Family fun’s the focus at Woodstock Canada Day bash

Woodstock officials are promising a Canada Day celebration full of family-friendly fun that will culminate in a dazzling fireworks display.

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The planned festivities will include plenty of live music, a “Canadian Kids Zone,” a marketplace and more than a dozen food vendors.

The Canada Day party at Southside Park begins at 2 pm with the first band, Stratford’s Upside of Maybe, taking the main stage. Other performers during the afternoon and evening of entertainment include funk band Fresh Water Funk, country artist Coty Robinson, ’80s tribute band The Bomb and the headlining Mudmen, one of Canada’s best Celtic rock bands.

Early in the afternoon, there will also be a demonstration by Dance in Style while the opening ceremonies are slated for 5 pm

Like previous years, a beverage garden hosted by Woodstock Lions Club will offer attendees a main-stage view for the day’s live music.

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The Canadian Kids Zone will be choc full of fun for kids of all ages. In addition to the inflatable obstacle course and two escape rooms, younger Woodstonians can enjoy face painting, a petting zoo, a balloon twister game and a Canada Day photo booth. There’s also glitter tattoos and a coloring corner, as well as a few planned activities with the Woodstock Public Library.

During the day, Woodstonians will be able to peruse the marketplace at the park, which will feature everything from hot sauces to home-made pies to women’s fashions. If feeling a bit peckish, the food vendors will be serving up gourmet hotdogs, funnel cakes, tacos, ice cream, jerk chicken and other tasty treats.

The Canada Day celebrations will end with a spectacular fireworks display presented by one of the event’s main sponsors, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Inc. The dazzling lights and dynamic pops of the fireworks begin at 9:30 pm, and are expected to last for about 10 minutes .

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This year is also the first for the municipality’s consumer fireworks ban that prohibits their sale and discharge within city limits, meaning the Southside show will be Woodstock’s only “legal” display.

An ATM will be on site during the Canada Day celebrations.

Attendees are also welcome to bring non-perishable food donations to the park to support local charities who help those in need. These gifts will be gratefully accepted by volunteers at the event entrance closest to the park’s main washrooms.

More details about the marketplace and food vendors, as well as a full schedule of entertainment, are available at www.cityofwoodstock.ca/canadaday.

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