As the entire country gets ready to celebrate Canada Day on July 1, the City of Maple Ridge has its own lineup of events planned that community members can come out and enjoy.
Most of the city’s activities will take place at Memorial Peace Park where there will be a variety of live music, dance performances, food trucks, and an entire kid’s zone for people to enjoy.
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The park will have not one, but three stages set up, with dancers, musicians, and magicians entertaining the crowd throughout the day.
Bandstand schedule:
Los Dorados (noon to 12:30 p.m.)
Okwomma Cultural Troupe & 5th Door Danz Academy (2:15 to 2:45 p.m.)
Bhangra, Bollywood (3:30 to 4 p.m.)
Chibi Taiko (4:45 to 5:15 p.m.)
Main stage schedule:
Wild Moccasin Dancers (noon to 12:25 p.m.)
Sade Awele (1:30 to 2:15 p.m.)
Tiller’s Folly (2:45 to 3:30 p.m.)
Orchard Sky (4 to 4:45 p.m.)
Nette (5:15 to 6 p.m.)
224 Street schedule:
The Jason Lane Band (1:30 to 2:15 p.m.)
The Magic of Yeeri the Magician (2:20 to 2:50 p.m.)
DJ Big Rich (2:55 to 3:40 p.m.)
Gabriel Regehr (3:45 to 4:15 p.m.)
Gift Shop - Tragically Hip tribute band (4:20 to 5:05 p.m.)
Maple Sugar Jiggers 2.0 (5:10 to 5:40 p.m.)
Parents will certainly want to bring their children by the dedicated kid’s zone, where there will be a face painting station, a bungee run, pony rides, contortionist performances, family yoga and Zumba sessions, a Monster Foam party, a climbing wall, and some inflatable obstacle courses.
A vintage car show will also be hosted by the Vintage Car Club of Canada from noon to 6 p.m.
Dog lovers can bring their leashed furry companions over to the WagMore Training section, where there will be photo opportunities, a sniff test, and competitions to find the best dressed, best trick, and best sniff performance. This dog-friendly event will run from 2 to 3 p.m.
For people looking to get some exercise on Canada Day, there will be a three-on-three basketball tournament hosted at the Maple Ridge Leisure Centre. This tournament will have teams of up to five players competing in one of two age groups. Kids between 13 and 18 years old will compete from noon to 3 p.m., with adults aged 19 and older competing from 3 to 6 p.m. Registering for the tournament will cost $60 per team.
Throughout the day there will also be an Eat Street area and beer garden where people can go to enjoy beverages and food by Rainbow Ice Cream, Japadog, Street Dogs, Lemon Heaven, Sweetside Candy, Fijan Fusion, and Tubsters Mini Donuts.
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Mayor Dan Ruimy said that these events are meant to showcase the impressive diversity and community spirit found within the city.
“Canada Day celebrations in Memorial Peace Park is a beloved tradition in our city, and this year we have a day full of fun planned with something for everyone,” said Ruimy.
“Canada Day is a time for us to reflect, appreciate our shared values, and celebrate our rich diversity and heritage. Come join us and enjoy the festivities marking our nation’s birthday.”
Maple Ridge’s Canada Day celebrations will take place from noon to 6 p.m. on Saturday, July 1. More information is available at www.mapleridge.ca/1744/Canada-Day.
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