CANADA 150 CHECKLIST
Your guide to the best of the best in Ottawa
Ottawa’s streets will be more animated than usual this year, with walking monsters, pop-up performances, shows and numerous special events, to mark Canada’s 150th birthday in 2017.
The festivities begin with the ceremonial lighting of the Ottawa 2017 cauldron at 6:15 p.m. on Dec. 31 at City Hall and will move on to Parliament Hill.
A “Fire of Friendship” torch relay will carry the flame from City Hall to Parliament Hill where the torch will be used to reignite the Centennial Flame at 6:45 p.m., beginning 150th celebrations on Parliament Hill, where they kick off at 7 p.m. with performances and a pyromusical fireworks show.
The special New Year’s Eve events mark the beginning of a year of celebrations. Here are some of the events: Stanley Cup celebrations in March, including the groundbreaking for a Stanley Cup monument on Sparks Street, a concert, an event with NHL legends and an outdoor NHL game. The public will also have a chance to see the Stanley Cup — under the portrait of Lord Stanley — at Rideau Hall, all between March 15 and 18.
A so-called “Inspiration Village” made of sea containers will open in the ByWard Market between May 20 and Sept. 4. The village on York Street, built in partnership with the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, will be the site of special exhibits and performances.
Sesquicentennial celebrations get into high gear in the warmer months.
Canada Day is a major focus of the year-long celebrations. This year there will be a weekend of 150th celebration events, including musical performances, fireworks and special displays.
In addition, the newly redesigned Canada Hall at the Museum of History opens in time for July 1, as does the redesigned National Arts Centre.
Food will be an ongoing theme of the 2017 celebrations. On July 2 there is an already sold-out picnic being held on the interprovincial bridge.
High-flying foodies will have a chance to dine 150 feet in the air from July 7 to 22, held aloft by a crane high above City Hall. Cocktail and gourmet dinner options are available for $150 and $250.
Among special features will be a giant, fire-breathing dragon and huge mechanical spiders that will roam the streets of downtown Ottawa from July 26-30.
It will mark the North American debut of La Machine, created by a French-based production company.
From July 1-October 15, Mosaicanada features the horticulture technique of mosaiculture, which combines sculpture, paint and horticulture to make living artworks. It will take place at Jacques-Cartier Park.