A full slate of events are planned in Sarnia to celebrate Canada's 150th birthday.
City Recreation Coordinator Rachel Veilleux says celebrations kick off early on Friday night.
"Starting at 6:30pm the gates open at Centennial Park, at our Suncor Agora," says Veilleux. "Our first band, Painkiller Jane, takes the stage at 7:30pm and the next is at 9pm. Jim Witter performs songs by Billy Joel and Elton John."
She says multicultural food booths are the first thing to open up Saturday morning at 11am in Canatara Park.
"Our arts and crafts vendors open, face-painting, temporary glitter tattoos and then at 11:30am we start having our inflatables coming and then at 11:30am we also start our annual parade that works its way into the park," says Veilleux.
She says the opening ceremonies will be held at 1:30pm at the bandshell.
"We sing the national anthem," says Veilleux. "We announce our parade winners. We will also announce the 'paint the town red and white' winners."
She says it will be a busy afternoon both on the great lawn and stage at Canatara Park.
"We're going to have entertainment starting at 1pm all the way until about 4pm, we have a magician, an acrobatic show, we have hula hoops going on and then everything at 5pm will shift back over to Centennial Park," says Veilleux.
She says there will be children's activities and live music on the Suncor Agora stage from 5pm-10pm.
"The most exciting part of Canada Day is our fireworks show starting at 10pm," says Veilleux. "It will be on a barge this year in the bay. They are looking at blowing off some nautical shells, that actually show as soon as they hit the water, so we're really excited for that."
Sarnia Transit will operate from 8:30am to 11:30pm Canada Day, with special shuttles to Canatara park from Bayside Mall terminal and Route 5 in the Rosedale area will also stop at the park.
Priority parking is also available for people with disabilities at the beach parking lot and Sandy Lane entrance at Canatara Park, the Bayshore Parking Lot and at the Kinsmen Centre before 10:45am, by entering off Indian Rd.
The Bluewater Trails Committee is also encouraging people to ride their bikes to Canada Day and will have a secure "bike corral" available on site at Canatara Park.
Across Lambton County:
Brooke-Alvinston
Friday, June 30
-Parade beginning at Munroe Honey at 7:30pm to the Brooke-Alvinston-Inwood Community Centre Complex in Alvinston
-music by Jesse Perriam and the Mudmen beginning at 7pm
Saturday, July 1
-kids ball hockey tournament at 9am
-craft show at the arena from 11am-5pm
-official ceremonies at 11:45am followed by a free lunch and activities throughout the afternoon
-music beginning at 6pm
-Fireworks at dusk
----
Petrolia
Friday, June 30
-Warm Up Party featuring Geoff Masse Band and Practically Hip beginning at Greenwood Park at 6pm
Saturday, July 1
-8am-11am: Branch 216 Legion breakfast at the Farmers Market
-11:30am: Ceremonial Flag Raising at Victoria Park
-1pm: Canada Day Parade
-3pm-10pm: Rock The Park musical entertainment at Greenwood Park
-Fireworks at 10pm
Sunday, July 2
-Kidtastic from 8am until 2pm at Bridgeview Park featuring a fishing derby, entertainment, a rubber duck race and Optimist BBQ
---- St. Clair Township
Saturday, July 1
-8am-11am: Grand opening of new community dock in Sombra including pancake breakfast, vendors, childrens activities, entertainment and Paddlefest. Ribbon cutting at 11am
-Mooretown Sports Complex: parade, youth talent show, activities for the kids and free BBQ beginning at 3pm.
-7pm: Scott Manery and the Barn Burners
-10pm Fireworks
----
Lambton Shores
Saturday, July 1
-Port Franks: 11am-2pm: family-friendly activities and free desert at the Port Franks Community Centre
-Forest: Parade at 1:30pm followed by activities, a chicken BBQ, live entertainment and Fireworks at dusk. All at the Elsi Dodge Conservation area.
-Grand Bend: Music beginning at 7pm, followed by fireworks at 10pm featuring over 5,000 individual detonations
---- Warwick Township
Saturday, July 1
Noon-4pm: Patriotically-themed Watford Rotary Car Rally at the Warwick Community Hall on Egremont Rd.
4pm: Warwick Conservation Area: kids activities,including free hot dogs and cupcakes from 5pm-7pm
7:30-9:30pm: Musical entertainment including Watford's Community Choir
9:45pm : Fireworks
