No fireworks, but plethora of Canada Day activities, entertainment planned for Chilliwack

Sorry, Chilliwack, but Canada Day will not be ending with a bang this year.

Due to a fire ban that went into effect on June 8, fireworks will not be lighting up the night skies at Townsend Park on July 1. There will, however, still be heaps of entertaining and free events going on throughout the Chilliwack area on Canada Day.

From free movies to activities for kids to soapbox races, Chilliwack will be a busy place on July 1.

Kicking things off will be two pancake breakfasts. The Sardis Kiwanis pancake breakfast is at Evergreen Hall and the cost is $5 per person. The Fire Hall #1 pancake breakfast is by donation at the hall (45950 Cheam Ave.) and it is by donation. Both breakfasts run from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.

New this year will be free movies for the whole family at Cottonwood 4 Cinemas. Owner Cathy Rayner will be opening the doors to the theatres at noon and all movies starting between noon and 4 p.m. will be free. There will be several movies screened including: Fast X, The Super Mario Bros. Movie, and Book Club: The Next Chapter. More info will be posted online closer to the date at cottonwood4cinemas.ca, including other movies that will be screened and how to reserve a seat.

There will be a free skate at the Chilliwack Coliseum from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., free swims at the Chilliwack Landing Leisure Centre and the Cheam Leisure Centre from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and free admission at the Chilliwack Museum from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Streams Foundation Canada is hosting its free Canada Day Coffee with Seniors Party from 10 a.m. to noon at Sardis McDonalds (45225 Luckakuck Way) where there will be free coffee, hamburgers, cheeseburgers and fries for seniors.

READ MORE: Photos from Columbia Valley’s Canada Day celebrations in 2022

Up in the Columbia Valley, the fun starts at 11 a.m. with its annual Canada Day parade at 1202 Kosikar Rd. Those wanting to be in the parade need to line up at 10:30 a.m. There will also be a concession, fire smart demonstrations, and then the soapbox derby is at 1 p.m. For more, go to columbia-valley.ca/event-details/canada-day-in-the-valley.

The Chilliwack River Valley Fire Hall is having an open house from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (48685 Chilliwack Lake Rd.). People can check out the fire hall and trucks, try on some gear, learn about fire safety and see what the local volunteers are all about. There will also be a by-donation hot dog barbecue lunch.

Free events continue in the evening at Townsend Park with activities in the fields and on the two entertainment stages. Starting at 5 p.m., there will be lots of things to keep little ones entertained, and older folks as well.

The kids’ zone runs from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Activities, entertainment and booths include: a balloon artist, face painting, obstacle course with the Valley Huskers, kids’ yoga, parkour courses, photo booth, hot air balloon viewing, pet care, mom lounge, Belle the Chilliwack Chiefs mascot, Chilliwack Search and Rescue, SPCA, Chilliwack Military Museum, Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve, and learning about water conservation with the City of Chilliwack.

People can visit the information booth for complimentary Canada Day swag.

Princesses and ‘Star Warriors’ with Little Moore Magic will be doing story time, sing-alongs and photo ops. People might recognize some of the princesses from the former Ever After Character Company. Showtimes are: 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. for story times and sing-alongs; and 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. for photo ops and wandering about the fields.

About 15 food trucks will be at Townsend Park, plus there’s a beer garden.

Live music will fill the air from 5 p.m. until about 10 p.m. at Townsend. Here’s the stage schedule: 5 p.m. Jordain, 5:30 p.m. opening ceremonies, 5:45 p.m. Good Medicine Songs, 6:15 p.m. Karen Lee Batten, 7:15 p.m. The Maybelles (B stage), 7:45 p.m. Ben Cottrill and Friends, 8:40 p.m. Mark Sullivan and Andy Hillhouse (B stage), and at 9:10 p.m. Paul Filek and OK!FUN!

The event finale will be at 10:05 p.m.

Carol Marleau with the city said the decision was made to cancel the fireworks when the fire ban was put into place, and now they are working on finding a “dynamic replacement.”

READ MORE: Campfire ban goes into effect in the Coastal Fire Centre

For more on the events at Townsend Park and free events at City of Chilliwack facilities, go to chilliwack.com/main/page.cfm?id=2518.

For more info on the Columbia Valley events, go to columbia-valley.ca/event-details/canada-day-in-the-valley.

For more on the free movies at Cottonwood 4 Cinemas, go to cottonwood4cinemas.ca.