Free city events to mark 150th

Edmonton will host 16 hours of free Canada Day events — both at City Hall and the Alberta legislature grounds — to ring in Canada’s 150th birthday.

Events at City Hall will run from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m., the city announced Friday, featuring multicultural and family-friendly performances throughout the day as well as the Works Art and Design Festival, highlighting Canada’s diversity, culture and history.

The Alberta legislature will be home to activities from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. across the grounds, including Capital Plaza, the Edmonton Federal Building and inside the legislative building.

Free events include a welcome ceremony at noon on the front steps, the Alberta Family Fun Zone, two stages and an indigenous showcase. The grounds will also host third-party events such as the Canada Day road race, the annual pancake breakfast and a citizenship ceremony.

The day will wrap up with a fireworks show choreographed with the High Level Bridge light show at 11 p.m. in the river valley.

The City of Edmonton and the Legislative Assembly of Alberta will jointly receive $700,000 from the federal government to go toward Canada Day celebrations in Edmonton. This funding from the Canadian Heritage Canada 150 Fund will go to increased entertainment for the day’s celebrations.

“Canada’s sesquicentennial is a perfect occasion for us to showcase what makes Edmonton unique while proudly celebrating all that we have in common,” Mayor Don Iveson said in a news release.

“It’s going to be one heck of a party, and we are going to mark this national milestone in a way only Edmonton can.”

Around 300,000 people are expected to attend the sesquicentennial celebrations in Edmonton throughout the day.

It’s going to be one heck of a party, and we are going to mark this national milestone in a way only Edmonton can.