Oh, Canada! Here are some activities happening around Chatham-Kent for Canada's 157th birthday.
Thursday, June 27
Tilbury will be having its Canada Day celebration at the Tilbury Memorial Park. Live music featuring the Ashley Lynn Experience will start at 7:00 p.m., with glitter tattoos, balloon twisting and complimentary cupcakes. Fireworks will commence at dusk.
Ridgetown is having its Canada day parade starting at 6:00 p.m. on Main Street. A free concert will follow at the Ridgetown Legion.
Friday, June 28
Wheatley Fish Fest 2024 kicks off at Two Creeks Conservation with music by Ryan Bradley starting at 5:00 p.m. and South River Slim going on at 8:00 p.m. There will be activities including the Play Rangers, an inflatable obstacle course, and a BBQ.
Saturday, June 29
The Wheatley Fish Fest continues at the Wheatley Harbour starting at 10:00 a.m. with a market, tote box races (11 a.m.) and tug of war (1 p.m.). A kids treasure hunt will commence on the east side at 10 a.m. with even more activities for the little ones including minnow tug, glitter tattoos and face painting. Evening events take place at the Wheatley arena with the famous broasted chicken and pickerel dinner starting at 5:00 p.m. and music from Jody Raffoul.
Flight Fest is back at the Chatham-Kent Municipal Airport starting at 11:00 a.m.. Activities will start when they open and run till 5:00 p.m. These include aircraft displays, children's activities, and various vendors. Their fireworks display will start at 10:00 p.m.
Sunday, June 30
Kicking things off at 12:30 p.m. is the Wheatley Fish Fest parade starting at the arena, if you are interested in riding your decorated bike in the parade be there at noon. The Fish Fest car show will happen on Talbot Street starting at 2:00 p.m. and kids events at Coulter Park including a magic show with Jangles (2:00 p.m.), Zoo 2 You (4:00 p.m.) and face painting. In the evening the boat parade is at 7:00 p.m. and the Fish Fest fireworks finale goes off at 10:00 p.m.
The Merlin Legion is hosting a community family fun day starting at 4:00 p.m. with fireworks starting at dusk.
Monday, July 1
The Chatham Legion is hosting a BBQ on its patio at William and Colborne Street from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Wallaceburg is celebrating the birth of our nation starting at noon with a BBQ, cake cutting, and singing of the national anthem. From 12:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. there will be live entertainment, face painting, glitter tattoos, bouncy castles and a photo booth. All this will take place at the Wallaceburg and district museum at 505 King Street.
Blenheim's Glad Tidings Community Church is hosting its annual Canada Day celebrations starting at 6:00 p.m. There will be outdoor music, dancing, various vendors and of course, cake cutting at 8:30 p.m. Fireworks will start when it gets dark.
Timber Ridge Event Centre, located at 11573 Ridge Line in Blenheim is having a family-friendly event starting at 5:00 p.m. Food trucks and live music will be on hand, with fireworks scheduled for 9:30 p.m.
Erieau is hosting a fireworks celebration starting when it gets dark on the beach and fireworks can also be viewed from the Bothwell Arena parking lot starting at dusk.
A short drive away, over in Leamington, people are invited to see Canadian country superstar Terri Clark who will take the stage at the SUNSET Amphitheatre in Seacliff Park at 8:30 p.m.
And the Dawn Euphemia Fire Department will hold its Canada Day BBQ at 4596 Lambton Line in Dresden. The fire department will be serving BBQ Chicken with all the fixings and ice cream.