17 Best Places to Spend Canada Day in Ontario
We are the True North Strong and Free! We are proud Canadians and for many of us our favourite day of the year is Canada Day. Across the country there are celebrations going on. Parties include everything from fireworks, parades, and concerts to picnics, sparklers and family time. But I was curious, what are some of the best places to spend Canada Day in Ontario?
So, I asked a few local fellow travel bloggers to share where their favourite places are to celebrate Canada Day in Ontario. And I must say I was pleasantly surprised. Favourite places include everything from Provincial Parks to big cities. So, whether you’re looking for a new place to spend Canada Day in Ontario or visiting the country during our July 1st birthday here are some awesome recommendations.
17 Top Places to Spend Canada Day from Locals
One of the top things to do in Ontario is celebrate Canada Day in one of the many incredible places across the province! Whether you’re looking for big city excitement or small town fun, there’s a place for you!
Toronto
Toronto is the largest city in Canada and Ontario’s capital city. And in my opinion, Toronto is one of the best places to spend Canada Day in Ontario. There’s so much going on across the city, from the Lakeshore to Mel Lastman Square and all the cities that make up the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).
You can enjoy everything from concerts and parades to family-friendly events. There are even multiple places across the city to take in the Canada Day fireworks. Take a stroll through Queen’s Park during the day for tons of Canada Day celebrations and plenty of things to do and see for kids of all ages. In the evening head up to Mel Lastman Square for live music, great food and to end the night an awesome fireworks display.
Related Post: Unforgettable Summer Ontario Road Trips
Barrie
I had to add my adopted hometown of Barrie as another of my favourite places to spend Canada Day in Ontario. Located an hour north of Toronto, Barrie is a popular place to visit in the summer as it’s the gateway to cottage country. And with a magnificent lakeshore that’s home to three parks, a huge beach and so much more it makes for a perfect place to celebrate Canada Day.
Barrie is a great summer destination with seemingly endless festivals all summer long. And one of these festivals takes place during the Canada Day long weekend – Promenade Days. During Promenade Days downtown Barrie becomes pedestrian only as vendors, street performers, music and more line Dunlop Street.
You can enjoy concerts, an amusement park, family fun zone, a massive Canada Day cake, and more in Barrie for Canada Day. And to end the fun-filled day grab a long chair or bench along the lakeshore and enjoy the fireworks over Kempenfelt Bay.
Ottawa
One of the best places to spend Canada Day in Ontario is our nation’s capital – Ottawa!
For over 50 years the usual Ottawa Canada Day festivities are held at Parliament Hill. However, due to construction, the 2022 Canada Day celebrations will be at LeBreton Flats Park.
Canadian Heritage puts on an incredible free program that runs from mid-morning into the night! Many call it the biggest Canada Day party! There are a host of interactive activities, special guests, and live performances. Music ranges from top performers to local and emerging Canadian artists!
For the grand finale, an awesome fireworks show is put on at 10pm!
For more information on Ottawa’s Canada Day services, health updates, and safety issues check out their website here.
Travel Tip: Extent your visit by coming in early and enjoying the Ottawa International Jazz Festival that takes place over 10 days and runs from the end of June through to just after Canada Day!
Sault Ste. Marie
For Canada’s 150th I took an epic road trip through northwestern Ontario and I chose to spend Canada Day in Sault Ste. Marie. It may be a long drive, but Sault Ste. Marie certainly knows how to celebrate Canada Day. Head to Roberta Bondar Park and enjoy a day full of festivities and entertainment for all ages. And grab a swatch of lawn at dusk to watch the fireworks over St. Marys River.
Craigleith Provincial Park
By the time Canada Day hits, the summers in Southern Ontario are in full swing. So why not spend the day relaxing on the beach? Ontario has some of the longest freshwater beaches in the world, like Wasaga Beach and Sauble Beach, but on holidays, these places can become overcrowded.
For years, my family has been spending our summer days at Craigleith Provincial Park, a small park located at the base of Georgian Bay. The beach is actually one giant rock slab that cuts away like stairs into the refreshingly cold Georgian Bay waters, similar to the rocky shores of Tobermory. It’s perfect for swimming, snorkeling or launching a kayak or a stand-up paddleboard.
