No matter where you find yourself this Canada Day, you won’t be far from a free, public celebration of our country’s 149th birthday. Here are some of them.
 

Waterloo Region

In Kitchener, celebrations run from 4 p.m. until 11 p.m. around City Hall. Musical acts include Jocelyn Alice, Modern Space, Kiki Rowe and The Glorious Suns, and the night is topped off with fireworks starting around 10 p.m.

Other public Canada Day events in Kitchener include free admission at the Joseph Schneider Haus with cake served at 1 p.m., free admission and family fun at the Waterloo Region Museum, and nighttime fireworks at Bingemans.

At Columbia Lake in Waterloo, a full day of family fun is topped off by musical performances from Francesco Yates and Trooper, followed by fireworks starting around 10 p.m.

Cambridge’s traditional Canada Day parade starts at 1 p.m. at King and Bishop streets, then makes its way down King until it hits Eagle Street. Other events and activities are on offer at Riverside Park, including live music. The night ends with a performance of O Canada at 9:45 p.m. and fireworks at 9:50 p.m.

For the 25th year in a row, Elmira’s Canada Day celebration will take place at Gore Park. This year’s festivities start at 4 p.m., featuring live music, and a variety of family-friendly activities. At 6 p.m., O Canada will be sung and cake will be served.

The party starts early in New Hamburg, with events and food at Scott Park beginning at 10 a.m. A pie-eating contest will take place at 3:15 p.m., while the annual Nith River duck race is scheduled for 4 p.m. The night will be capped off with fireworks at dusk.
 

Guelph and Wellington County

In Guelph, the big party is at Riverside Park, with activities starting at 1 p.m. and concluding with a fireworks display at 9:40 p.m. One of the highlights of the day will be a citizenship ceremony taking place at 4:30 p.m., where 30 people will be sworn in as Canadian citizens.

Canada Day festivities in Elora also get an early start, with the annual soap box derby beginning at 8 a.m. and running along Geddes Street.

There will also be a big celebration in Fergus, getting underway at 2 p.m. at the Centre Wellington Community Sportsplex. Bubble soccer, pony rides and a midway will be among the activities on offer.

Fireworks at dusk will highlight the day’s events in Mount Forest, where a BBQ and picnic at Holstein Park begins at 5 p.m.

Canada Day is a day-long affair in Erin, where things get underway in McMillan Park at 10 a.m., followed by a packed 11-hour schedule of entertainers and activities.

The Drayton Agricultural Fairgrounds play host to that community’s July 1 celebrations, which start at 6 p.m. with food, a beer gardens and family fun, and conclude at dusk with fireworks.

Two events mark Canada Day in Puslinch – both held at the Puslinch Community Centre. A free pancake breakfast starts at 9 a.m., and fireworks will be set off at dusk.

Even Orton, a small community east of Fergus, is getting into the Canada Day spirit with its annual fireworks, as well as the grand opening of its new pavilion.
 

Brantford and Brant County

As always, Lions Park plays host to the biggest Canada Day celebration in Brantford, with Big Sugar and Tom Wilson headlining a full day of entertainment. Musical performances get underway at 11 a.m., and the day is capped off with fireworks at 10 p.m.

There will also be fireworks in St. George, starting at 9 p.m. at King William Park.
 

Perth County

Stratford’s Canada Day parade begins at 7 p.m. on Ontario, with fireworks to follow. Entertainment and children’s activities run from noon until 5 p.m. at Market Square.

The St. Marys Museum is offering musical entertainment, cake, and plenty of other activities from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Anyone wanting to spend the day in Mitchell can look forward to a parade and picnic in Lions Park from 4 p.m. until 6:30 p.m., as well as other fun and games.

It’s going to be a busy day on Main Street in Atwood, with a parade starting at 12:30 p.m., followed by music, clowns, and games and activities for kids.
 

Oxford County

Canada Day festivities in Woodstock start at 5:45 p.m., with live music at Southside Park, as well as kiddie rides and other activities. The night is capped off with fireworks at dusk.

Tillsonburg features two separate events to mark the day. A pancake breakfast gets underway at 8 a.m. at the Station Arts Centre, while food and free activities are on offer at the Annandale National Historic Site from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.

A Canada Day parade will wind its way through Norwich starting at 2 p.m., followed by games and children’s activities for the rest of the afternoon. Musical acts hit the stage at 7:30 p.m., and the night is capped off with fireworks.