Canada Day and the VSO in Whistler
This year, July 1 marks a very special Canada Day, as the nation celebrates 150 years of confederation—otherwise known as the country’s birthday. Such a momentous occasion pretty much demands that you celebrate someplace special. And, it is pretty hard to find anywhere better than Whistler Resort.
Sure, the iconic mountain destination has always been a hotbed of Canadiana, having spawned a generation of artists and Olympians known nationwide. But, on Canada Day, you might say Whistler really shows off its red and white colours with pride.
The national celebration kicks off with the always popular Whistler Canada Day Parade. It starts at noon, and winds through the Village, so there are plenty of great vantage spots from which to see Whistler’s RCMP in their red serge uniforms, Miss Blackcomb and Miss Whistler, plus folks in festive costumes and locals showing their Canadian pride on bikes, unicycles and more.
For your evening’s entertainment, at 8:30 p.m., Music Director Bramwell Tovey conducts the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra’s annual free concert at Whistler Olympic Plaza. Maestro Tovey will conduct a new piece called
Ancestral Voices, co-written and sung by First Nations Mezzo Soprano Marion Newman. Also, the VSO will perform Bizet’s
Carmen Suite, Elgar’s Enigma Variations and grandly end with Tchaikovsky’s
1812 Overture.
Canada Day in the mountains, under the stars and with a live performance by the VSO… what could be better?
Well, in between the parade and the VSO show, you could experience a Canada Day Carnival at the Westin Resort & Spa, or Canada Day 150 events with Whistler Blackcomb at the Roundhouse Lodge. You could also continue to whet your classical music appetite and head to Maury Young Arts Centre for the first of two free concerts by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestral Institute at Whistler (VSOIW). You can catch the VSOIW at the Arts Centre July 1 at 4:30 p.m., and July 2 at 1:30 p.m.
Finally, there’s an awesome fireworks display right at the base of Whistler Mountain at 10:15 p.m. And, of course all the Canada 150 parties that will be happening at the resort’s clubs, pubs and lounges.
But, that’s just Canada Day. On July 2 there is the popular Whistler Farmers’ Market, another free VSO performance of classical favorites at 8:30 p.m. in the Plaza, and much, much more.
With so much going on, why not come up to celebrate Canada Day in Whistler—and stay all week to experience it all! More at whistler.com/july_long_weekend.