The City of Calgary is inviting all residents to take part in the largest Canada Day celebration the city has ever seen.

The event kicks off with the creation of a living flag at the Enmax Main Stage at Prince’s Island Park where more than 30 musical acts will perform throughout the day.

There are also loads of fun old-fashioned games like ‘egg on a spoon’, potato sack races, and an interactive scavenger hunt.

Festival-goers can begin their journey at the Park and Pedal lots found at the Pumphouse Theatre and Max Bell Arena and bike their way into the city.

Seven different zones in the core have a diverse range of performances – different genres of music, youth poetry competitions, a street fair, and the chance for you to learn the ‘Sweet City Woman’ dance with Calgary 2012.

Canada Day in Calgary will also have plenty to eat as Olympic Plaza transforms into a dining room for all the fine foods the city has to offer.

There, residents have the chance to fill their own picnic basket with local fruits, cheeses, and baked goods. They can also sit down for a meal in one of the local eateries, or grab a bite from one of the food trucks.

To cap off a great day, be sure to stay for the fireworks from the Centre Street Bridge.

That venue will allow all Calgarians to take in the show if they are downtown or at home.

For a full list of activities and venues, you can visit calgary.ca/canadaday.

There is also a City of Calgary Canada Day app available from iTunes store.

Traffic closures on Canada Day

In order to provide a safe and family-friendly environment for Canada Day participants, the following roads will be closed to vehicular traffic from 6 a.m. July 1 until 1 a.m. July 2:

  • Riverfront Ave from 2 Street S.W. to 5 Street S.E.
  • Confluence Way S.E. from 5 Street S.E. to 6 Avenue S.E.
  • 2 Avenue S.W. from 2 Street S.W. to cul-de-sac at Chinese Cultural Centre
  • 1 Street S.W. from Riverfront Avenue S.W. to 2 Avenue S.W.
  • Centre Street N. from 2 Avenue to 3 Avenue
  • 1 Street S.E. from Riverfront Avenue S.E. to 3 Avenue S.E.
  • Lower deck of Centre Street Bridge

Single lane access at Riverfront Avenue from Macleod Trail S.E. to the Langevin Bridge, will allow for access to residents and business patrons traveling eastbound to 4th Ave.

The following road and pathway closures will be in effect from from 8 p.m. July 1 to 1 a.m. July 2 to ensure the safe implementation of fireworks:

  • Pathways from Prince’s Island Park to 4 Street S.E. and Sien Lok Park to 1 Street S.E.
  • Centre Street Bridge
  • Centre Street N. from 3 Avenue S. to 7 Avenue N.
  • Samis Rd. N.E.
  • Memorial Drive south lane from 3 Street N.W. to 4 Street N.E.

Free shuttle

Calgary Transit will be operating a free Canada Day shuttle in the downtown area from 11 a.m. to midnight with stops at 6 Street and Eau Claire, Riverfront Avenue and 3 Street, Fort Calgary main entrance and 6 Ave between Macleod Trail S.E. and 1 Street S.E.

With files from calgary.ca