Canada turns 156 on Saturday.
Along with the countless Canada Day celebrations set to be held from coast to coast, there will be a number of closures to keep in mind.
As the country's birthday falls on a weekend, the statutory holiday, for some, will shift to Monday.
In London the Canada Day closures are as follows:
Most grocery stores, Costco Wholesale, and the LCBO, will be closed on Saturday, while the Labatt Retail Store downtown will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the Beer Store outlets at 1199 Oxford St. West and 1080 Adelaide St. North, and 1600 Dundas St. East will be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Shoppers Drug Mart will have its pharmacies at 1224 Commissioners Rd. West in Byron, 1225 Wonderland Rd. North at Sherwood Forest Mall, and 510 Hamilton Rd. open Saturday. All Rexalls will be open but with reduced hours.
White Oaks Mall, Masonville Place, and Westmount Shopping Centre will keep their doors shut for the national celebration on Saturday. London Public Library branches will also be closed for the day.
Government offices (municipal, provincial, and federal), and banks will be shuttered from Saturday through Monday. There will be no garbage and recycling collection and Canada Post will be closed Monday, meaning there will be no mail delivery.
The London Transit Commission (LTC) will be operating on a holiday schedule on Canada Day. Due to a number of celebratory events happening downtown, Routes 2, 5, 7, 9, 12, 19, 20 and 94 will have detours in effect from 5 p.m. until the end of day. The LTC returns to regular service on Sunday.
For those eager to keep the family entertained throughout the long weekend the following is a list of ongoing community events and activities:
London's 17 spray pads will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. all long weekend. The city's wading and outdoor pools, with the exception of Thames Pool open for the season this weekend. Saturday marks the first time in three years Glen Cairn pool at 370 Chippendale Crescent will be open to the public. To mark the occasion there will be free swims on Saturday and Sunday.
Movie theatres, Storybook Gardens, East Park, city run golf courses, Boler Mountain, and the London Childrens Museum will be open through the long weekend.
The London Heritage Council is hosting a a night market and Canada Day celebration on Dundas Place Friday and Saturday. The night market from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday will feature live entertainment from local artists, street performers, local food and drink vendors, and artisans. From noon to 11 p.m. the following day, the council's Canada celebration will include local artists doing stage and street performances, a showcase of small local businesses, food and drink vendors, artisans, and a dedicated kid’s zone with entertainment and activities. The intersections of Dundas at Richmond streets, Dundas and Ridout streets, Talbot and King streets, and Talbot and Carling streets will be closed from 6 a.m. Friday to 10 a.m. Sunday.
On Friday, the Summerside Canada Day event will be held from 4 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. at Meadowgate Park at 1165 Darnley Blvd. There will be dozens of vendors, food trucks, bouncy castles, music, and fireworks at 10 p.m.
The city's annual Canada Day fireworks display will be held at Harris Park starting at 10 p.m. Saturday. Those planning on attending the free show are encouraged to walk, bike or take the bus to the celebrations as several roads around the park will be closed. As well, the Ivey Park splash pad will close at 6 p.m. to accommodate for the display. Ivey Park and the public walkway in front of the HMCS Prevost on Becher Street will close an hour later for the same reason.
Museum London will hold a free, family-friendly event from noon until 4 p.m. on Saturday. The festivities include a Drop-in Draw-a-thon, a temporary tattoo studio, exhibition tours, short films, and beaded strawberry keychain making. There will also be a hydration and snack station on site.
After a four year hiatus, the East London Canada Day festivities return on Saturday. Organized by the East London Optimists and the Argyle BIA, the free event at the East Lions Community Center will run from 3 p.m. to roughly 10:30 p.m. It will feature indoor activities, such as free swim and craft time, balloon twisters, face painters, and a variety of food trucks. At dusk, there will be a fireworks display.
In south London, the Canada celebration will be held at White Oaks Park at 1119 Jalna Blvd. The day will include live music from local bands, food vendors, children's activities, and fireworks at dusk. Event runs from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m.
The London Majors will host the Hamilton Cardinals at Labatt Park. The game starts at 6:05p.m. Tickets for the game can be purchased through the London Majors' website for $12 per adult and $10 for a senior or youth.
Eldon House is holding an event dubbed "Canada Day: Celebrating the Communities of Canada" from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. It will celebrate the communities that make up Canada’s multiculturalism and unique heritage. The day will include self-guided tours of the museum, historic lawn games, and local entertainment such as a puppet show, local musicians, and dancers.
For fishing enthusiasts and first-time anglers, the province is offering free fishing from July 1 to July 9.