Canada Day is a special time to celebrate the *best country in the world* (okay, I’m biased) as well as all the cultures and peoples that encompass it. The day’s activities and events vary from small neighbourhood get-togethers to food and culture festivals, and also to spectacular firework displays. So, wave your flag high and give a cheer to our Guide to the Best Canada Day Events in Toronto and the GTA.

Canada Day Events — Toronto Festivals

City of Toronto: Canada Day Festivities
Party all around the City of Toronto with Canada Day festivities at Fort York Historical Site, Nathan Phillips Square, Mel Lastman Square and Thomson Memorial Park for a full day’s worth of family-friendly shows and activities.

East York Toronto Canada Day Festival
East York turns from a sleepy neighbourhood to a bustling party starting with a parade in the morning. Then in the afternoon, Stan Wadlow Park becomes a family fair with live shows, midway, kids activities, artisan market, food vendors and beer garden.

Canada Day at Downsview Park
Downsview Park has a full evening of entertainment, including games for kids, inflatables, vendors, food trucks and, of course, fireworks!

q107 Canada Day Picnic & Ashbridges Bay fireworks
Rock your red and white at Woodbine Park with musical tributes to Neil Young, Pearl Jam, AC/DC, Queen, Pink Floyd and more. Then, cap off the night with Toronto’s largest fireworks display from Ashbridges Bay.

Toronto’s Largest Ribfest
Follow the sweet and smoky smells over to Centennial Park in Etobicoke for Toronto’s Largest Ribfest, including tribute bands, midway, marketplace, kids’ zone, and a fireworks show.

Free Concerts at Harbourfront Centre
Hang out at Harbourfront for free entertainment all day and a performance by the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. This is also a great vantage point to view the fireworks over Lake Ontario.

Rhythms of Canada
This four-day festival embraces our country’s diversity at the Aga Khan Museum, with live performances and magic shows, crafts and family tours of the museum, plus a souk-style Festival Market that represents Toronto’s worldly palate.

Ontario Place: SummerSeries
This free summer-long festival kicks off on Canada Day for a full day and night of music and entertainment in Trillium Park along Toronto’s lakeshore.

Canada Day Events — Toronto Venues

Little Canada — Canada Day at Little Canada
Celebrate Canada Day in the heart of downtown Toronto at Little Canada to explore famous landmarks, take a photo with Maurice the Moose, stop by the Connection Wall to share makes Canada special to you, and more. Plus, the first 1,000 people who visit on July 1st receive a free 100 ml Little Batch Maple Syrup bottle and Canada flag pin!

Toronto Blue Jays — Canada Day Weekend
The Blue Jays celebrate Canada Day with pregame festivities with pre-game entertainment and activities all game long in the new Outfield District. On July 1, the first 15,000 fans receive a Blue Jays Lakeside Straw Hat. Then, on Sunday, it’s a Jr. Jays day where kids 14 & under can run the bases post-game.

Royal Ontario Museum — Free Admission
Explore the ROM for free on Canada Day to see the entire museum with no ticket required, including all current special exhibitions.

Canada Day Events — GTA

Hockley Valley Resort — Canada Day Getaway
Enjoy a family long weekend trip with Hockley Valley Resort’s Canada Day Getaway package, including accommodation, breakfast, live music, a murder mystery event for the adults, kids activities and lots of family amenities.

Canada’s Wonderland — Celebration Canada
Included with park admission, grab a drink and join the festivities in Frontier Canada, with toe-tapping live music, traditional indigenous performances by the Smoke Trail Singers and street performers, delicious Canadian foods, and a spectacular fireworks display.

Bingemans — Canada Day Celebration
Bingemans hosts Kitchener-Waterloo’s biggest Canada Day event, with Stihl Timbersports broadcasting live on TSN, late-night waterpark access, fireworks, Looney Tunes Canadian cover band, the region’s largest patio and much more.

Downey’s Farm — Canada Day Strawberry Festival
For a farm-fresh Canada Day party, Downey’s Farm has lots of fun, entertainment, great food and, of course, plenty of strawberries!

Friday Harbour — Celebrate Canada Day
Take the party to the shores of Lake Simcoe, with live music, an outdoor vendor market, sport adventures at the beach, stuffed animal building, then evening festivities at the Beach Club After Dark.

Paint the Town Red
In the Port Credit area of Mississauga, this long-running day-long festival includes a parade, Kids Zone, food, circus and musical performances, and fireworks at Memorial Park.

Stouffville Strawberry Festival
This three-day festival is in the berry-picking area of Whitchurch-Stouffville throughout the Canada Day long weekend. It features a carnival, inflatables, live performances, talent shows as well as strawberry-focused food offerings and baking contests. Plus, fireworks in the evening!

Ontario Free Family Fishing Program
Get hooked on a new family activity! Free Fishing Week starts on Canada Day, where you can fish without having to buy a fishing licence.

Municipal Celebrations

Seemingly every municipality in the GTA is hosting a party! These events often including live entertainment, food and family activities as well as fireworks.

Ajax
Aurora
Brampton
Brantford
Burlington
Hamilton
Markham
Milton
Newmarket

Mississauga
Niagara Falls
Oakville
Oshawa
Pickering
Port Credit
Richmond Hill
Streetsville
Vaughan

Whitby

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