If you’re sticking around town this Canada Day, there will be lots to do to celebrate Canada's 148th birthday. Here’s a list of where to go to check out fireworks and other fun events, as well as what’s open and closed.

 

Open

  • City parks, beaches, golf courses outdoor swimming pools, wading pools and splash pads
  • Movie theatres
  • Most restaurants
  • Major tourist attractions, such as the CN Tower, The Toronto Zoo, The Ontario Science Centre, Ripley’s Aquarium, the Harbourfront Centre and Centreville Amusement park
  • The TTC will be running on a holiday schedule and GO Transit will run on a Saturday schedule
  • Toronto Eaton Centre will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Vaughan Mills will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Markville Shopping Centre will be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Square One will be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Pacific Mall in Markham will be open

Closed

  • Banks
  • Government offices
  • Post offices
  • Most retail stores and shopping centres, including Yorkdale Shopping Centre
  • Grocery stores
  • All LCBO and The Beer Store locations

 

Fireworks

Harbourfront Centre

The Harbourfront Centre will have a free fireworks display on June 30 to ring in Canada Day. Fireworks will take place for about 20 minutes around 10:30 p.m.

Ashbridge’s Bay

About 30,000 people are expected to attend the city’s premier Canada Day fireworks display at Ashbridge’s Bay. The spectacle will kick off at 10 p.m. and will last about 14 minutes.

Because of the large crowds, police are advising attendees to take public transit. Those who want to catch the full display should be on a southbound bus on Coxwell or Woodbine avenues by around 9 p.m.

Police are also reminding people who go to the event not to set off their own fireworks, as it is considered a safety hazard. Fireworks brought to the beach will be seized, police say.

East York

Festivities at Stan Wadlow Park, located at 373 Cedarvale Ave., will take place from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and will include live entertainment and vendors. The Kiwanis pool will be open from noon to 7 p.m. The fireworks display will start at 10:15 p.m. and the park will close at 11 p.m. Cosburn Avenue will be closed from Cedarvale Avenue to Oak Park from 7 a.m. to midnight to accommodate the festivities.

North York

An evening of festivities featuring live music, face painting and performances by the Zero Gravity Circus starts at Mel Lastman Square at 5 p.m. and will culminate in a fireworks display at 10:15 p.m.

The southbound lanes of Yonge Street between North York Boulevard and Park Home Avenue will be closed from noon to 11 p.m. The full closure of Yonge Street in that block will be in effect on July 1 from 7 to 11 p.m.

Scarborough

A free fireworks display at Milliken Park near Steeles Avenue and McCowan Road will begin at dusk. More information is available by calling 416-396-7757.

Etobicoke and West

  • Toronto Ribfest concludes at Centennial Park on Canada Day and will feature a Fireworks display at 10 p.m. to wrap things up.
  • Canada Day celebrations at Weston Lions Park (2125 Lawrence Ave. W.) will run from 5 to 10 p.m., concluding with a fireworks display. Festivities include live entertainment, food and activities for children.
  • The annual Canada Day event at Amesbury Park will start at 11 a.m. Activities include a barbecue, live entertainment, marketplace, strongman competition and activities for children, plus fireworks at 10 p.m.

GTA

Vaughan -- Canada’s Wonderland will hold its annual Canada’s Day fireworks display over Wonder Mountain at 10 p.m. This year the show will also feature ‘fire divers’ who will light up the sky as they dive from the mountain.

Mississauga – A day of entertainment and amusements at Celebration Square will finish off with a performance by Kardinal Offishall at 9:15 p.m., followed by a fireworks display at 10:20 p.m.

 

Other events

  • The Old Style Community Picnic will be held at the Broadlands Community Centre and Park, from 1:30 to 4 p.m. Activities include face painting, games, clown entertainment and folk singing.
  • Scarborough’s annual Canada Day celebration in Thomson Park will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This event will include a free pancake breakfast, buskers, bouncy inflatables, entertainment and a craft show and sale. Seniors can participate in a slo-pitch ball game. More information is available by calling 416-392-7611.
  • The annual Canada Day Parade will begin at 4 p.m. west of the Scarborough Civic Centre on Brimley Road, ending at Lawrence Avenue East at about 5:30 p.m. Brimley Road will be closed from Progress Avenue to Ellesmere Road from 1:30 to 6 p.m. and from Ellesmere Road to Lawrence Avenue from 4 to 7 p.m. to accommodate the parade. Ellesmere Road will be closed from Midland Avenue to McCowan Road from 4 to 5 p.m.