Keep your eyes peeled for fossils in the rocks that date back 450 million years! If you decide that the rocky beach isn’t for you, you can use your vehicle day pass to get into Wasaga Beach Provincial Park which is only 30 minutes down the road.
To spend the day here, you’re going to need to bring chairs, a beach umbrella and some beach blankets as well as a cooler to pack a picnic. And don’t forget your Canada flag! In the day use area, there are small cooking grills you can use if you want to barbecue up some delicious burgers as well as picnic tables with a view over the beautiful blue waters of Georgian Bay.
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Kawartha Lakes
Mention Canada and Lake Louise, Banff, or the Rocky Mountains probably spring to mind. But the truth is, while some of those places are seeing a massive influx of tourists and Instagrammers alike, there’s far more of beauty in Canada.
After moving to Toronto just over a year ago, we were lucky enough to celebrate Canada Day in the midst of Ontario’s beautiful cottage country, just a few hours north from Toronto. We spent the Canada Day long weekend on the shores of Stoney Lake – one of the Kawartha Lakes, about 3 hours drive away from Toronto.
Cottage Country is popular for second homes (time to start saving) and holiday rentals. It’s a quiet, sleepy place in winter, in summer the lakes come alive with vacationers and those seeking a little time in nature. For Canada Day, Stoney Lake is busy and thriving, with most homes occupied and a festive buzz in the air.
Canada Day is celebrated with barbeques, beers, boating around, and in the evening, with fireworks in the middle of Stoney Lake – everyone with access to a boat heads out into the lake for a better view. Celebrating Canada Day in Cottage Country is lovely because of the home feel, community spirit and relaxed vibes.
Stoney Lake is small and relaxed, although some Lakeside retreats such as Muskoka have a more up-tempo vibe to them. If you’re looking to celebrate Canada Day in Cottage Country, the most important thing to do is to book your cottage early (assuming you don’t have access to one already) – you can book one online at many of the usual accommodation websites.
Also, traffic can get busy in and out of Toronto so allow extra time – and if at all possible avoid driving back on a Sunday afternoon. Happy Canada Day!
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Long Sault Parkway
Long Sault Parkway is rural Ontario at it’s finest. This picturesque small town on the St. Lawrence River offers some of the best camping, hometown food, and scenic drives in the province. Long Sault Parkway is a beautiful chain of islands dotting the St. Lawrence River connected by a causeway. These 12 islands all offer gorgeous picnic spots, freshwater snorkeling among shipwrecks, and fantastic fishing.
Most of the year, Long Sault is a quiet destination focused on family camping and outdoor fun. But on Canada Day, the entire region comes together for a massive fireworks display. Unlike the huge crowds in places like Ottawa and Toronto, the atmosphere in Long Sault is purely local. Residents from across the township lay in the backs of pickup trucks, pass out lawn chairs, and bring picnics to catch the show. And the show is brilliant!
After catching some of the most amazing fireworks presentations throughout the country, the show at Long Sault Parkway can stand with any of them. It may not be as big or bold, but it is just as beautiful. And the intimate atmosphere makes the entire experience so approachable. The view of the colours splashing over the islands and the water is one I’ll take with me forever.
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On Lake Ontario
Fireworks on land is spectacular, but the view from the middle of Lake Ontario can give you views of fireworks from multiple cities.
With my family, I’ve spent many a Canada Day nestled in the berth of our sailboat with blankets, wine and potato chips watching the fireworks. Although I’ve had the privilege to view the Canada Day fireworks on Lake Ontario near Hamilton, Burlington, Mississauga, Toronto, and Niagara, only Oakville allows you to witness the celebrations in all of the cities that make up the Golden Horseshoe and clear up to the escarpment.
As an added bonus, we spent our time leading up to the main event trolling the vendors, food trucks and play areas that make up Oakville’s Canada Day Festival. The shops and restaurants along Lakeshore and in the Bronte BIA do a great job of welcoming visitors. The festival spans several blocks down into Bronte Heritage Park. Live music, entertainment and food trucks are always highlights of the event that continues right up until the fireworks begin.
