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Canada Day celebrations return to Fort McMurray with music, parade, and fireworks
FORT MCMURRAY, AB. — Fort McMurray is gearing up for a full weekend of Canada Day celebrations, with events taking place June 30 and July 1 throughout the city.
Festivities begin the evening of June 30 with a free outdoor concert at the SMS Equipment Stadium at Shell Place featuring The Road Hammers. The concert starts at 7 p.m. and concludes with a fireworks display at 11 p.m., lighting up the sky above MacDonald Island Park.
On July 1, the annual Canada Day Parade kicks off at 10:30 a.m. at the corner of Main Street and Franklin Avenue. It will travel south along Franklin and wrap up at Riedel Street and Clearwater Drive. A sensory-friendly viewing block will be in place from 10:15 to 10:30 a.m. on Main Street, where floats and performers will reduce noise to create a more accessible experience for those who prefer a quieter environment.
Community members are encouraged to wear red, white and orange, and to decorate their homes with lights and displays. After the parade, free family activities will run from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at MacDonald Island Park. Entertainment includes Team T&J’s Jumpin’ Jamboree, face painting, bouncy castles, an obstacle course and other family-friendly attractions.
Other events include a free pancake and Bannock breakfast provided by the Multicultural Association of Wood Buffalo at kiyām Community Park from 8 to 10 a.m., and open hours at Fort McMurray Heritage Village from noon to 5 p.m. with admission by donation.
To ease congestion, public transit is available to and from all event sites, with detours in place for routes 7, 8, 10, 11, 91 and 92 between 6 a.m. and 1 p.m. The Main Street Terminal will be closed, with buses instead staging along MacDonald Avenue between Hardin and Morrison Streets. Drivers are asked not to follow the parade and to turn in the opposite direction once the event passes to help with traffic flow.
Several roads will be temporarily closed for the parade. Clearwater Drive will see one lane closed between Main and Riedel Streets from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m., while Franklin Avenue, Riedel Street and Main Street will have full closures between 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Intersections will reopen as the parade moves along.
Residents can find more information about the full schedule and transportation details at rmwb.ca/CanadaDay. The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo encourages everyone to celebrate safely and join together in a spirit of community and reflection on Canada’s shared history.
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