Canada Day is gearing up to be the year's most anticipated celebration as the Downtown Squamish Business Improvement Association (DSBIA) presents a slew of events at UnPavilion Park Wednesday (July 1).
This year's festivities include the Legion parade at 10:30 a.m., which will wind its way from the Howe Sound Inn to the Municipal War Memorial. At 11 a.m. a flag-raising ceremony will be followed by birthday cake commemorating Canada's 142nd birthday.
Stick around to watch the dog agility demonstration at Stan Clarke Park, where highly trained pooches will demonstrate their canine-skills.
Also taking place will be the Family Fun Carnival where for $5, kids of all ages can enjoy the Pirate Hook Game, take part in a Shark Attack, Chuck a Chef's Chicken and take part in old-time favourites like the Carnival Toss.
The VISUALS Art at the Market is again on display at the Squamish Arts Council Building adjacent to the park. This year, attendees will have a chance to win art donated by famous artists Jan Phelan just by voting for their favourite item on display at the People's Choice Draw.
Other events include a gymnastics demonstration and the ever-popular Squamish Farmer's Market where local vendors offer a variety of fresh vegetables, fruit and other comely goods on display for sale.
Musical events start at 4 p.m. with a special interactive musical experience performed by Sh茅, whose charismatic performances have captivated and engage family audiences throughout North America.
Sh茅 is one of Western Canada's top children's performers. A singer songwriter who uses her guitar and Carole King-like voice to create a fun-filled, high energy family show, she keeps her audiences dancing, singing and playing along with instruments as she performs her own music.
The music heats up from there with Vancouver guitar-pop band, Streetlight. Their sound mixes the introspective dance music of New Order, Cut Copy and Whitest Boy Alive with the jangly pop of The Smiths, The Cure and The Kinks.
The power trio Tell Tales, winner of the 2009 Sea to Sky battle of the bands, then takes to facilitate the crowd's musical needs.
Tell Tales boast a repertoire of mainly original sets while coming up fast and hard on the guitar. This is a rock band to be reckoned with - earplugs not provided.
This year's musical crescendo is the sultry Latin numbers of Rumba Calzada - a favourite with Vancouver's Latin jazz and salsa enthusiasts for over 15 years. In 2008 and 2009, Rumba Calzada represented Canada at the Miri International Jazz Festival in Sarawak, Malaysia.
Their latest release was nominated for a 2008 Western Canadian Music Award for Outstanding World Recording of the Year.
To cap the night is the breathtaking fireworks display. Events pyrotechnician extraordinaire Kris Keyeswill work his magic alongside his lovely lady friend, and it promises a new and unique display of fireworks choreography that will finish off Canada Day with a very satisfying bang.
Food vendors will be on-site throughout the day and the ever-popular beer garden will start flowing beer at 5 p.m.
