On July 1 we’re excited to host our community and visitors from near and far for a full day of festivities in celebration of Canada’s 158th birthday!
Our annual Canada Day celebration is once again being presented in partnership with Tourism Abbotsford, and from the parade at 11 a.m. to the fireworks at 10 p.m. there’s a ton planned for this year’s event.
With a fun new “Lights, Camera, Canada Day!” theme, the parade will make its way down South Fraser Way from Bourquin Crescent, and then up Trethewey Street to W.J. Mouat Secondary School. It’s bound to attract a crowd so be sure to arrive early to get a good viewing spot – and don’t forget to vote for your favourite floats. Also, if you’re planning on driving in the city centre in the morning, be aware of road closures and be prepared to take an alternate route.
The community-focused, all-ages festival at Exhibition Park will have a new layout this year and even more fun and interactive activities to enjoy. New attractions for this year include a S.T.E.M zone featuring exhibits and activities from the Abbotsford International Airshow, Gearbots, HR MacMillan Space Centre and a hands-on building zone; wheelchair sports; an expanded AgriZone; and a handmade and homegrown marketplace where you can browse the wares of our local artisans and producers.
Live entertainment is set to take place all day long, with a variety of food trucks offering meals and refreshments. There will also be a community showcase, performances by local groups and the fan-favourite Dogwood Pacesetters dog show.
While this signature event always draws large crowds, we’ve taken steps to make access to this year’s celebration easier for everyone. There will be additional accessible parking spaces, increased wheelchair/stroller-friendly surfaces and complementary wheelchairs to make moving around the event easier and more enjoyable. There are also more pedestrian access points on the east and west sides of the park, with street parking available in the neighbourhood, which will make heading home at the end of the night a little quicker and easier as well.
And of course, capping things off will be our fireworks finale (weather permitting). This year the fireworks will launch from a new location within the ball diamonds. For the best view, we recommend grabbing a spot on the adjacent field, putting down a blanket or chair, and watching from there.
As a City Council we want to create an inclusive, connected and complete community, and it’s always inspiring seeing our residents come together each Canada Day in a show of community spirit and national pride. We encourage everyone to bring the family, visit with old friends, and make some new ones.
For more information, visit goabbotsford.ca/canadaday and to learn more about events happening in Abbotsford all summer long, visit goabbotsford.ca.
We hope to see you all there!
Abbotsford City Council