While I don’t recommend driving in (the area is already well populated, and the amount of traffic the festival brings is mind-boggling) – the town facilitates Oakville Transit shuttles from the Bronte Go Station throughout the day and evening. If you want a spectacular light show, I recommend Lake Ontario in general, in my opinion, just outside of Oakville gives the best view.
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Blue Mountain
Canada Day is a time to celebrate the best of the country, and that means nature and the great outdoors. Blue Mountain in Southern Georgian Bay has something for everyone: hiking, cycling, swimming in Georgian Bay, and plenty of fun activities to help the celebrations along. About a two and a half hour drive north of Toronto, Blue Mountain is one of the best weekend getaways in Ontario, and while driving is the most convenient way to get there, you’ll need to give yourself plenty of extra time as the roads will be crowded.
Once you’re there, head to Blue Mountain Village, a chalet-style resort hub with shops, restaurants and hotels. Tons of special events and celebrations have been planned for Canada Day – and the family-friendly party will last the entire long weekend.
There will be live music on the Village Stage, Indigenous Life Activities in the Events Plaza, a ceremonial cake, guided hikes and offbeat competitions to prove your Canadian spirit – think Beavertail eating competitions and Canada-themed scavenger hunts.
Of course there are the regular summer activities at Blue Mountain to enjoy, too, from zip lining and a mountain coaster to mini golf and a ropes course. Mountain biking is popular here, and for the more leisurely recreational cyclist, the mostly-level Georgian Trail runs right from the town of Meaford to Collingwood.
To celebrate the best of Canada, Blue Mountain and its scenic northern surroundings are hard to beat – and a great way to bring on summer.
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Kitchener
We may be known for Oktoberfest, but Kitchener-Waterloo knows how to party for Canada Day too!
There are a number of Canada Day celebrations across the two cities, meaning lots of fun to be had while celebrating the country. If you ask anyone in town where to go, they’ll point you to the University of Waterloo. Started by the students in the 1980s, it has since been taken over by the university and is easily the biggest Canada Day bash in Waterloo Region!
You’ll also find plenty of fun in the core of Kitchener as the heart of town is made pedestrian-only. With live music, food trucks and more, it’s guaranteed to be fun for the whole family! The city also offers free transit so everyone can get to and from the event safely and responsibly.
The best part of Canada Day though? The fireworks displays! Both Waterloo and Kitchener have fantastic displays, though in my opinion, the best place to enjoy them is from high up. If you have a friend who lives in an apartment building close by that overlooks either of the cities, you can catch the fireworks while dodging the crowds! Though if you really want to enjoy the Canada Day vibe, it’s best to take a blanket and get cozy at Columbia Lake or Victoria Park to catch the show.
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Algonquin Provincial Park
For me, there’s no better way to celebrate all things Canada on Canada Day than by immersing in the country’s natural beauty. From one end of this vast country to the other, there are innumerable places to enjoy the great Canadian wilderness, but I am particularly fond of Algonquin Park in Ontario.
Algonquin Park was the first provincial park in Ontario. It was established in 1893 to protect wildlife and the headwaters of five major rivers, and continues to be an important place in Canada for biological and environmental research. The park gained renown in the 1920s and 1930s when Canadian artists Tom Thomson and The Group of Seven immortalized its beauty on canvas. Since then, its inspired a symphony, more than 40 books, and countless paintings.
One of the largest provincial parks in Canada 7,630 square kilometres, Algonquin is extremely biologically diverse. It offers an incredible range of recreational activities and opportunities for visitors to enjoy the spectacular scenery. There are many options for visitors. You can simply go for the day to enjoy the lakes, beaches and forest trails that are easily accessible from Highway 60 that runs through the south end of the park, or you can go car camping in one of many well-maintained campgrounds. Those who are more adventurous can undertake back-country travel into the remote wilds of the park.
