Canada Day is coming up on Saturday, July 1, and there are a plethora of events planned in the region to celebrate. Here’s your handy guide to all the ways and places you can say “Oh Canada!” this weekend, as well as information about a special Indigenous music festival in Lytton on June 30.
ASHCROFT
The Winding Rivers Arts & Performance Society is once again hosting Canada Day festivities in Ashcroft, where events kick off at the Heritage Park on Railway Avenue at 11 a.m. There will be a colour party, free bannock, hot dogs, and cake, face painting, and live music from The Dire Heart. There will also be free swimming for all at the Ashcroft pool from 1 to 4 p.m.
CACHE CREEK
The Cache Creek Market will holding its regular Saturday market from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Canada Day, and from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. you can stop by for free delicious DQ ice cream cake courtesy of Cache Creek Dairy Queen.
The Cache Creek Volunteer Fire Department is hosting Canada Day in Cache Creek, which runs from 1 to 4 p.m. at the community park. There will be a pop-up splash park with a water wall and water slide, the fire department will be serving up hot dogs and drinks (by donation to the fire department), there will be cake for all, and Rolling Thunder Revue will be providing live music.
SAVONA
The Savona Community Association is hosting a Canada Day beach barbecue on Saturday, July 1 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and organizers say to come hungry and ready to party. There will be a food and refreshment concession, plus Canada Day cake and coffee for all, as well as live music and dancing.
There will be a contest for the Best Canada Day outfit (adults and children), a 50/50 draw and a free draw for a Canada flag, and a “guess how many jelly beans” contest. Organizers have also planned plenty of fun and games, including a toonie toss for adults), rock painting, face painting and face tattoos, a “what’s in the cup” game, and an egg and spoon race.
CLINTON
Head on down to Reg Conn Park in Clinton starting at 10:30 a.m., when you can collect Canada Day mini-flags and pins. There will be a flag-raising ceremony at 11 a.m., face painting and yard games from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., free barbecued hot dogs from noon to 1 p.m., and free Canada Day cupcakes at 12:30 p.m.
The Clinton Seniors’ Association will be hosting their annual Canada Day yard sale from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Seniors’ Centre (just around the corner from the park at 217 Smith Avenue).
From 1 to 2 p.m. there will be a talent show at the park, which is open to anyone between the ages of 5 and 15. Sign-up in advance is necessary (deadline is 9 p.m. on Thursday, June 29), and sign-up sheets are available at the village office and David Stoddart School. For more information, contact Jessica Lawrence at (250) 819-3359.
70 MILE
There will be a Redneck Craft Fair in 70 Mile on July 1, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the community hall. The Thompson-Nicola Regional District is supplying lunch (barbecued hamburgers and hot dogs), the 70 Mile Volunteer Fire Department will be there to show off their fire equipment and skills, and in addition to a variety of vendors there will be a Jenga toilet paper toss and more fun and games.
BARRIERE
Celebrate Canada on Saturday, July 1 at 2 p.m. for the Opening ceremony that begins at the Barriere Bandshell. Live music, Cupcakes, and bring your own picnic. 4936 Barriere Town Road.
CLEARWATER
Saturday, July 1, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Pancake Breakfast and Community Market at the Elks’ Hall
Farmers’ Market, live music and family activities at Dutch Lake Centre Field 9 a.m. to noon
Community BBQ at Dutch Lake Beach with hot dogs, burgers, cupcakes and activities for all. Face painting, music and connections. All ages welcome.
Outdoor Live Music by Wells Gray Lively Arts at Dutch Lake Centre field 3 - 5 p.m.
BLUE RIVER
Canada Day starts with a parade in Blue River that goes to Eleanor Lake and the park where a full day of activities begins. 10 a.m. is the parade starting at Saddle Mtn. Restaurant. Noon will be singing Oh Canada at Eleanor Lake Park and having cupcakes. 1 p.m. are games and activities. 9:45 p.m. Fireworks (TBA)
KAMLOOPS
Art in the Park returns for its 50th anniversary, and is running alongside Folkfest at Riverside Park from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Art in the Park will be in the eastern part of the park, and will feature more than 60 artists and artisans showing and selling their work. There will also be performances throughout the day, with theatrics, musicians, dancers, and more to delight the crowd.
LYTTON
On Friday, June 30, 2RMX’s Summer Movable Feast Tour of contemporary Indigenous music will will launch at Stein Valley Nlaka’Pamux School in Lytton First Nation before heading to the St’át’imc Nation (Lillooet, July 2), the Secwépemc Nation (Skeetchestn, July 4) and Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc (Kamloops, July 7-9).
The Lytton event runs from noon to 10 p.m. and features a huge line-up of great Indigenous performers, including Ritchie & the Fendermen, The Melawmen Collective, Murray Porter, Helene Duguay, Amanda Rheaume, Margit Sky Project, and nearly 20 other acts. The June 30 event commemorates two years of Nlaka’pamux resilience since the Lytton Fire.
“Our hearts go out to 2022’s three-day festival venue, the community of Cache Creek, who suffered catastrophic flooding again this spring,” said Meeka Morgan, 2RMX’s Artistic Director. “We hope to return with musical medicine when it is the right time to do so, as we continue to envision a return to our original host community of Lytton.”
