The Regional Recreation Corporation of Wood Buffalo (RRC), in collaboration with the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB), announced the Canada Day events that will take place at MacDonald Island Park on Saturday, July 1, 2017, as the nation celebrates its 150th birthday.
“This year we are delighted to join with Canadians across the country as we celebrate a very special birthday for our nation,” said Rachel Orser, Interim Chief Executive Officer of the RRC. “We are looking forward to welcoming community residents to MacDonald Island Park for this annual celebration and would like to thank all our community partners for their support as we celebrate 150 years of being Canadian on July 1, 2017.”
Canada Day 2017 in Wood Buffalo will kick off on the morning of July 1 with the annual Canada Day Pancake Breakfast at the Suncor Community Leisure Centre at MacDonald Island Park, followed by the Canada Day Parade in downtown Fort McMurray.
The parade route starts at the intersection of Franklin Ave and Riedel Street at 10:30 a.m. and goes north along Franklin to Morrison Street.
Shuttle service to the parade route will be available from the main entrance of the Suncor Community Leisure Centre for those wishing to park at MacDonald Island Park before the parade and return to the Island at the conclusion of the parade.
To prepare for the annual Canada Day Parade, select roadways will be closed on July 1 in downtown Fort McMurray:
- Prairie Loop Boulevard closed 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. from Riedel Street to Queen Street
- Riedel Street closed 10 to 11:30 a.m. from Franklin Avenue to Prairie Loop Boulevard
- Franklin Avenue closed 10:15 a.m. to 12 p.m. from Riedel Street to Morrison Street (roads will open as the parade passes)
- Morrison Street closed 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. from Franklin Avenue to Morimoto Drive
Childrens Activities
Beginning at noon children and families can enjoy a craft carnival, face painters, bouncy castles and the Syncrude Balloon Twisters at the Suncor Community Leisure Centre at MacDonald Island Park.
Children’s entertainment on the Family Main Stage will feature performances from Thomas & Friends at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
Two very special meet and greets will take place this year:
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Donatello and Leonardo greeting fans in the Meet and Greet Tent at 2:00 pm
- and Marshal and Chase from Paw Patrol on duty for meet and greets in the tent at 4:00 p.m.
The Wood Buffalo Food Bank will host their second Canstruction event presented by Heavy North and you are invited to view the completed displays that will be created entirely from cans, boxes and other food containers in the Shell Place parking lot.
All of the items used to create the displays will be donated to the Food Bank.
Celebrate with Country 93.3 and 97.9 ROCK
This year the Main Stage entertainment and Beer Gardens will move to a convenient new location in the parking lot area located next to the Baseball Stadium at Shell Place and open at noon with a capacity of 2000 people.
There will be a specialized food menu and local food trucks in the beer gardens and lawn games including an oversized jenga and corn hole.
For baseball fans, the Fort McMurray Giants will celebrate the day with a regular season baseball game beginning at 6:05 p.m. at the Baseball Stadium at Shell Place.
The game will also be broadcasts live on Country 93.3.
Country 93.3 and 97.9 ROCK will host the Community Music Showcase From 5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. at the Music Main Stage which will feature live local entertainment.
The evening entertainment at the Music Main Stage begins at 8:30 p.m. and features popular Wood Buffalo performers The Veins, The Sissy Fits and Craig Moritz.
The annual Grand Finale Fireworks presented by Syncrude will light up the sky as Fort McMurray celebrates 150 years of confederacy and Canadian pride at At 11:59 p.m.
