Canada Day
Goderich is the Place to be for the Canada Day Weekend!
Canada Day Weekend in Goderich is always a party, but this year, there are activities taking place Thursday, June 26th right through to Monday July 1st – and we want to see you there!
Of course, we are hosting the annual Fireworks Display at the Goderich Waterfront on Sunday, June 30th, followed by the Canada Day Parade at 2 PM on Monday, July 1st. This year, the Goderich Children’s Festival will start at 10 AM on Monday, July 1st and will keep you and your kiddos entertained all morning!
The Goderich BIA will kick off the long weekend with their Thursday Evening Concert Series on the Courthouse Square Performance Stage. On this Thursday, June 27th, catch crowd favourite, Lance Bedard, who will be bringing his blend of acoustic rock/pop/country to Downtown Goderich. The show starts at 7 PM, and if the weather is good, be sure to bring a lawn chair, as these free concerts tend to fill up quickly!
The Huron Multicultural Festival has expanded to two days of celebrations, kicking off summer with a party in the Square on Friday, June 28, with JUNO Award winning group Digging Roots and opener Drives the Common Man. This licensed, ticketed event will have you up and dancing into the long weekend. Tickets are on sale now. For more information, visit: huroncounty.ca/multicultural-festival!
The Huron Multicultural Festival continues in Courthouse Park on Saturday, June 29th with a free, full-day festival that’s fun for the whole family! A Goderich favourite for years, this festival celebrates the customs and traditions of Canada’s diverse populations. Enjoy live music and dance from around the world, a global food court and marketplace, children’s activities, licensed beer garden, and more! For more information, visit: huroncounty.ca/multicultural-festival
Rounding out (or octagon-ing out, if you will) your Saturday and Sunday mornings, are the BIA Farmer’s Market and BIA Sunday Market. If the weather is good, vendors will be set-up for around Courthouse Square between 8 AM until 1 PM (later if the weather is good!).
The fun doesn’t stop there! On Sunday, June 30th, head to Lions Harbour Park for the Annual Lions Beef BBQ starting at 1:30 PM. Tickets will be available for purchase at Goderich Tourism or from a Lions member. Following your feed of beef, the Goderich Laketown Band Concert Series will be taking the stage for 7 PM on the Lions Bandshell Stage.
That night, we all head down to the Goderich Waterfront for the Fireworks Display which will begin at dusk. This year, a food truck trail will stretch the length of the boardwalk, offering up a new food choice every 200 meters. This is always the busiest event in Goderich, so plan to arrive early.
And just when you thought you’d done all there was to be had in Goderich this Canada Day weekend, Goderich Tourism will host the 21st Annual Goderich Children’s Festival starting at 10 AM on Courthouse Square Park. This year’s event will feature inflatables, live entertainment, obstacle courses, STEAM and crafting workshops, and even a crafting supply swap!
Finally, we wrap up the weekend with the 2024 Goderich Canada Day Parade starting at 2 PM sharp on Monday, July 1st. Registrations for the parade have opened and folks can register their float by visiting the Events page at EXPLOREGODERICH.CA.
There’s too much to miss this Canada Day weekend in Goderich. So why not stay home and enjoy your community for Canada Day! See you there!
Canada Day Weekend Events
Click on the dropdown menu to learn more about Goderich's upcoming events...
Monday, July 1
UPDATE: Registration closed on Friday, June 21. If you would still like to enter a float in the parade, please arrive at the corner of South Street and Elgin Avenue West, where our parade marshals will fit you it.
It’s time to celebrate Canada and what better way to show your Canadian pride than entering a float into the Goderich Parade! If you would like to enter to be part of this year’s parade, here are the important details.
WHEN: Monday, July 1st, 2023 at 2:00 PM
MARSHALLING: 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM (Elgin Avenue West)
ROUTE START: Wellington Street and West Street, Travelling East up West Street to Courthouse Square, Moving clockwise around Courthouse Square to South Street
ROUTE END: South Street and Elgin Avenue West
CONDITIONS
1. Registration deadline is Friday, June 21, 2023
2. Tourism Goderich must approve of entry
3. Entries with animals must provide their own means of clean-up
4. Floats may HAND OUT candy. Throwing is NOT PERMITTED.
5. Parade will be marshalled on Elgin Ave., west of South Street at 1 pm
6. You will be emailed or telephoned your parade position by June 26, 2023
Sunday, June 30
Dusk, Goderich Waterfront
This year’s Fireworks Display will be deliciously fun!
Head down to the Goderich waterfront on Sunday, June 30th at one of the 5 access points to our beautiful beaches where volunteers from Camp Menesetung will be collecting donations on behalf of Goderich Tourism for the Fireworks Display. You can tap or donate in cash, just look for the volunteers in safety vests with the white buckets. Your donation helps to ensure we can continue this programming in the future!
