Canada Day activities will be taking place throughout Eastern Ontario beginning as early as Saturday, June 25, with some events running through the long weekend until Sunday July 3. Here is a round-up of events taking place in our region.

Hawkesbury Multicultural Festival June 30 to July 3

From June 30 to July 3, Hawkesbury will be celebrating the diversity of Canadian society with a wide range of entertainment downtown and at Confederation Park.

The free Festival multiculturel de Hawkesbury will feature 14 musical acts from across Canada on various stages. On June 30, The Box – a popular Québec band for more than 40 years – will perform. On Canada Day, Friday, July 1, there will be Brazilian jazz with Bresil Brise, Acadian music by Clifford Breau, and the francophone pop-Indigenous combinations of Shades during the day. In the evening, Skarazula will perform its Middle Eastern influenced songs. Also in the evening, get together and feel alright with reggae act One Love and its homage to Bob Marley.

Canada Day fireworks will light up the sky at 9:45 p.m. on July 1. Following the fireworks, folk-funk-rock band Hey Wow takes to the stage.

On Saturday, July 2, Hawkesbury’s own Prospect Nelson and the Madafakas perform. Brazilian jazz returns with Janie Renée that evening along with Louisiana cajun and creole group Grouyan Gombo. Corneille and Première partie Surprise are also on stage during the evening.

Sunday, July 3 is the final day of the festival. It will feature Voyage en Afrique for children. Mi’gmafrica, an African-Mi’kmaq fusion performs in the afternoon and the final act of the festival is Algonquin jazz quartet Kawandak.

Admission to the festival is free, but spaces are limited for the musical performances so tickets must be obtained online. Full information and tickets for the festival are available here.

Champlain celebrates at L’Orignal Beach July 1

Residents of Champlain Township are invited to celebrate Canada Day on July 1 at L’Original Beach on the Ottawa River.

Bouncy castles, a water slide and a DJ on the beach will highlight activities for children from noon to 6 p.m., while a barbecue will feed attendees until 7 p.m. At 6 p.m. baked beans and a giant cake to celebrate Canada Day will make an appearance.

The John & Biz music show (Jean Dubois) will take the stage beginning at 7 p.m. and fireworks will light up the sky over the Ottawa River beginning at 10 p.m.

The full schedule for Canada Day celebrations in Champlain can be found here.

Alfred and Plantagenet celebrations at Lefaivre Marina

This year’s Canada Day Festivities in Alfred and Plantagenet are organized conjointly by the Lefaivre Lions Club and the Recreation Committee.

The day will kick off with the PROSON Canoe-Kayak Race at the Treadwell Boat Launch. Registration is at 8 a.m., with the race to begin at 9:30 a.m. The race will end at noon at the Lefaivre Marina, where the remainder of Canada Day activities will take place, including a Family Zone with inflatable structures.

After Canada Day Festivities Inauguration at 2:30 p.m. Duo Soul Station will hit the stage at 3 p.m. to open the musical entertainment. The Kevin David Band will play at 6 p.m., followed by headliners Brian and the Bluestorm at 8 p.m. Fireworks over the Ottawa River will close out the evening beginning at 10:15 p.m.

The full schedule of events can be found here.

Alexandria Canada Day festivities at Island Park

In Alexandria, Canada’s birthday celebration will take place on Island Park in the centre of town, with Alexandria Lions Canada Day Parade & Park Festivities 2022.

The day will kick of at noon with a parade and there will be entertainment all day, including the The County Lads at 2 p.m. and Magician Chris Pilsworth at 3 p.m. André Cadieux will take the stage at 5 p.m. and the Paolo Stante Band will play at 7 p.m. and again at 9 p.m.

Fireworks will take place at 10 p.m., after which the Ceilidh Drovers will perform until midnight.

The full schedule of Canada Day events in Alexandria can be found here.

Glen Robertson celebrates Canada Day on June 25

Canada Day will be celebrated early in Glen Robertson, with a Family Fun Day taking place at Glen Robertson Social Centre Park on June 25 that will feature three air bounces for kids.

A flag raising will be held at 1 p.m., followed by music with André Cadieux from 1:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Border Line will hit the stage from 7:30 p.m. to midnight, with a Canada Day fireworks show slated in the middle of the performance at 10 p.m.

Russell Township Canada Day activities

Russell Canada Day celebrations are organized by the Russell Lions Club and the Russell Agricultural Society every year. This year the celebrations at Russell High School are for both the 155th Anniversary of Canada’s Confederation and also because 2022 is the 36th year of the Russell Lions Club and the Russell Agricultural Society teaming up to provide Canada Day festivities in the community.

Events on July 1 will include children’s activities beginning at noon and going throughout the day, a volleyball tournament and a giant water sprinkler provided by the Russell Fire Department. Musical entertainment begins at 3 p.m. with Charlie the Kid, followed by Odd Man Out at 6 p.m. and then Charlie the Kid at 8:30.

The day will conclude with a fireworks show at 10 p.m. The full schedule can be found here.