A complete guide to Canada Day 2024 in Ottawa

Canada Day is coming up on Monday with more than enough to do across Ottawa.

From family-friendly celebrations, fireworks and festivals, here’s a full breakdown of everything to know about Monday, July 1 in Ottawa.

National Canada Day celebrations

Enjoy the shows and activities taking place at LeBreton Flats on Monday, July 1. Canada Day celebrations take place between 9 a.m. and 10:30 p.m. at LeBreton Flats Park, with a long list of activities happening all around Ottawa-Gatineau.

The daytime ceremony commences from 12 p.m. to 1:15 p.m.

The daytime ceremony kicks off the national celebrations with a look at our past, present and future. It underlines important anniversaries and themes while recognizing the diversity of our country. You’ll also have a chance to see the Canada Day Royal Canadian Air Force Centennial Flypast.

The evening show is from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. A two-hour free concert to unite music lovers across the country.

Tim Hortons Canada Day Fireworks will start at 10 p.m. to 10:15 p.m. 

Celebrations will end on a high note in Canada’s Capital Region. See the sky light up over the Ottawa-Gatineau with the Tim Hortons Canada Day Fireworks.

Officials say one of the best places to watch the fireworks will be fired near LeBreton Flats Park in Ottawa.

Downtown road closures and public transit

Getting around downtown on Canada Day will be complicated with numerous road closures and parking restrictions near Parliament Hill and LeBreton Flats.

Affected roads from 6 am July 1 to 2 am July 2 include:

• Bank Street from Albert Street to Wellington Street
• Bay Street from Albert Street to Wellington Street
• Booth Street from Albert Street to rue Eddy, Gatineau
• Bronson Avenue from Slater Street to Sparks Street
• Fleet Street from Lett Street and Booth Street
• Kent Street from Albert Street to Wellington Street
• Kichi Zibi Mikan at Parkdale Avenue and Wellington Street
• Lett Street from Fleet Street and Wellington Street
• Lloyd Street from Fleet Street and Lett Street
• Lyon Street from Albert Street to Wellington Street
• Metcalfe Street from Queen Street to Wellington Street
• O’Connor Street from Queen Street to Wellington Street
• Portage Bridge from Wellington Street to rue Laurier, Gatineau
• Queen Street from Bronson Avenue to Bank Street
• Slidell Street/Onigam Street from Lemieux Island to Bayview Station Road
• Sparks Street from Bronson Avenue to Lyon Street North
• Vimy Place from Wellington Street and Booth Street
• Wellington Street from Kichi Zibi Mikan to Elgin Street

From 9 pm to midnight

• Albert Street from Bronson Street to Bayview Station Road
• Slater Street from Albert Street to Bronson Avenue

Affected pathways from 6 pm June 30 to 6 am July 2:

• Chief William Commanda Bridge
• Ottawa River Pathway from Onigam Street in the west to Portage Bridge in the east and from the Ottawa River in the north to Albert Street in the south
• A portion of the Ottawa River Pathway east of Chief William Commanda Bridge will be closed from June 25 to July 4 for fireworks preparation and cleanup

City officials are encouraging you to use public transit, if possible, as OC Transpo is offering free service all day on O-Train Line 1, buses and Para Transpo.

Transit Services:

• Service will operate on an enhanced Sunday schedule on Monday with extra service all day and into the evening.
• Rural Shopper Route 301 will not run on Monday, July 1.
• Use the Travel Planner or Transit, the recommended app for OC Transpo customers, to plan your trip.
• The Rideau Centre OC Transpo Customer Service Centre will be open on Monday, July 1 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• The OC Transpo Lost and Found (Heartwood House) will be closed on Monday, July 1. Customers can call 613-560-5000 to report a lost item.

Para Transpo: 

• Regular bookings or recurring trips are automatically cancelled on Monday, July 1. Customers can book trips for Canada Day starting one week ahead by calling 613-560-5000 or using My Para Transpo(link is external).
• Para Transpo customers can also text 57272 to connect with customer service representatives from 6 am to 12:30 am for cancellations or information. Standard rates apply.
• The reservations line will be open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• The trip cancellation line will be open from 6 a.m. to 12:30 a.m.
• The Taxi Coupon line will remain open.

Events outside the downtown core

• Barrhaven
  • Canada Day Barrhaven will take place starting at 8:30 a.m. and end with fireworks at 10 p.m. Strandherd Drive will be closed between Dealership Drive/Kennevale Drive and Borrisokane Road from 9:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
• Canada Day Beacon Hill Fireworks
  • The Beacon Hill Community Association will have a fireworks display at Loyola Park at dusk.
• Kanata
  • The 36^th edition of Otto’s Canada Day Road Races takes place on July 1. The Parkway in Kanata will be closed between Reaney Court, Leacock Drive and Teron Road from 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. 
  • Canada Day in Kanata will take place at Walter Baker Park on June 30 from 6 to 11 pm and on July 1 from 8 am to 11 pm. Charlie Rogers Place will be closed between Ron Maslin Way and the Kanata Recreation Centre on June 30 from 5  to 11 p.m. and July 1 from 7 a.m. to 11:30 p.m..
• Dunrobin
  • The Dunrobin Canada Day Celebration will take place at the Dunrobin Community Centre from 4 pm until after the fireworks at sunset.
• Greely
  • The Greely Community Association Canada Day event will take place at the Greely Community Centre from noon to 11 p.m. with fireworks at dusk,
• Orléans 
  • OHHH Canada Kids Festival Jeunesse will take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Millenium Park.
• Osgoode
  • Osgoode’s Canada Day Festival will take place at Osgoode Village Park and the Stuart Holmes Arena from 11:30 a.m. until 11 p.m. Osgoode Main Street will be closed between Nixon Drive and 5673 Osgoode Main Street from 1:45 to 3 p.m.
• Riverside South
  • Riverside South Community Association Canada Day will take place at Claudette Cain Park from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with music starting at 8 p.m. and fireworks at dusk (approximately 10 p.m.).
• Stittsville
  • Canada Day in Stittsville will take place at the field of Sacred Heart High School from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. with fireworks at dusk.

Traffic impacts outside of downtown on July 1:

Some of the special events planned across the city on Canada Day impact nearby roads, with closures and parking restrictions, as listed below:

• Barrhaven
  • Strandherd Drive will be closed between Dealership Drive and Jockvale Road from 9:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
• Canada Day Road Races, Kanata
  • The Parkway in Kanata will be closed between Reaney Court, Leacock Drive and Teron Road from 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.
• Greely
  • Meadows Drive will be closed between Parkway Road and Bank Street from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.
• Kanata
  • Charlie Rogers Place will be closed between Ron Maslin Way and the Kanata Recreation Centre on June 30 from 5 to 11 p.m. and July 1 from 7 a.m. to 11:30 pm.
• Osgoode
  • Osgoode Main Street will be closed between Nixon Drive and 5673 Osgoode Main Street from 1:45 to 3 p.m.

You’re advised to plan your route ahead of time and expect delays.