Ottawa’s plans for Canada Day 2024 have just been made public and include the Royal Canadian Air Force, an aerial acrobatics show, a 16-foot guitar slide, and a fireworks display.
Festivities will be held at various venues including Parliament Hill, LeBreton Flats Park, and Old Hull, according to a Heritage Canada news release.
“Canada Day gives us a chance to come together and celebrate our pride in being Canadian,” Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge said in the May 31 press release. “In addition to showcasing our art and culture, Canada Day also highlights our country’s wonderful diversity.”
Here are some of the top activities planned for Canada’s 157th birthday.
Parliament Hill
The 75 and 742 Air Cadets Squadrons Band will perform several times at Parliament Hill on the morning of July 1. The band, consisting of young Canadian leaders, was created in the same spirit as a regular Forces band and has performed at various parades throughout the year.The celebration will also feature the Band of the Ceremonial Guard, adding a touch of tradition with its performance of military music at the Hill. The Royal Canadian Air Force Pipes and Drums, representing the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), will showcase its musical prowess, accompanied by highland dancers.
The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) will commemorate the anniversary at 1 p.m. with a flypast, demonstrating its feat in the skies over Ottawa-Gatineau. CAF parachute team the SkyHawks will perform an aerobatic parachute show, flying with their signature Canadian flag parachutes at 3 p.m. An hour later, the Canadian Snowbirds will perform an air show, displaying their skills, coordination, and teamwork to visitors.
LeBreton Flats Park
The park will be a hive of activity July 1 with a variety of activities and performances including bracelet making, bigfoot soccer, Gogo squeeZ games, and the chance to have a cockpit experience in a CF-18 Hornet, to name a few.
A daytime ceremony held at the park will feature First Nations artists. There will also be Olympic and Paralympic athletes at the ceremony, which runs from 12 p.m. to 1:15 p.m.
From the park, visitors will also get to watch the RCAF Centennial flypast, celebrate with Canadian artists performing in the evening show, and wrap up the day with the Canada Day fireworks at 10 p.m.
Old Hull
Ottawa’s Old Hull will be alive with family-friendly activities to celebrate Canada Day. From giant-sized games, to bouncy castles, and face painting as well as a dance area with a DJ, the event holds fun for the whole family.The event is still looking for volunteers to help bring the big day to life. If you live in the Capital region and want to help, you can sign up online until June 19.
