Community pride takes center stage in a day-long celebration of Canada’s birthday
Organizers expect thousands to gather in downtown Woodstock for a full day of festivities as the waterfront plays host to the annual July 1st Floats Dragon Boat Festival.
Mayor Trina Jones will be on hand for the celebrations, which include the popular noon cake cutting and dragon boat races, where she’ll paddle alongside town councillors, staff, and residents.
“I’m thrilled to see our community coming together to celebrate Canada Day once again. It’s a wonderful opportunity to gather with family, friends, and neighbours to share in the pride we feel for our country and this amazing community,” said Jones
This year, the town has added a booth at the NBCC vendor market to promote its new Youth Council and Communities in Bloom programs. The action begins at 9:00 a.m. at the NBCC campus, where vendors open their stalls and registration begins for canoe, kayak, floaty, and DIY raft races, with a $1,000 prize going to the winner’s charity of choice.
A children’s parade, sponsored by the Legion, will begin at 11:45 a.m. from the gazebo and finish at the Legion, where a flag-raising and free barbecue will follow.
Maryann Walker is the organizer of the events that happen dockside. She says two duck races are planned, one at 11:30 a.m. and another in the afternoon. Winners will be rewarded with a large duck plushie.
Throughout the day, live music will fill the air.
“The Retros take the NBCC stage at 10:30 a.m., followed by County Connection in the evening,” explained Walker. She said a ukulele performance and two karaoke sessions hosted by Gordie Hutton are also on the docket.
Art lovers can stroll the walking bridge behind the River Restaurant and the Woodstock Farm Market to view student-created pieces from Townsview and Meduxnekeag schools and works by local artists.
One of the marquee events of the day is the dragon boat races. Paddlers will hit the water around 12:20 p.m. and continue through the afternoon with 16 teams, up from 10 last year.
Teams range from local businesses to high school students and out-of-town groups such as the Grand Falls Bonitos and two breast cancer survivor crews, Breasts Ahoy from Saint John and Ti Bato from Moncton.
A mid-day tribute will honour the visiting survivor teams in what organizer Lisa Porter calls one of the most meaningful moments of the day.
“It’s so great to see people from age 14 to 70-plus, of all abilities and backgrounds, getting on the water and loving it,” said Porter.
Awards for top performance and fun categories like Best Dressed Drummer and Best Team Spirit will be given.
As the sun sets, attendees can enjoy more karaoke at the Farm Market, a 50/50 ball race at the Legion, and a lit-up decorated boat parade from the marina toward the market.
Walker noted that Canada Day-themed games, face painting, and charity swag sales will occur throughout the day at NBCC, the Farm Market, and Town Square.
If the weather holds, organizers estimate attendance could surpass last year’s 2,000 participants.
“We’re hoping that everybody, at some point, will spend a few minutes of their day with us downtown Woodstock. I’m looking forward to just about everything, just seeing people enjoying themselves,” said Walker.
The day ends with fireworks lighting the sky to close out the town’s most vibrant Canada Day celebration.
