Brantford, County of Brant and Six Nations residents will be celebrating their national pride during the Canada Day festivities on Tuesday, July 1, 2026.
The day-long event will once again take place at Lions Park Steve Brown Sports Complex and will be the site of several activities including a full slate of live music concluding with Tom Wilson opening for Canadian band Finger Eleven.
While the festivities begin at 11 a.m., the community is invited to attend a Citizenship Ceremony at 10 a.m. at BGC Brantford, where successful applicants will officially become Canadian citizens.
Dave Carrol, Chair of the Brantford Canada Day Committee, said the ceremony is one of his favorite parts of the day.
“It’s the best. Each of these folks that take part in this ceremony have their own really incredible story, and it’s a beautiful picture of what Canada looks like,” he said. “Being the chair of the committee, I get the really amazing job of being able to go around the festival to make sure everyone is enjoying themselves,so I get a little taste of everything and I get to be at this ceremony. It’s very special. It’s one of my favourite parts.”
Throughout the rest of the day, visitors will have the opportunity to explore the park.
Midway, Food and Marketplace
As always, the KidZone Carnival and Midway, food vendors and marketplace will run from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., giving guests the opportunity to shop, and indulge in fun, thrilling rides all day long.
Ride-all-Day bracelets can be purchased ahead of time for $35.40 each online until June 30. Bracelets are $45 plus HST on the day of. Single tickets are $2 plus HST each (all rides require one, two or three tickets).
Children’s Activities
Over in the Young Canadians area, a whole roster of activities are planned to take place from noon until 6 p.m.
Visitors can expect multiple Team T & J and Foam Pop-Up parties, Simons Says shows, Barry O’ Kids Shows, a Paw Patrol storytime with Rubble and City of Brantford director of engineering Jennifer Elliot, a Paw Patrol meet and greet and a performance from 20 Performing Arts Academy.
Pony Rides will also be taking place from noon to 6 p.m. and cost per ride is $10.
Live Music
Over at the main stage, there will be a selection of musical performances taking place from noon to 11 p.m.
The Hell Bent Rockers (12:10 p.m.), Fresh Water Funk (1:25 p.m.), Otis Wonder & the Hustle (2:20 p.m.), Back to the 80s (3:25 p.m.), Steven Taetz (4:35 p.m.), and Tom Wilson (6:30 p.m.) will all perform before Finger Eleven takes the stage at 8:30 p.m.
Other Fun
For those looking to take a snap-shot memory of the day home with them, there will be a free photo booth on the grounds, running from 2 to 8 p.m.
Guiness World Record stilt walker Doug “the Great” Hunt will be roaming around and interacting with the public from 1 to 3:30 p.m., and Marco the Clown will be on site making balloon creations from 3 to 10 p.m.
Parking and Transportation
When it comes to getting to the park, residents can either drive and park on-site. The cost is $10 and 100 per cent of the proceeds will go to Rotary Brantford-Sunrise. Accessible parking is available beside BHi Brantford of Gilkinson Street.
With that being said, parking will not be available on the following streets:
- Brooklyn Avenue
- Catherine Avenue
- Clench Avenue (existing no parking area)
- Charles Street
- Delamere Street
- Edge Street
- Graham Avenue
- Harold Avenue
- Jo Whitney Court
- Magee Street
- Milton Street
- Tuxedo Avenue
Gilkison Street between Mount Pleasant Road and Clench Avenue, Brooklyn Avenue from Mt. Pleasant Street to Delamere Street, Charles Street from Mt. Pleasant Street to Delamere Street, Magee Street from Mt. Pleasant Street to Milton Street, and Milton Street from Magee Street to Charles Street will be closed Wednesday, July 1, 2026 at 7:00 a.m. until Thursday, July 2, 2026 at 12:00 a.m.
Free shuttle services will be available at the following locations and will be running every half hour from the following start times.
- 11:00 a.m. (then every 30 minutes)-Brantford Mall and Old City Hall (stop corner of Wellington Street and George Street.)
- 11:05 a.m. (then every 30 minutes)-Dunsdon and Coachwood and Eagle Place Community Centre
- 11:15 a.m. (then every 30 minutes)-Lynden Park Mall and Brantford Civic Centre
- 11:30 a.m. (then every 30 minutes)-Grey Street extension and Linden Road and the Brantford Salvation Army
Shuttles to leave the event are available at the shuttle arrival area at 10:30 p.m. with drop-offs at all of the above listed stops.
Brantford’s Green Team
While at the event, guests will see several green umbrellas with volunteers sporting matching green shirts. At those stations will be volunteers with the Brantford Green Team and they will be onsite to help visitors properly sort their waste.
The Green Team is on a mission to divert 75 per cent of the waste from this year’s event and are encouraging visitors to bring a reusable water bottle with them as there will be a Quench Buggy for free water refills.
Carrol said that one of the things that make Brantford’s Canada Day celebration so special is that it’s something the community can rely on.
“This happens annually and so it’s something the people of our city can count on,” he said. “Just like the Santa Claus Parade, it’s an event where everyone gathers together as a community and I think having opportunities like that is important, and a healthy thing to have.”
Noting that the event is put on by the City of Brantford with the help of a large group of volunteers, Carrol gave kudos to everyone that makes it possible.
“I get to be a part of all kinds of different groups and committees, but this Canada Day Committee and team is one of my favourites that I’m a part of all year, and partially because the people have been doing it for a lot of years, we’ve gotten to know each other really well,” he said. “We know the different responsibilities that we have, and while yes, there’s a lot of work that goes into it, it’s genuinely fun to be able to work together and to be able to put it on. Of course, there’s things you troubleshoot every year, but we know how to throw a good party in Brantford, and the people that do it, they do it professionally and well. Our city is very lucky to have people like Jennifer Middleton and Lori-Dawn Cavin and their staff because they’re excellent at their job.”
Kimberly De Jong’s reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative.The funding allows her to report rural and agricultural stories from Blandford-Blenheim and Brant County. Reach her at kimberly.dejong@brantbeacon.ca.
