Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows are gearing up to celebrate Canada Day today, July 1.
Thousands are expected to be out for festivities in both communities, enjoying live entertainment, mouthwatering food, and activities for the whole family.
In Maple Ridge, celebrations will begin at noon in Memorial Peace Park, in the downtown core.
There will be four different stages, each with a long lineup of of live music and dance performances.
Opening ceremonies will take place on the True North Stage with youth singer Addison Semple.
The band Brass Camel will take to the same stage at 1:30 p.m., Ten Souljers at 2:45 p.m., and Susana Williams at 4:15 p.m..
The Cultural Stage will feature Afrocity Music at noon, Blue Crane Contortion at 1 p.m., Hong De Vancouver Lion and Dragon Dance Team at 2:15 p.m., and at 3:45 p.m. White Thunder Spirit Dance.
Latin Flavours Fitness will start off the entertainment at noon on the Busker Stage, Blue Crane Contortion at 1 p.m., Out of the Rain Sing-Along/Storytime at 1:30 and 3:30 p.m., at 2 p.m. Out of the Rain Photo Opportunity, Neil Harnett will be on stage at 2:30 p.m., with another photo opportunity with Out of the Rain characters at 4 p.m..
Then, on the Alouette Stage, Hayley Wallis will start things off at 1 p.m., Norden the Magician will follow at 1:45 p.m., Bakara Band at 2:15 p.m., Blue Crane Contortion at 3:15 p.m., Quickness at 3:45 p.m., and at 4:30 p.m. DJ Big Rich.
Activities for young and old will be scattered throughout the park starting at noon and running until 5 p.m. including:
• Hamster Ball Races is a two player game, where you race each other in a giant inflatable ball down a 23 metre long track;
• Horsey Hops will come in three different sizes for everyone to enjoy;
• Euro Bungee where people are fitted with bungee cords and suspended in the air to do flips, turns and jumps at amazing heights;
• mini golf;
• toddler hockey;
• a rock wall;
• and a children's zone where they can build their own animal headband and colour Canada Day designs.
There will be other performers in the park as well. Zumba will take place from 12-12:30 p.m.; Blue Crane will be doing aeriel and acro performances from 1-1:30 p.m. and from 3-3:30 p.m.; Norden will give a performance from 1:45-2:15 p.m.; and there will be performances by various prince and princess characters from Cinderella to the Little Mermaid from 1:30-2 p.m. and from 3:30-4 p.m. with photo opportunities with the characters after.
Food trucks will be on site with a little something for everyone including sandwiches, Greek, Mexican, barbecue, and Japanese fusion.
A multitude of vendors will be in the park as well including Maple Ridge Ukelele Circle, Maple Ridge Public Library, Maple Ridge Museum, Royal Astronomical Society of Canada Vancouver Center, Greyhaven Exotic Birds Sanctuary, Vintage Car Show, and more.
In Pitt Meadows the celebration will run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Spirit Square, 11985 Harris Rd., rain or shine.
The Lions Club Pancake Breakfast will take place from 8:30-10:30 a.m. for $8 per adult, $4 per child 11 years and under, and will be cash only.
At 9:15 -10 a.m. there will be a dog show and sniffing competition. Anyone wishing to participate can register their dog on event day from 9-9:15 a.m. at a booth near the cenotaph. Categories for the contest are: best dressed, best trick, most charismatic, and the waggiest tail.
Food vendors will be on site from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. and the show and shine, artisan alley, and kids zone will be on hand for the entire day.
Norden the Magician will be kicking off the stage entertainment at 10 a.m.. Opening ceremonies will be at 11 a.m., followed by Peter G-G at 11:45 a.m., The Contingency Band at 12:30 p.m. and at 1:15 p..m. the watermelon eating contest.
City officials want to remind the public that the drive-through lane in front of the Pitt Meadows Family Recreation Centre, and the south parking lot will be closed from 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. for the Canada Day event.
There will be limited parking available in the recreation centre's underground lot and the north lot.
The recreation centre's fitness centre, customer service and washrooms will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. for Canada Day.
