Canada Day in Ottawa: Everything you need to know about the 2024 celebrations

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First thing to know: the big party isn’t on the hill.

For the third straight year, LeBreton Flats will serve as the headquarters for the red and white party to celebrate Canada’s 157th birthday on July 1.

The infamous snowboards will highlight the Royal Canadian Air Force fleet that will conduct a pair of afternoon flyovers, while Maestro Fresh Wes and Metric will be the evening headliners on the main stage.

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The bash will end with the boom and bang of the always impressive colourful fireworks display, but there’s no shortage of events going on throughout the city all day long. Here’s what you need to know.

What to know about the LeBreton Flats Canada Day party

Doors to the free-for-all-people event (sorry, no dogs allowed) will open at 9 a.m. at LeBreton Flats.

The entry and exit to the park is at the east corner of the Kichi Zibi Mikan Parkway and Booth Street, on the grounds of the Canadian War Museum.

Small bags are allowed (under 35.5 cm x 30.5 cm), but be prepared for security and alcohol checks.

There will be concessions and wheelchair accessible porta-potties on site.

The family action at LeBreton Flats continues throughout the day, with a chance to sit in the cockpit of a CF-18, to check out a unique 16-foot guitar slide, to immerse yourself amid giant bubbles, receive a makeover and create bracelets.

There will be interactive dance displays and movies celebrating Canadian history will be shown on the big screen from 5-6:45 p.m.

When can we all sing O Canada together?

The chance to sing loud and proud will take place after official ceremonies begin at noon. Dignitaries will take the stage and there will be recognition of the country’s Indigenous history. More national pride will arrive with tributes to the Canadian athletes who will be leaving for the 2024 Olympics, to be held in Paris from July 26-Aug. 11.

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And, oh yeah, ‘O Canada’ will be in the air.

When is the Canada Day flyover?

For many, the highlight of the day is seeing Canada’s military aircraft flying overhead. The planes are expected to start appearing between 12:45-12:50 p.m.

While the celebrated nine snowbirds will conclude the show by flying in formation — including one with a special paintjob recognizing the 100th anniversary of the RCAF — that’s hardly the extent of the aircraft.

Additional planes will include Challengers, Hercules, Spitfires, Mustangs, Hurricanes, Lancasters and Chipmunks.

The country’s Chinook and Cyclone helicopters will also make an appearance. The planes will first show up east of downtown and fly over Parliament Hill seconds before crossing above LeBreton Flats.

A second snowbirds flyover will take place between 4-4:30 p.m.

Is there anything happening on Parliament Hill on Canada Day?

Yes, the hill is still in play. While the major renovations in front of the Centre Block have prompted the move of most Canada Day festivities to LeBreton Flats, there will be some noise and action on the grounds.

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At 9:00 a.m. the 75 and 742 Air Cadets Squadrons and Programs, featuring brass and reed bands, pipe and drum ensembles, and highland dancing, will perform for half an hour.  from 9-9:30 a.m.

At 10:00 a.m. and again at 1:45 p.m. the ceremonial guard will be in place for thirty minute stints.

And the Skyhawks, Canada’s Armed Forces Parachute Team, will be dropping from the sky and landing between 3:00 and 3:30 p.m.

How should I travel to downtown celebrations?

Do yourself a favour. Leave the car at home while going downtown to check out the snowbirds and the show of unity. There’s no parking on site. In fact, much of downtown will be closed to traffic altogether.

Biking is a decent option and there will be a free supervised bike station on site.

OC Transpo, meanwhile, is also offering free bus and train service throughout the day, including along the O-Line from Tunney’s Pasture to Blair.

Heritage Canada officials are recommending that crowds heading to the show get off at the Lyon Station and make the 15-20 minute walk northwest to LeBreton Flats, much to the dismay of Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe.

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Sutcliffe has expressed his frustration at Heritage Canada officials for not being able to work out a solution for traffic flow from the Pimisi Station stop on the O-Line, which is a three-to-five minute walk to the LeBreton Flats site.

In 2023, O-Line riders were not allowed off at Pimisi Station from 8-10 p.m. while heading to the site for the fireworks show.
Local residents and those with mobility issues will be allowed access.

Who is performing at Canada Day celebrations?

