The focus is on family fun during Chemainus’ Canada Day celebrations at Waterwheel Park.
Monday, July 1 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., a wide variety of free activities are being offered at the park.
Some of the fun activities planned include pony rides, a barnyard petting zoo, a scavenger hunt, face painting, crafts, coloring and games.
As a new feature this year, there will be bouncy castles. Other new additions include the band Malaika Marimba, Bobby Cole the roving wizard magician, and free ice cream, popcorn and cotton candy. There will also be free Canada Day cake.
The band Oh! Ogopogo is back this year and is bringing Doug the Dinosaur to the Waterwheel Park bandshell.
“It’s totally a family day, and it’s to bring people into the downtown,” said Dee Kinnee with the Chemainus BIA. “It’s always fun to have events downtown in Chemainus. That’s the magic of Chemainus — we have activities right downtown, and it’s always great to see the families. It’s very kid-oriented.”
Kinnee feels it’s also great to have activities on Canada Day in Chemainus.
“There were activities, but the goal was to expand it so people could enjoy Canada Day in their own downtown,” she said.
Canada Day activities are being presented by the Chemainus BIA, the Chemainus Valley Museum and the Chemainus Valley Cultural Arts Society. Many community groups and businesses have sponsored the celebration, including main sponsors Coastal Community Credit Union, and Canadian Heritage.
“One thing is to have a collaboration between the organizations,” said Kinnee, noting many other groups help contribute to the event. “There’s a lot of contribution, which is so nice."
For more information, visit www.visitchemainus.ca or e-mail info@visitchemainus.ca.