A free, fun-filled family event, South Shuswap Canada Day has been bringing together local residents and visitors alike for the past 33 years.
The all-day event held at Centennial Field begins with the Lion’s Club pancake breakfast, followed by a parade, opening ceremonies, games, bouncies, live music and entertainment.
The day ends with a bang when the spectacular display of fireworks are set off.
The Canada Day Committee, a non-profit society is run by a group of local volunteers who are dedicated to making the South Shuswap’s Canada Day festivities “the biggest little celebration” around.
Starting at 10 a.m., the parade boasts a huge line-up of floats and entries. Thirty-three years ago, the parade was on the eastbound lane of the Trans-Canada Highway in Sorrento and ended at the Sorrento/Blind Bay Park. The best float that first year was “a sweet little girl who was walking, dragging and then carrying her pet rabbit, in historic period dress.”
Nowadays, the parade begins with a large collection antique cars and floats are both local and from afar carrying dignitaries, characters and entertainment.
The local community supports and celebrates both the beautiful Shuswap area and the great country of Canada with their parade floats.
From 9:45 a.m. until the parade ends at approximately 11 a.m., Balmoral Road from Mountview south to Blind Bay Road ,and then along Blind Bay Road to the Canada Day field will be closed to traffic.
Live entertainment will include Blu and Kelly Hopkins at noon, Mike Battie at 1:30, Morning Morrows at 2:30, the Blind Bay Blues Band at 4:30, Cod Gone Wild at 6:30 and Joani Bye and the Diggers at 8.