“Celebrate Canada Day – Kelowna” is just around the corner and will again provide a full day of entertainment and activities for all ages and interests. For more than 30 years, residents and visitors alike will launch their summer by joining with friends and neighbors from all cultures and communities to celebrate their Canadian pride at the annual “Celebrate Canada Day – Kelowna” festival held in Waterfront Park, Prospera Place, Stuart Park, and various locations throughout Kelowna’s Cultural District.
“As ever, we have a great day of family entertainment that will appeal to everyone in our community, from toddlers to youth to seniors,” confirms Renata Mills, Executive Director of Festivals Kelowna. “Considering what’s happening around the world right now, and even the unusual tension across our Southern border, this year feels even more important than ever to come together, wave our flag, and celebrate our ‘Canadianess’.”
Starting at 11 am and running until the fireworks at 10:30 pm, many Canada Day crowd favourites are back again including buckets of free, fresh watermelon, live music on multiple stages across a wide variety of styles and genres, the “Family Zone”, home to the “Kiwanis Family Stage” running 11:00 am to 4:00 pm, will feature over 35 drop-in, demo, and ‘make-it’ activities such as a Japanese origami station by the Kasugai Sister City Society, a ‘write your name’ station where people can have their names written in different languages, and the “What is my Canada?” tree where people can write their wish for Canada on a maple leaf to post on the tree. Also returning is the Community Showcase to connect residents with local non-profits making a difference for citizens in the Central Okanagan, the Made in Canada Marketplace highlighting the art of over 27 Canadian artisans, and more than 23 home-based Canadian businesses participating in the Canada Day Bazaar. Community-minded sponsor partners will all host activity stations where guests can play games and win prizes, while the Taste of Canada food fair offers 24 different food styles and tastes, situated right next to the “Beach Stage” featuring artists across genres and cultures, from Country to Latin, Cajun to Bluegrass, Pop to Hip Hop from 1:00 to 9:50 pm. As ever, the day-long festival will be capped by the Canada Day fireworks display at 10:00 pm over Tugboat Bay from the Shoreline Piledriving barge, weather dependent.
With a focus on keeping audiences excited and entertained, new elements for this 11-hour celebration include “Country Corner” presented by the Canadian Country Music Week Host Committee as a lead-up to the CCMA’s happening in Kelowna this September. Guests can discover their inner-cowboy with activities and Country music SWAG including the chance to win 2 tickets to the CCMA Awards. Situated next to the Dolphin’s Fountain will be an RC mini obstacle course where kids of all ages can test their driving skills. The wildly silly and popular “Canada Day Weenie-rama” races return thanks to the Kelowna Daschund Club with races starting at 11am next to the Grand Okanagan parkade. Guests needing a cool break, sunscreen, or health information can stop by the “Wellness Station”. Check out one of Canada’s coolest new sports as Kelowna EFoil Adventures presents live demos on Okanagan Lake from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm. Also starting at 11:00 am is the newly revitalized “Waterfront Park Stage” presented by the City of Kelowna, site of the former Island Stage with a line-up of Country, Pop, and Classic Rock performances until 4:00 pm. Expanding into Stuart Park, event-goers can explore the new ”Activity Zone” with games, SWAG, and a chance to win $1,000, as well as take in a cool line-up of Rock acts on the “Power Stage” from 1:00 pm to 9:30 pm. Capturing our local festivities to share with the rest of Canada, CBC TV will broadcast live from Waterfront Park from 1:00 to 5:00 pm as part of “Cross Canada” check-in at Canada Day celebrations across the country.
Alongside the outdoor activities, Kelowna’s popular and longstanding “Folkfest”, produced entirely by volunteers, happens at Prospera Place from 10:00 am to 3:30pm. Celebrating their 50th year, Folkfest offers 5 hours of live multicultural performances and ethnic food from many cultures. The official Canada Day ceremonies will be held in Prospera Place at 12:30 pm followed by a super-sized “Happy Birthday Canada” cake, proudly baked and prepared by the staff of Save-On Foods. A detailed schedule of Folk Fest performances is available online at www.kelownafolkfest.ca. Also starting at 10:00 am will be another wonderful performance by one of Canada’s oldest community bands, the Kelowna City Band, who will perform a special “Canada Day Concert” in the Arts Common located beside the Rotary Centre for the Arts from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm.
“Come out and show off your Canadian Pride this July first”, encourages Ms. Mills. “Wear your wildest, brightest, white and reddest, Canadian outfit or your finest regalia reflecting your family’s heritage, and show the rest of our country and the world just what proud Canadians we are in Kelowna!”.
A complete schedule of activities and events can be found online at www.festivalskelowna.com by following the link to the Canada Day page. Festival goers should make note of new stage locations again this year. Event-goers are encouraged to consider making their event experience easier by biking to the activities and taking advantage of the Kelowna Bike Valet’s extended hours from 9 am until 11pm. Located beside Kerry Park on Mill Street, this free service is hosted by volunteers from the Kelowna Cycling Coalition in partnership with the City of Kelowna.
The Celebrate Canada Day – Kelowna festival is free to attend, however, donations are welcome and help support the costs of presenting this community celebration. Volunteers with donation buckets will be located at all entrances to Prospera Place and Waterfront Park at the festival information booths.
Celebrate Canada Day – Kelowna is produced in partnership by Festivals Kelowna, the FolkFest society, and the Kelowna City Band.
Below is a video of the full media event hosted by Festivals Kelowna:
