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By Shane Clausing

Canada Day

Canada Day festivities in Grande Prairie ready for reboot Saturday

Jul 4, 2020 | 7:00 AM

After Canada Day celebrations were rained out on Wednesday following a record amount of rainfall in the Grande Prairie area, the celebrations will be going ahead as originally planned on Saturday.

The festivities begin at 1:00 p.m. in Downtown Grande Prairie as the city is putting on its first-ever Reverse Parade and Car Show, which will stretch along 100 Avenue from 98 Street to 102 Street.

This is being used as a substitute for the city’s annual Canada Day parade.

Residents are encouraged to stay in their vehicles while driving through downtown Grande Prairie between 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. to check out all of the decorated business as well as check out the vintage vehicles.

Speed limits on the Reverse Parade and Car Show route are set at 15 km/h, so families can get the full Canada Day parade experience.

For those who don’t own a vehicle and can’t drive the parade route, the city will be operating a free shuttle service for residents to view the parade. The shuttle will depart every 15 minutes from City Hall for the duration of the parade route.

For the first time, the city will also be hosting fireworks at two different locations.

Firework shows will begin at 11:45 p.m. on Saturday night. They will be located at Muskoseepi Park and the CKC east football field.

Those that are interested in attending the fireworks are encouraged to show up 30-45 minutes before the start to get a good viewing spot.

Guests that are showing up at the CKC Campus to view the fireworks are being advised to park on the west side of the parking lot. The Coca-Cola Centre side of the parking lot will not be open for parking. If the west side of the parking lot is full, guests are advised to find a parking lot wherever they can get a good viewing of the show.

At Muskoseepi Park people are encouraged to park in surrounding parking lots as well.

Public washrooms will also be available for members of the public at both locations.

Washrooms will be open inside the gates of the CKC grandstand. The Ernie Radbourne Pavilion washrooms at Muskoseepi Park will also be open for use.

People are reminded to remain in their vehicles while continuing to practice physical distancing.

Any further updates will be posted to the city’s Facebook and Twitter feeds.