Once you get down to the Waterfront, a trail of food trucks will surely satisfy your sweet (or savoury) tooth. Along with the Beach Hut and Rotary Cove Wheelhouse, serving up delicious offerings, at total of 4 food trucks will be at the waterfront. They are:
Local Rolla
Wicked Witches of West Street
Party Tyme Amusements
Mardelle’s Cookies, Cakes and Coffee
These trucks will be spread out along the waterfront, so feel free to take a stroll and sample all that the waterfront food trail has to offer!
A special thank you to the Goderich Marina for the donation of the barge, making this fireworks display possible!
Canada Day Lawn & House Decorating Contest
For the month of June, we challenge all the good folks of Goderich to decorate their lawns, homes, windows, and balconies in the Canada Day spirit! All who decorate are eligible to enter to win a grand prize valued at over $150 and a secondary prize valued at $50.
All you have to do is decorate, take a picture, and share your picture with @GoderichTourism. You can tag us online on your preferred social media, or email your picture to TOURISM@GODERICH.CA.
Let’s make Goderich the Canada Day destination in Huron County!
For complete contest rules, click HERE.
Goderich Canada Day Scavenger Hunt
STARTING POINT: Huron Historic Gaol
The Canada Day Scavenger Hunt has returned and this year’s journey will take you all over Goderich! At any point during the week leading up to, and after the Canada Day weekend, folks can start their scavenger hunt at the Huron Historic Gaol and see if they can complete all the stops!
Be sure to take a picture of you and your friends completing the Scavenger Hunt to enter to win a prize from Goderich Tourism! Simply, snap a pic and share it with @GoderichTourism or send it to TOURISM@GODERICH.CA.
For complete contest rules click HERE.
Thursday, June 27
7 PM – 9 PM BIA Thursday Evening Concert Series
Running every Thursday and Saturday throughout the summer months, the Goderich BIA hosts a different band each performance. Free to all those who can attend, this performance will certainly get you in the mood for the long weekend!
To see what the BIA has planned for the summer, including their Thursday & Saturday Concert Series line up, head to goderichbia.ca
Friday, June 28
The Kick-Off To Canada Day Concert ft. Digging Roots and Drives the Common Man
Gates Open at 6:30 PM
Hosted by the Huron Multicultural Festival
FREE
New this year to the Multicultural Festival line-up, a ticketed evening concert in Courthouse Square Park will be an excellent kick-off to the Canada Day weekend. Enjoy great, live entertainment, as well as excellent local beverages on tap.
For more information and to purchase your tickets today, visit huroncounty.ca/multicultural-festival
Saturday, June 29
9 AM – 2 PM BIA Farmer’s Market
The BIA Farmer’s Market will be in full swing for Saturday morning and will no doubt have some special additions to vendors’ wares in celebration of this weekend!
12 PM – 6 PM Huron Multicultural Festival
One of Goderich’s favourite festivals, the Huron Multicultural Festival is once again going to turn Goderich Courthouse Square Park into a world of fantastic food, drink, and entertainment.
Sunday, June 30
9AM – 2 PM BIA Sunday Market
The BIA Sunday Market will be taking place in the Courthouse Square and will be the perfect spot to find a Canada Day treasure.
3:30 – 6:30 PM Lions Beef BBQ
The Lions will be in Lions Harbour Park serving up a delicious meal. Tickets are available now at Goderich Tourism.
6:30 PM Goderich Laketown Band Sunday Concert
As part of their summer concert series, the Goderich Laketown Band will be performing on the Lions Harbour Park stage for folks looking to enjoy a beautiful evening outside.
Waterfront Fireworks Display
Dusk at the Goderich Waterfront
We will kick off the weekend with our evening fireworks display. Special thanks to the Goderich Marina for their donation of the barge to make these displays possible. This year, a food truck village will help make your fireworks display even sweeter (or more savoury)! Have your pocket change ready, or tap to donate as you head down to the waterfront. Your donation helps to ensure that Goderich Tourism can keep hosting these great events for our community.
Monday, July 1
10 AM – 2 PM Goderich Children’s Festival
This year, we are kicking off Canada Day with the Goderich Children’s Festival, starting at 10:00 am. There will be inflatables, games, crafts, and so much more – all located in Courthouse Square Park!
2 PM Canada Day Parade
The Canada Day Parade will follow the traditional parade route and will start promptly at 2 pm. Folks wishing to take part in the parade but have not registered in advance, can join at South St. and Elgin Ave to be added into the parade by one of our excellent Parade Marshalling Team.
2 – 5:30 PM Canada Day Ballroom Dance
Join folks at the MacKay Centre for a day of dancing and celebration. Admission is by donation and there will be demonstrations for folks looking to learn.
4 PM Waterfront Sail-By Parade
Hosted by the Goderich Yatch Club in conjunction with the Goderich Marina
After the parade finishes, head to the Goderich Waterfront to catch one of the most spectacular parades on Lake Huron! Folks from the Goderich Yatch Club and Goderich Marina, will take to the water and parade all the way down to Rotary Cove (weather permitting).
If you haven’t taken in the Sail-By parade, this is an event you won’t want to miss! Set-up on the beach, grab a bite from one of the many amazing waterfront vendors, and enjoy the show!