Canada Day festivities around Regina and Provincial Parks

Canada Day celebrations will be kicking off Friday, with some fun, family-friendly activities for everyone to enjoy.

Many events around Regina and different provincial parks are taking place for the first time since pandemic measures were lifted.

Regina

Regina’s Canada Day celebration is back after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic. Entertainment, food and fireworks will take place on the grounds of the Legislative Building.

Celebrations will run all day, concluding with the fireworks display at the end of the evening.

Regina Canada Day Chair Barry Gaber said the board has been hard at work to put together the celebrations.

“We have a great lineup of local entertainers,” said Gaber. “The Family Fun Zone is bigger and better than it’s ever been before.”

At the main stage, performances by seven entertainers will begin at noon and run until 10 p.m. Detour, Kriss the Sky, Crosby Harle Band, Dangerous Cheese, Vinyl Society, One More Time, and Nick Gilder & Sweeney Todd will be performing, followed by the fireworks at 10:30 p.m.

Beer gardens, live entertainment and a strongman competition are just some of the events that will be taking place on the afternoon.

This is the first time in two years there will be celebrations on the lawn of the Legislative Building, but the festivities were interrupted in 2019 as well.

“Last Canada Day celebration in 2019, we had to wrap up early because of the storm, and two entertainers couldn’t perform because of it,” said Gaber.

Gaber said he’s especially excited for the Regina Public Library to host their Kids Fun Zone this year.

“I think it is going to be the biggest family fun stage Canada Day has ever seen,” said Gaber. “I’ve been a part of it for 18 years, and I have never seen one this big.”

The fun zone tent will have storytelling, dancing, a science show and a magic show.

“There’s just going to be a lot going on for the little ones and the kids,” Gaber said.

After two years without celebrations, Gaber said he’s expecting the largest crowds the event has ever had.

Lieutenant Governor’s Canada Day Multicultural Celebration

Government House will also host Canada Day celebrations for the first time in three years. Both indoor and outdoor activities will be held, focusing on Saskatchewan’s multiculturalism.

This is Russ Mirasty’s first time hosting Canada Day celebrations since he was appointed Saskatchewan’s Lieutenant Governor in 2019.

“It’s been such a long time since we have been able to have this celebration and many other celebrations,” said Carolyn Speirs, executive director of the Lieutenant Governor’s Office.

“We really hope people leave feeling connected in a way that people haven’t been able to feel for a couple of years now.”

Celebrations will take place inside and outside Government House starting at 1 p.m. and running until 4 p.m.

The Saskatchewander Felipe Gomez will MC the afternoon, with performances from the Chinese Lion Dancers from Kung Fu Regina, Preston Littletent and the Eagle Claw Powwow Dancers, fiddler Karrnnel Swatisky, the Pelican Narrows School Jiggers, and the Yevshan Ukrainian Folk Ballet.

Around the grounds, other performances and shows will take place, including the KOAS Dogsports show, Métis Yarn Weaving, a Red River cart display, and an Antique Auto Association display. There may even be some Disney princesses and superheroes walking around to take pictures with kids.

Inside Government House a traditional Indigenous buffalo robe painted by Wayne Goodwill will be on display, on loan from the University of Regina. Performances by the Classical Guitar Society will also be featured indoors.

Speirs said another item to check out on the grounds is the new residential school memorial.

“When we celebrate Canada Day, we’re also looking at our history. We do encourage people to come spend a moment by it and have a look at it. It’s a really interesting, quiet space.”

Snowbirds flyby

The Royal Canadian Air Force will be conducting a flyby with two CT-155 Hawk training jets on Canada Day.

The jets will depart from Moose Jaw’s Canadian Forces Flying Training School and fly over the RCMP Depot in Regina for their Canada Day Sunset Ceremony at 6:45 p.m.

Flying is dependent on weather conditions.

Sask Parks Canada Day activities

There are be some additional Canadian-themed activities for those camping in Saskatchewan Provincial Parks on Friday.

“Our parks have planned a day full of Canada-themed fun for the whole family to enjoy this July Long Weekend,” Parks, Culture and Sport Minister Laura Ross said in a news release.

“There is no better way to celebrate Canada Day than in one of our beautiful provincial parks!”

Festivities begin at 1:30 p.m. and end at 8 p.m.

Events include a swimming race, arts and crafts, a “Canuck Quest” scavenger hunt, and trivia games.

Participating parks are Buffalo Pound, Candle Lake, Cypress Hills, Douglas, Duck Mountain, Echo Valley, Good Spirit, Great Blue Heron, Greenwater Lake, Meadow Lake, Moose Mountain, Narrow Hills, Pike Lake, Rowan’s Ravine and Saskatchewan Landing.