Ottawa, Canada‘s Capital, is the place to be July 1 for the country’s biggest annual birthday celebration. It’s a giant patriotic party on the lawns of Parliament Hill, Major‘s Hill Park, Jacques Cartier Park and on the closed streets of downtown.

The crowds start to gather on Parliament Hill early, for a 9 a.m. flag raising ceremony, followed by the Changing of the Guard ceremony at 9:30 a.m. and the carillon concert featuring the Peace Tower bells, at 10 a.m. Be there at noon for a thrilling performance by the Snowbirds Demonstration team, and a noon hour show filled with cultural entertainment. Performers include Brett Kissel, British Columbia Boys Choir, Marianas Trench, Nadja, Serena Ryder, Terry Kelly and Véronic DiCaire.

In the afternoon from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. visitors can enjoy 1930s- and 1940s-style swing dancing and acrobatic performances and dance workshops by Ottawa’s Swing Dynamite Dance School.

For families, Jacques Cartier Park will host a variety of activities especially for children ages 3 to 12 including games, physical activities, performances and inflatable slides. For revelers of all ages there will be free activities at most of the area’s national museums and institutions.

Excitement continues throughout the day at major sites and attractions downtown and across the Capital. The evening show on Parliament Hill features a stellar lineup of Canadian performers. And as always, the evening will be topped off by a giant fireworks show you simply don’t want to miss!