Canada Day celebrations at The Forks will be capped off with fireworks at 11 p.m. on July 1. (THEFORKS.COM)

A day-long party for the country’s 152nd birthday will find itself at The Forks on Canada Day.

Thousands of people are expected to congregate at Winnipeg’s busiest tourist destination on July 1 for local live music, family activities, and of course, fireworks.

Highlights include performances by Indigenous rock group Eagle & Hawk and the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra.

The main event at the CN Stage kicks off with alternative pop-rock by Amadians at 7 p.m. followed by solo-folk artist Madeleine Roger at 8 p.m.

“We take a lot of pride in connecting our community, and Canada Day is certainly an event that brings folks together to celebrate,” says Paul Jordan, CEO, The Forks.

“We’re able to work with outstanding local talent, offer a full slate of activity all day long, and add a new connection component to our neighbours in the Exchange District, all through the support of Canada Life and our sponsors.”

As Jordan mentioned, the Exchange District will play a huge role in this year’s festivities, with the Canada Day Walkway on Waterfront with art activities with Art City and The Travelling Sign Painters and performances at Stephen Juba Park, just south of the Alexander Docks.

Other activities include a pow wow and Founding Nations Tribal Village in Oodena Celebration Circle, pick-up ball hockey in the parking lot, hip hop, salsa and swing dance demonstrations in CN Field, food trucks, lacrosse demonstrations at Parks Canada, a local market hosted by Lucky Girl Pop Up, and Manitoba Music performances all day long on the Canopy Stage.

Bike Valet will be on-site offering free, secure bike and helmet storage all day. Organizers also suggest walking or taking Winnipeg Transit as opposed to driving down.

The complete Canada Day lineup is available at TheForks.com.

Canadian Museum for Human Rights

The CMHR is lowing its admission price to only $5 on Canada Day with the museum operating from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. A free choral concert by Prairie Voices takes place outside in the Moe Levy Amphitheatre starting at 11 a.m. In the event of inclement weather, the performance will take place in Bonnie & John Buhler Hall, located on Level 1.

Assiniboine Park and Zoo

The Assiniboine Park Conservancy will host free, family-friendly entertainment and activities at the Lyric Theatre at the park and offer discounted admission at the Assiniboine Park Zoo.

Festivities at the Lyric Theatre will take place from 11 a.m. to approximately 5:30 p.m. A citizenship ceremony will kick things off sharply at 11.

The Conservancy will also host an open house from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the indoor atrium at The Pavilion where visitors can learn about The Leaf and Diversity Gardens currently under construction in the southeast corner of the park.

The zoo is discounting Canada Day admission for youth, adults and seniors to $14 + GST while children under the age of five are free.

Osborne Street Festival

The signature two-day Canada Day party is back in Osborne Village. The Osborne Village Biz has extended the family fun zone for 2019 with games, face painting, balloons, trampolines, hula hoops, dogs, a scooter half-pipe, and meditation sessions.

Local businesses and food/market vendors will also be set up, along with the Art Jam and the Great Canadian Patriotic Pet Parade.

The official Canada Day ceremony takes place with speeches, O’Canada and cupcakes (for the first 350 people) at the Bell Tower stage at 11 a.m. on July 1.

The following street closures will be in effect starting at 6 a.m. this Sunday, June 30 until 2 a.m. on Tuesday, July 2:

• Osborne Street will be closed from River Avenue to McMillan Avenue at Confusion Corner
• Stradbrook Avenue will be closed from Nassau Street North to Scott Street
• McMillan Avenue will be closed from Osborne Street to the back lane west of Osborne Street
• Gertrude Avenue will be closed from Scott Street to Nassau Street North
• Wardlaw Avenue will be closed from Scott Street to Nassau Street North

St. Norbert Farmers’ Market

A special Canada Day version of the famous St. Norbert Farmers’ Market will be up and running on July 1, just south of the Perimeter.

Various vendors and artisans will be set up from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday. Family activities include dancing, music, a historic tour, face painting, a bouncy castle, a magic show, Canada Day cake, and fireworks at dusk.

Riding Mountain National Park

If staying in Winnipeg isn’t in your long weekend plans, head three hours northwest to Riding Mountain National Park. The park is hosting Indigenous Voices From Our Homeland on July 1. This event will highlight and share resoundingly beautiful, honest, heartfelt, and resilient voices of Indigenous and Anishinabe peoples from our homeland. Visitors are invited to join in for live entertainment from 1-4 p.m. hosted by Tracy Bone featuring Indigenous artists iskwe, Leonard Sumner, and a songwriters’ circle highlighting emerging artists from Treaty 2 territory.