Snapshot Travel Blog: Jun 28, 2011

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Fireworks Port Credit Mississauga Canada Day July 1 2011

Canada Day Fireworks, Events July 1 2013
The schedule for 2013 is basically the same as in previous years, with Grand Marshalls Peel Regional Police Chief, Jennifer Evans, and Chuck Jackson.

The 'Paint the Town Red' site has details. For fireworks parking info see this post.
See you there!

Fireworks mark the finale of the Canada Day celebrations in Port Credit (Mississauga) Ontario on July 1, 2011, but the fun starts long before that!

Port Credit starts 'Painting the Town Red' with the Canada Day Parade at 11 a.m.

And to 'Make It Right', the Grand Marshals for the parade are Mike Holmes, host of Holmes on Homes and Holmes Inspection, and CityTV reporter Francis D'Souza.

Miss Canada 2010, Bridget Nickerson, and Miss Canada 2011 and Miss International Woman hopefuls will take part in the parade, then 'meet and greet' at Memorial Park. The contestants are all cute as buttons, and will be in Port Credit all week leading up to the Miss Canada Pageant.

At 1 p.m. there's the giant Happy Birthday Canada cake cutting ceremony, the Port Credit Legion on Front Street South is hosting a BBQ, and there'll be music everywhere!

Does Port Credit know how to throw a party??!! You bet!

The Canada Day party goes on all day, until the Fireworks display show at 10:15 p.m.

Fireworks show usually starts when the sky is the darkest, about 10:20 p.m. The official time is 10:15 p.m. A few years ago, the show started earlier because rain was moving in from Oakville. That upset a lot of people who figured they show up last minute and missed them. portcreditbia

Here are some pictures and a short video from Canada Day 2010 in Port Credit. Each year, this event gets better! Kudos to the sponsors and volunteers.

Paint the Town Red Sign at Godfreys Lane Port Credit ON

Coming along Lakeshore Road West, from the west (Clarkson, Lorne Park), when you see this large red and white Paint the Town Red sign, you are only a few blocks from Memorial Park, the hub of the celebrations.

Look for parking on side streets west of the river / lighthouse to avoid the crush of traffic. (I like the Saddington Park parking area, at the end of Mississauga Road South.) Lakeshore Road will be closed from Stavebank to Hurontario (10:00 – 12:00 pm) and from Hurontario to Seneca (10 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.) for the parade and cake cutting ceremony.

Elvis and Cool Car Port Credit Canada Day 2010 Parade

Here are two of the dozens of participants in Paint The Town Red 2010. 'Elvis' is easy to spot, but I missed the driver/ sponsor of the car. The parade is set to start at 11 a.m. at Stavebank Road at Lakeshore, then head east along Lakeshore past Hurontario (Hwy 10) to Seneca Avenue. See Canada Day 2010 pics, info.

Pancake Breakfast Memorial Park Canada Day

In 2010, to mark Port Credit's 175 birthday, a pancake breakfast was served at Memorial Park gazebo. This year, the only way to get your pancake breakfast is to volunteer to help Paint The Town Red -- contact pc-volunteer AT bell DOT net if you can help set up, tear down, carry a banner, etc.

Canada Day Theme Clothing Port Credit Ontario

Port Credit becomes a sea of red and white on Canada Day, from clothing to hats to flags to the Giant Cake and even our Port Credit Lighthouse (home of the BIA). This couple is walking along the path that goes under Lakeshore Road from Snug Harbour, Marina area to Memorial Park.

Tea Vendor at Marketplace Memorial Park Port Credit

Memorial Park is the hub of the action, with a main stage, smaller stages, a market area, and a playground, behind the newly renovated Port Credit Library. And you don't need a car to get to Port Credit: You can take the GO Train from Toronto or Hamilton, and Mississauga Transit (MiWay) has 'Buy One, Get One Free' on July 1, 2011 and students Grades 1 - 8 ride free when accompanied by a fare paying passenger.

Fireworks Finale Port Credit Canada Day

Not the best of shots, without a tripod, but I will post this picture anyhow as it shows the traffic along Front Street and Lakeshore, and the brightly lit landmark Lighthouse. Memorial Park is to the right rear of the lighthouse, and the dark area is mostly Credit River. The fireworks are set off at Memorial Park. Stake out your prime viewing area early; up the hill near the Arena is a good spot.

Sit and eat: Over a dozen of Port Credit's finest places to wine and dine will be marked with provincial flags for A Taste of Canada: look for the flags of the provinces and check out A Taste of Nova Scotia, Alberta, Ontario, New Brunswick, B.C. Quebec, Yukon, and PEI!

Have a look at the Paint the Town Red site for details, and consider volunteering: Call Beatrice at (905) 599-2156 if you can help.

But do plan to make it an all-day event in Port Credit this Canada Day. It's a lot of fun, and a great party.