Spectators were treated to sounds and spectacle of the Fort Henry Guard from Kingston in front of Queen's Park Tuesday July 1st, 2008.
Top 6 things to do with kids on Canada Day
June 30, 2009
Don't let a little rain get you down this Canada Day. Here are some events you can check out with the kids, or some alternate itineraries if you feel like staying at home.
1. The Harbourfront Centre's Canada Day Festival will celebrate what Canada has to offer through live music, free canoe rides in the Natrel Pond and more.
COST: Free
LOCATION: 235 Queens Quay West, 12 pm
CONTACT: 416-973-4000, www.harbourfrontcentre.com
2. Celebrate Canada's 142nd Birthday at the City of Vaughan's Family Event with Live Concerts, BBQ, a Kids Zone with inflatables, face painting, water park, playground, and more.
COST: Free admission
LOCATION: Mackenzie Glen District Park, 220 Cranston Park Avenue, 4 pm
CONTACT: 905-832-8585, ext. 8200, www.city.vaughan.on.ca/vaughan/vaughan_celebrates/canada_day.htm
3. The Richmond Green Park Canada Day celebrations will offer a variety of activities for the entire family including children's village games, musical entertainment, midway, food pavilion, fireworks and more.
COST: Free event admission with donation of a non-perishable food item to benefit the Richmond Hill Food Bank
LOCATION: Richmond Green Sports Centre & Park, 1300 Elgin Mills Road East, 11 am to 11 pm
CONTACT: www.richmondhill.ca/subpage.asp?pageid=canada_day_celebrations
4. The Toronto Zoo is celebrating Canada Day with buskers, free face-painting and birthday cake. While you’re there, check out the Sharks at Stingray Bay. 9-7:30 p.m.
COST: General admission (Age 13-64): $21 Children 4-12: $13 Children under 4: FREE
LOCATION: The Main Entrance is located on Meadowvale Road,Scarborough, north of Highway 401 (Exit #389 eastbound and westbound)
CONTACT: http://torontozoo.com/
5. Black Creek Pioneer Village has a special Canada Day celebration from 11-5 p.m. Kids can help build a log cabin, dress up as pioneers, and play Victorian games.
COST: $15 for adults, $11 for children
LOCATION: 1000 Murray Ross Parkway, M3J 2P3 (near the intersection of Steeles Avenue and Jane Street).
CONTACT: (416) 661-6600 http://www.blackcreek.ca/
6.The CHIN Picnic is the largest free picnic in the country. It boasts “flavours from around the world” and a kid zone with games, rides, circus acts, and a petting zoo.
COST: free
LOCATION: Exhibition Place
CONTACT: http://www.chinradio.com/chin-picnic
FIVE REASONS TO STAY HOME
1. It's cozy to be inside listening to thundershowers, which are forecast for Canada Day.
2. If you've got just one day off — likely with the midweek holiday — maximize unstructured family time by going nowhere. Most kids just want a slow morning in their jammies without the workday rush.
3. It's a perfect opportunity for that family game day you may have been dreaming of. Don't have a copy of Monopoly: The Canada Edition? Try the new online trivia game Toques and Beavers. Partial proceeds go to the Canadian Athletes Now Fund, which supports both able-bodied and Paralympic amateur athletes.
4. There's a marathon of Corner Gas on TV. Check out this round-up of Canadian-theme highlights on the small screen tomorrow.
5. The barbecue goes on whether it's raining or not! The best way to spend Canada Day is at home with friends and family, and surely there's someone among your crew who doesn't mind donning a rain slicker for the dash to the Q. Here's a list of recipes for the grill.