Image Credit: CFJC Today / Kent Simmonds

By Dylana Milobar

CANADA DAY 2019

Plenty of festivities planned for Canada Day long weekend

Jun 28, 2019 | 5:23 PM

KAMLOOPS — Canada Day revellers have many celebration options this year around the Kamloops area.

City of Kamloops Business Operations & Events Manager Sean Smith says the 2019 event has a few new features.

“We do have pedal parking available again, and there’s a wacky trikes obstacle course that’s being managed by the Canadian Mental Health Association,” Smith says. “So there are places for people to bring their bikes, and be sustainable with their waste, and just enjoy the day down here.”

Smith says the city has also put together an interactive Canada Day map, which can be accessed here.

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The collaboration between the City of Kamloops, the Kamloops Multicultural Society, and the Kamloops Arts Council brings in something for everyone.

Multicultural Society President Ray Dhaliwal says, between the artist booths, food fair, and the three different performance stages, there’s no shortage of entertainment.

“This year will be the first time in about eight years that we’ve had our Ukrainian group come back to join us. So perogies for everybody. They’ve got at least 12,000 made for everybody so come on down to support them,” he says. “Food vendors from around the world — our Caribbean group, African, First Nations, Indian, Chinese, a full gamut of them.”

Dhaliwal says the Kamloops event truly celebrates Canada’s diversity.

“Everybody is all the same. We all want the same things, we all have the same hopes and dreams, and we’re not so different. We have different ideas, we have different clothing, we look different, but basically, we all have the same basic needs.”

The day kicks off with a pancake breakfast hosted by the Lions Club between 7:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

Art in the Park runs between 9:00 a.m and 5:00 p.m, opening ceremonies start at 10:30 a.m, with the International Food Fair, and Folkfest performances held throughout the day until 5:30 p.m.

With more than 30,000 people expected to come by Riverside Park throughout the day, and traffic congested with West Victoria Street construction, the City will offer free transit fares Monday.

Along with no-charge fares, BC Transit buses will be operating with Saturday-level service.

Those extended routes include:

• Route 1 (Tranquille)
• Route 2 (Parkcrest)
• Route 3 (Westsyde)
• Route 4 (Pacific Way)
• Route 7 (Aberdeen)
• Route 16/17 (Juniper-Dallas Combo)

Extended operating hours will have all routes leaving for their final trip at 11:30 p.m from the Lansdowne Exchange.

And of course, the fireworks will begin when the sun sets (between 10:00 p.m and 10:30 p.m).

Meanwhile, the B.C. Wildlife Park will have their summer kick-off weekend Saturday and Sunday.

Between 9:30 a.m and 5:00 p.m, the park will host many animal encounters, have the miniature train running, splash park open, and a giant maze set up.

Nearby Sun Peaks Resort will be putting on events throughout the long weekend as well.

Saturday, Sunday and Monday, visitors can enjoy family fun zones, games and entertainment, a climbing wall, a beer and chili cook-off, the lobster fest, Uncle Chris the Clown, and live music from the Dave Coalmine Trio, Margit Sky Project, and The Matinée.

And in Kamloops Sunday evening, two different live music shows will be held.

The ABBA show at the Coast Kamloops Hotel and Conference Centre starts Sunday night at 8:00 p.m.

And DeLorean’s Canada Day Eve Party will take place at The Blue Grotto.

The ’80s-centric show begins at 8:00 p.m, featuring songs from Guns N Roses, Bon Jovi, Journey and Twisted Sister.