'Monumental' Canada Day at The Forks features fireworks, 5 stages, 50 acts
The free, family-friendly programming happens all day long across The Forks site
The biggest Canada Day celebration ever hosted at The Forks is set to begin at sunrise and end close to midnight in a blaze of pyrotechnics.
"The Forks has been a historical meeting place for over 6,000 years, so you can bet we're excited to host this monumental celebration," said Paul Jordan, CEO of The Forks North Portage.
"We have an exceptional lineup of locally-bred talent performing all day on five stages across our site, and a fireworks show like none you've ever seen here before."
Canadian folk-rock band Whitehorse will headline the live music performances at the July 1 festivities. The husband-and-wife duo is made up of Winnipeg-raised guitarist Luke Doucet and singer Melissa McClelland.
The free, family-friendly programming happens all day long on five stages across The Forks site.
A powwow and Indigenous storytelling will take place at the Oodena Celebration Circle, the Assiniboine River backdrops to the Port Stage and acts that include Red Moon Road, The Mariachi Ghost and Scott Nolan, the Canopy Stage near the market building features Winnipeg's Sierra Noble as well as Grant Davidson's Slow Leaves, while the Plaza Skatepark will offer demos and DJs.
The day will be capped by a fireworks show by award-winning Archangel Fireworks as well as various pyrotechnics around The Forks site.
Thousands of people are expected to attend, so The Forks is offering a free bike valet service all day where cyclists can store their bikes.
The Government of Canada, through the Canada 150 Fund, is providing $400,000 in funding to The Forks to support the party.
"In this momentous Canada 150 year, Canada Day celebrations will highlight what makes our country so unique, diverse and vibrant. I invite all people of Winnipeg to participate in the activities taking place on July 1," said Mélanie Joly, minister of Canadian Heritage.
"Take advantage of this unique opportunity to celebrate this important milestone with your family, friends and neighbours."
Main Stage: Festival Field
- 5 p.m. — Mamadou.
- 5:45 p.m. — Carly Dow.
- 6 p.m. — TBA.
- 6:45 p.m. — Alpha Toshineza.
- 7 p.m. — Kayla Luky.
- 7:45 p.m. — Ila Barker.
- 8 p.m. — The Noble Thiefs.
- 9 p.m. — Whitehorse.
- 9:45 p.m. — JC Campbell.
- 10 p.m. — Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra.
- 10:40 p.m. — WSO and Faouzia.
- 11 p.m. — Fireworks and site-wide pyrotechnics.
Oodena Celebration Circle
- Sunrise —Spirit Riders
- 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. — Powwow, storytelling, human library.
Canopy Stage
- Noon — TBA.
- 1 p.m. — TBA.
- 2 p.m. — Sol James.
- 3 p.m. — Justin Lacroix.
- 4 p.m. — Sierra Noble.
- 5 p.m. — Slow Leaves.
Port Stage
- 1:30 p.m. — Riel Gentlemen's Choir.
- 2:30 p.m. — 3Peat.
- 3:30 p.m. — The Lock Down.
- 4:30 p.m. — Mitchell Schimnowski.
- 6 p.m. — Scott Nolan.
- 6:45 p.m. — Bunny.
- 7 p.m. — The Mariachi Ghost.
- 7:45 p.m. — Mitchell Schimnowski.
- 8 p.m. — Lanikai.
- 8:45 p.m. — Julie + Jeremy Penner.
- 9 p.m. — Aboriginal School of Dance.
- 9:20 p.m. — Jade Turner.
- 10 p.m. — Red Moon Road & Friends Canadian Songbook.
- 11 p.m. — Fireworks + site-wide pyrotechnics.
Plaza Skatepark
Noon until 5 p.m. — Red Riding Media + SK8 Skates skateboard demos + group skate with DJ Hunnicutt, DJ Wuki + DJ².