Personally, I cannot imagine a better way to enjoy Canada Day than by canoeing to a remote lake, with no one else around, listening to the haunting sound of a loon at dusk, and seeing the silhouette of a passing moose. There are so many iconic Canadian things you can experience at once in a park like Algonquin, you will feel that you’ve entered a Canadian painting or the back of Canadian currency.
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Wasaga Beach
Wasaga Beach, Ontario is a bustling beach town located 2 hours north of Toronto. Holding the title of the longest fresh water beach in the world, the beach measures in at an impressive 14 kilometres.
Wasaga Beach makes the perfect destination to spend Canada Day, offering plenty of space to spread out and enjoy the beach. Depending on your preference, Wasaga Beach offers 6 different beaches across town. You can find beaches that are action packed with shops and restaurants around, or quieter beaches offering a more laid back vibe.
In addition to the amazing beach, the town of Wasaga Beach hosts a number of events to celebrate Canada Day as well. Check local listing for an up to date schedule of all the events happening in town. At dusk, be sure to head back to the beach to watch the firework show that takes place over the water. Between the beach and great events run by the town, Wasaga Beach makes the perfect location to spend Canada Day.
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Niagara-on-the-Lake
Are you looking for great places to spend Canada Day? How about Niagara-on-the-Lake? This beautiful colonial town at the mouth of the Niagara River is renowned for its wineries, sweeping lake views, and the historic Fort George.
For Canada Day, they roll out the red carpet with a massive barbeque at the fort and fireworks over the lake. Niagara-on-the-Lake’s significance as the first capital of the Province of Upper Canada (the predecessor to Ontario) makes it the perfect place to celebrate this most Canadian of holidays.
We visited Niagara-on-the-Lake during our romantic weekend at Niagara Falls and fell in love with it. Even though Niagara Falls and Niagara-on-the-Lake are only separated by ten miles, they are worlds apart.
We followed the Niagara River Gorge out of town played on the ropes course at the Niagara Whirlpool. From there, the road (and bike trail!) keeps heading north past the Butterfly Conservancy, Floral Clock, and wineries. The trail ends at Fort George, where the Niagara River meets Lake Ontario. History and Colonial charm await visitors to Niagara-on-the-Lake all year long, especially on Canada Day.
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Niagara Falls
There’s always something going on in Niagara Falls, and Canada Day is no exception!
Located only an hour and a half from Toronto, it can be an easy day trip from the big city. There’s also plenty to entertain you for a few days if you want to extend your visit for the long weekend. There’s a full day packed of activities on Canada Day, with something to please everyone in the family. Activities include an annual parade, concerts, and children’s zone (inflatables, face painting, reptile show, etc.).
The day finishes off with a remarkable fireworks show over the falls. If you want the best view of the fireworks, try going for a ride on the SkyWheel (the giant ferris wheel). Be sure to take a peek of the falls at night, as they will be lit up with the Canadian flag.
Since Niagara Falls is such a tourist hotspot, they have plenty of accommodations, restaurants, and fun activities, which will enhance your visit. I’d recommend paying a visit to Niagara’s booming wine region, which is home to over 80 wineries.
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Kincardine
We love to spend Canada Day by the lake in the small town of Kincardine, Ontario. Kincardine is known as Ontario’s Scottish destination as the small-town feel, lifestyle, and festival events such as the Highland Games pay respect to its Scottish Heritage and History.
Kincardine is a great place to spend any summer weekend as there are always events going on downtown on the main street including live music, kid’s activities, or shopping events. Every Saturday in the summer the Kincardine Scottish Pipe Band march down the main street with hundreds following behind enjoying the music, they finish their route at Victoria Park where they have a live outdoor concert of Scottish Music.
Canada day is celebrated in Kincardine with many events including the Canadian Flag Raising Ceremony overlooking the beautiful serene waters of Lake Huron. The main street becomes the major attraction around 11am where there is a Canada Day parade.
The afternoon is often filled with many kids’ activities and events, or you can find yourself with some downtime to enjoy swimming or even surfing at Station Beach which offers the Best Lake Surfing in Ontario. Station Beach also has large beach chairs to sit and enjoy the view and has wheelchair accessible matting and a boardwalk so the whole family can enjoy the beach.
