Canada Day events will take place all over Oceanside today with breakfast, entertainment, cake, hamburgers, cotton candy, kids activities, a parade and more.
• Events at the Bowser Legion kick off at 11 and run to 5, with a plethora of kids activities.
“We really try and centre it around the kids and family,” said Bobby Bennett, Legion clerk.
There will be bag races, hay rides, a fish pond, face painting, a horseshoe tournament and more. The Mt. Arrowsmith Pipe band will entertain and there will also be highland dancing.
• At the Qualicum Beach Legion there will be some short speeches at 1 p.m., followed by refreshments. Canada Day cake will be served and there will be live entertainment.
• Parksville is where most residents will make their way today with a Shriners pancake breakfast at 7 a.m. and running until 10 a.m. in the Community Park. The parade, running from Shelley Road to Craig Street, begins at 10 a.m. Official ceremonies and cake cutting will be in the park at noon.
Entertainment begins at 12:30 p.m. with winner of the recent Family Day Youth Battle of the Bands competition, El Gemo. Music culminates with the feature act, The Timebenders, at around 8:30.
Kids can enjoy kite flyers, go-carts, bouncy castles, a miniature train, a mechanical bull and more.
The day ends with a Thrifty Foods Firework Spectacular at 10 p.m.
Highway 19A will be closed from 9 a.m. to noon from Martindale Road to the Alberni Highway, for the Parade. There is no parking in Community Park.
A free shuttle service will be available.
For more information on Canada Day events visit www.parksvillecanadaday.com.