How and where to celebrate Canada Day around Hamilton

Also, a guide to what’s open and what’s closed on Friday Hamilton’s It’s Your Festival is a multicultural and heritage celebration happening virtually again in 2022. You can watch on Cable 14 at 12, 7 and 11 p.m. or stream it online at itsyourfestival.ca

It’s back with all the crowds, sights and sounds. Celebrating Canada.

First on our list for what to do on Canada Day 2022 is the big bang. Here’s a quick reference for where you can find Canada Day fireworks around Hamilton. Most displays begin at dusk.

Be sure you get there early enough to get your seat and don’t forget a blanket so you can gaze upon the show.

■ Hamilton’s Bayfront Park, 200 Harbourfront Dr. Fireworks start at 10 p.m.

■ Waterdown’s Memorial Park, 200 Hamilton St. N. Fireworks start at 10 p.m.

■ Spencer Smith Park in Burlington. Fireworks are at 10 p.m. 1400 Lakeshore Blvd.

■ Caledonia Fairgrounds, 151 Caithness St. W., Caledonia. Show starts at 10 p.m.

■ Port Dover’s Silver Lake Park on St. Patrick Street. Sponsored by Port Dover Lions Club. Show starts around 10 p.m.

■ Milton Fairgrounds, 136 Robert St., Milton. Show starts at dusk.

■ Bronte Heritage Waterfront Park, 2340 Ontario St. Fireworks display at dusk off Bronte Pier.

Here are details on where you can find full-day community Canada Day celebrations with festivals and more around the Hamilton area.

Hamilton

Bayfront Park, 200 Harbourfront Dr., is the place to go Friday with family friendly celebrations from 4 to 10:30 p.m. Get there for the Food Truck Rally, children’s activ- ities, Hamilton Sports Zone featur- ing Hamilton Bulldogs, Forge FC, Toronto Rock and Hamilton Hon- ey Badgers and more. You’ll find free HSR shuttles between down- town and the park. Keep in mind some sections of the bicycle path around Bayfront Park will be closed to the public until Saturday for fire- works setup.

Oh Canada Ribfest

Waterdown’s own Canada Day tra- dition returns. Ribs are the toast of the Oh Canada Ribfest. Gone is the drive-thru event and back is the full force of ribfest with sticky fingers and so much more. Co-hosted by the Rotary Club of Waterdown and the Flamborough A.M. Rotary Club, ribfest runs Friday to Sunday in Memorial Park, 200 Hamilton St. N., Waterdown, with a midway, marketplace, skate jam and more. Hours are 12 to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, noon to 8 p.m. on Sunday. Fireworks are Friday at dusk.

Burlington

Canada Day celebrations filled with activities and entertainment throughout the day in Spencer Smith Park, 1400 Lakeshore Rd. In the morning you’ll find Yoga in the Park and the Canada Day 1 and 5K run. Burlington’s Teen Tour Band hits the stage at 4 p.m. to set off the evening entertainment that finish- es up with fireworks.

Caledonia

The Caledonia Canada Day cele- bration has it all and then some. It’s an entire day of festivities including a parade, live music, inflatable rides, food, vendors and more. Learn about community paramed- ics and meet a K9 Medic. It’s all at the Caledonia Fairgrounds, 151 Caithness St. W., starting at 10:30 a.m.

Port Dover

The day is long with something for everyone in Port Dover. This family fun day starts at 9 a.m. with the soapbox derby and continues until the fireworks at 10 p.m. Don’t miss the dog show, boat parade, parade (2 p.m.), evening concert at Silver Lake and more.

Oakville

Enjoy evening events and free fam- ily fun at Bronte Heritage Water- front Park. Family activities and food trucks open at 6 p.m. with fire- works at 10 p.m.

Milton

Midway, music, beer tent, exhibits and more await at Milton’s Canada Day from 2 to 10:30 p.m. at the Milton Fairgrounds, 136 Robert St. Admission is free, however, The Salvation Army Khi Community is happy to receive new, unopened, not expired, non-perishable food donations.

Rib and Beer Fest

Hamilton Mountain Rib and Beer Fest is in the CF Lime Ridge Mall parking lot, 999 Upper Wentworth St., this weekend. There’s a carnival with midway rides, live music, kid zone, ribs of course and much more. Parking and admission are free. Some vendors only take cash. Hours are noon to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 12 to 7 p.m. on Sunday.

Military Tattoo

Always a Canada Day favourite in Hamilton, the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry Band is hosting the Canada Day Military Tattoo on Fri- day for the first time in two years. Take your blanket or lawn chair to the front lawn at Dundurn Castle, 610 York Blvd., for the free tattoo with RHLI Band, Argyll and Suth- erland Highlanders Pipes and Drums, the Windsor Regiment Band and Highland dancers.

It’s Your Festival

Hamilton’s It’s Your Festival is a multicultural and heritage celebra- tion happening virtually again in 2022. You can watch on Cable 14 at 12, 7 and 11 p.m. or stream it online at

itsyourfestival.ca on Friday.

Day of Mourning

There will be a Day of Mourning event on Friday from 1 to 5 p.m. at Gage Park near the greenhouse. Hosted by grassroots community members, July 1 is a reminder of the genocide of Indigenous Peoples in Canada. Bring lawn chairs, blankets, drums and stories.

Open and closed

Here’s what’s open and what’s closed on Friday for Canada Day.

Open

The Tropical Greenhouse at Gage Park is open on Friday.

The Royal Botanical Gardens is open.

Splash pads and outdoor pools are operating Friday.

Hamilton conservation areas are open seven days a week from sunrise to sunset, unless otherwise posted. You may require reservations for some areas like Spencer Gorge or Lakeland Pool, visit conservationhamilton.ca. The Hamilton Conservation Authority’s main office and administrative headquarters are closed.

HSR is running on a Sunday/holiday schedule Friday. Visit hamilton.ca/hsr or call 905-527-4441.

DARTS is operating holiday service hours on Friday. All subscription trips on DARTS, with the exception of dialysis, are cancelled.

GO Transit is operating on a reduced schedule Friday.

Some Beer Store locations are open Friday, but check thebeerstore.ca for more information.

Closed

All City of Hamilton and Burlington administrative offices will be closed on Friday.

No garbage day in Hamilton or Burlington Friday. Pickup for the week will occur one day later than regularly scheduled. No changes in Niagara.

Community recycling centres and transfer stations are closed.

For emergencies involving roads, water mains, sewer systems, public health and safety issues, in Hamilton, call 905-546-CITY (2489).

To view more affected city services, visit hamilton.ca.

All Hamilton Public Library locations are closed Friday. Bookmobile service is off the road too.

Regular hours resume on Saturday.

All Hamilton civic museums are closed Friday.

Joseph Brant Museum in Burlington is closed Friday.

Hamilton’s indoor pools, recreation centres, seniors centres, and arenas are closed on Friday.

Hamilton Farmers’ Market is closed Friday and opens again Saturday at 8 a.m.

Canada Post is closed. No mail delivery.

LCBO stores are closed Friday. Most grocery stores are closed. Malls such as CF Lime Ridge and Mapleview are closed.