There will be a little bit for all musical tastes and a cross-section of Canadian talent on the stage for the evening show, which begins at 7 p.m., when DJ Miss Shelto takes the stage. The main show, leading up to the fireworks, will include Maesto Fresh Wes, often described as the “Godfather of Canadian hip hop”. Metric, the indie rock stars perhaps best known for their hit, Breathing Underwater, will also take the stage, along with Chromeo, Corneille, FouKi, Neon Dreams, Kanen, Qattuu, Kiesza, Sara Dufour and Willows, also known as Geneviève Toupin.

Read more about the artists:

Canada Day in Ottawa: Metric, Maestro Fresh Wes, Chromeo and more to play the evening show

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When are the fireworks?

The big closer of the Canada Day bash is the fireworks show, which is expected to begin at approximately 10 p.m.

Tell me about the road closures

The list of Canada Day street closures is exhaustive. Take a deep breath and read on, brave citizens of Ottawa:

• Wellington Street between Elgin Street and Kichi Zibi Mikan Parkway
• Kichi Zibi Mikan Parkway between Parkdale Avenue and Wellington Street (NCC Parkway)
• Sparks Street between Lyon Street North and Bronson Avenue
• Queen Street between O’Connor Street and Bronson Avenue
• Bank Street between Wellington and Albert Streets
• Kent Street between Wellington and Albert Streets
• Lyon Street North between Wellington and Albert Streets
• Bay Street between Wellington and Albert Streets
• Bronson Avenue between Sparks and Albert Streets
• Commissioner Street between Wellington and Albert Streets
• Booth Street between Chaudière Crossing and Albert Street
• Vimy Place between Kichi Zibi Mikan Parkway and Booth Street
• Fleet Street between Booth and Lett Streets – resident access at the corner of Booth and Albert Streets
• Lloyd Street between Fleet and Lett Streets – resident access at the corner of Booth and Albert Streets
• Lett Street between Lloyd and Wellington Streets. Resident access at the corner of Booth and Albert Streets
• Onigam Street between Lemieux Island and Kichi Zibi Mikan Parkway

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Are there additional nighttime street closures?

Boy, am I glad you asked. Yes. From 7 p.m. – 2 a.m. They include:

• Albert Street between City Center Avenue and Elgin Streets
• Queen Street between O’Connor and Elgin Streets
• Bank Street between Albert and Slater Streets
• City Center Avenue from Albert to the end of the street

Are any cycling/ walking paths closed on Canada Day?

Yes. Cyclists and pedestrians will have to negotiate their way around the action at LeBreton Flats, too.

The following pathways closed from 4:30 p.m. on June 30 to 2 a.m. on July 2:

• The Trans Canada Trail along the Ottawa River Pathway, from the access point on Booth Street behind the Canadian War Museum to the access point on Onigam Street, at the corner of Kichi Zibi Mikan Parkway
• The pathway that connects the Trans Canada Trail and the pathway that runs between the O-Train Pimisi and Bayview.
• The Trillium Pathway, from the junction with the Trans-Canadian Pathway (Ottawa River Pathway) to the pathway located at the back of the O-Train Bayview station.

Canada Day in the ByWard Market

The Ooh Music Arts and Streetwear Festival will be in the Byward Market throughout Canada Day for those in the mood for vintage shopping and an open air dance party.

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Music fans might want to check out the Capital City Stompers jazz quartet in Confederation Park from 1-3 p.m., or the Symphony of Canadian Pride from the NAC Orchestra on 1 Elgin Street from 2:30-3:45.

What’s up in Gatineau?

Lively celebrations will also be on-going at Le Vieux-Hull, on Laval Street in Gatineau.

The day long fun fest will include a 10 a.m. appearance by famed rapper Dubmatique and a 7 p.m. performance by Montreal singer/songwriter Kallitechnis.

What’s the best event for kids?

There’s a new home for the Kiwanis OHHH Canada Kids Festival.

The popular “kids-centric” Canada Day event has moved to Millennium Park from its former home at Petrie Island.

It begins at 11 a.m. and activities will include an obstacle course, face painting, fish pond, scavenger hunt, bike rally and a performance by Magical Marvin at 3 p.m.

The festival wraps up at 5 p.m.

While fireworks were previously part of the show at Petrie Island, there won’t be any this time around.

Meanwhile, there are Canada Day events in Nepean, too

Barrhaven’s Clarke Fields will be home to a full day of action, culminating in a 10 p.m. fireworks show.

The show includes an afternoon midway and an evening musical program featuring Monkey Rock Music, The RockPhiles and Disco Inferno.

Hey, how are you celebrating Canada Day in Ottawa? Let us know in the comment section, and we will continue to update this post with community events.

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