Finish the day off with ice cream from the local ice cream shop on Queen Street and head to Station Beach or Tiny Tot Park to watch the fireworks and celebrate Canada’s Birthday! Top the day off with some Canada Day Cake.
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Mississauga
If you’re seeking a fun-filled celebration on Canada’s birthday, consider spending your day in the city of Mississauga! From a picturesque Japanese garden to one of the biggest shopping centres in the country, the heart of this city has something for everybody.
On July 1st, make sure you visit Celebration Square that is located in the city centre. This is an open air arena that throws a grand Canuck celebration on Canada Day! On this day, the square is typically lined with several food trucks and masses of people don their red-and-white attire in the main area.
There is a centre stage where performances are held all throughout the day. Each year, an excellent line-up of Canadian artists perform at this celebration. Past headliners include JUNO award-winning artists such as K’naan, MAGIC!, and Kardinal Offishall. The party begins in the afternoon and continues late into the night. The fun-filled day ends with a vibrant show of fireworks. Overall, this suburban city has a lot to offer on Canada Day that you, your friends and family are sure to enjoy!
Pro Tip: If you can, ditch the car at home and take public transportation or walk! The streets near the city centre are sure to get busy with Canadian pride.
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Canada’s Wonderland
An iconic attraction in Ontario is Canada’s Wonderland. It’s the largest theme park in Canada and is a popular summer destination for families. The park is home to over 200 attractions that include over 15 roller coasters, a 20 acre water park, tons of places to eat and more!
And my favourite time of year to visit is July 1! Canada’s Wonderland is one of the best places to spend Canada Day in Ontario! Whether you plan to ride the coasters into the evening or park nearby, Canada’s Wonderland puts on an epic firework display over the park.
Visitors can enjoy the rides as the fireworks blast off overhead for a thrilling good time! Or, like many looking for an awesome and free Canada Day fireworks display in the GTA, park and watch. The show lasts 15 minutes and is worth the craziness of finding a parking spot and traffic!
Tips: For those not visiting the theme park, there are various parking lots with free parking. I recommend parking at the Fortinos Vaughan Major MacKenzie. It’s free and you can walk across the street to take in the fireworks from the park’s overflow parking lot. Many people park at Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital Patient & Visitor Parking, on the top floor, however I don’t think it’s free.
Timing Tips: Another key tip is to get there early! I recommend at least an hour in advance of the 10 pm fireworks. Consider going for dinner at one of the nearby restaurants for prime parking. Also, pack your patience for when the hundreds of people leave the area at the same time after the fireworks.
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Tips for How to Celebrate Canada Day in Ontario
There are a variety of things to keep in mind when celebrating Canada Day. Whether you’re a local and looking for where to go or visiting Canada during our special day and what to know more, I’ve got a few tips for you!
When is Canada Day in Ontario? – Canada Day is July 1
Places to Spend Canada Day in Ontario? – Ottawa, Toronto, Barrie, Niagara, Blue Mountain, Sault Ste. Marie, Kitchener, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Mississauga, at almost every city hall, and at a Provincial Park.
Plan Ahead – Summer travel in Ontario is very busy. Hotels, campsites, and restaurants can fill up fast. Be sure to plan ahead and book your accommodation and such early to ensure you get a spot. Depending on where you are spending Canada Day in Ontario, you’ll want to book at least 2 to 5 months ahead. Especially if you are visit a big city! Also check social media for up-to-date information on any changes, like if fireworks are cancelled due to weather conditions.
Safety – If you plan to spend your Ontario Canada Day camping, at a cottage or at home keep safety in mind when setting off fireworks. Check to make sure that there isn’t a fire ban and always have a bucket of water handy.
Cool Facts about Canada
Canada has more freshwater lakes than any other country in the world.
Did you know that Canada has the longest coastline in the world at 243,976 km
Canada boasts 30% of the world’s boreal forest and 10% of the world’s total forest cover
Some of our National Parks are bigger than some countries
Where’s your favourite place to spend Canada Day in Ontario?
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