Richmond Green Park, 1300 Elgin Mills Rd. | 11 am to 11 pm | more info
Canada Day at Mel Lastman Square
TOP PICK | The North York evening festivities begin with a performance by Zero Gravity Circus, plus face-painting and hair-painting and Canadian flag temporary tattoos for kids. Music performances by Justin Rutledge and NQ Arbuckle. The night goes out with a bang with a fireworks/pyrotechnics/stunt show by Circus Orange.
North York Civic Centre, 5100 Yonge St. | 5 pm to 11 pm | more info
Amesbury Park Canada Day Celebration
Inflatables, a strong-man show, games and rides for kids, a talent competition, and fireworks.
Amesbury Park, 1507 Lawrence Ave. W. | 10 am to 10 pm | more info
Multicultural Canada Day
This all-day music and dance event at Yonge-Dundas Square features First Nations dancers, Celtic music, line-dancing instruction, music performances by an electric string quartet and singer Shawnee as well as Kurdish, African, Egyptian, and Serbian dance troupes.
Yonge-Dundas Square, 1 Dundas St. E. | noon to 8 pm | more info
Canada Day at Queen’s Park
TOP PICK | Highlights of the Queen’s Park event include a rocket-making workshop, a rock-climbing wall, busker performances (beatbox, brass bands, and more), dance troupes, shows all day on the kids’ stage, a farmers’ market, and midway rides and inflatables. See a full schedule.
Queen’s Park, 111 Wellesley St. W. | 10 am to 5 pm | more info
Toronto Ribfest
TOP PICK | This year’s ribfest in Etobicoke wraps up July 1 with the Ribber Awards and people’s choice awards for ribs, sauce, pulled pork, and chicken. (Attend June 28–30 for individual food events.) Also on: two stages with nonstop music performances from noon till 11 pm and a Kidz Zone with magic, face-painting, balloon-twisting, and storytelling. There’s a Soccer Central area so diehard fans won’t miss any World Cup action. Go Monday, June 30 for a kids’ meet-and-greet with Canadian Olympic gold medal winners.
Centennial Park, 256 Centennial Park Rd. | 11 am to 11 pm | more info
Canada Day Fireworks in Downsview Park
Arrive early for optimal seating in the Meadow or Festival Terrace at Downsview Park’s fireworks spectacular.
Downsview Park, 1-35 Carl Hall Rd. | 10 pm to 11:30 pm | more info
Brewer’s Backyard – Group of Seven
A family-friendly free beer event? Yes! The Brewer’s Backyard – Group of Seven features beers from seven local craft breweries as well as meat pies from Kanga Meat Pies and dessert pies from Sugar Pie Honey Bunch. It’s open to all ages (beer for 19+).
Evergreen Brick Works, 550 Bayview Ave. | 11 am to 4 pm | more info
PHOTO: HUMANRIGHTSFILMFESTIVAL/FLICKR CC
