Dragon boats, fireworks, music and family fun highlight an exciting Canada Day lineup
New and old traditions fill a busy schedule as Woodstock celebrates Canada Day on July 1.
From dragon boat races on Woodstock’s waterfront to harness racing at Woodstock’s Connell Park Raceway, from July 1st Floats during the day to the Boat Parade of Lights and fireworks after dark, Woodstock will offer hours of family fun.
Dragon boat races at noon will highlight the latest addition to the July 1st Floats festivities, which began last year along the Meduxnekeag in downtown Woodstock. Event organizers note that 12 teams have registered to compete in the inaugural events.
Throughout the day, Woodstock’s downtown will provide a hub of activities in the parking lot and docks behind NBCC Woodstock, on the Downtown Square and at Woodstock Farm Market.
Visitors can take advantage of the vendors’ market and bouncy castles behind NBCC Woodstock or travel across the bridge to Downtown Square for snow cones and other merchandise, including tickets for one of the day’s 50-50 Plastic Duck races.
The Woodstock Farm Market will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Some of the area’s top performers will entertain the crowds at various locations along Woodstock’s waterfront.
The up-and-coming local country stars, the Martin Boys, will perform at NBCC Woodstock at noon. At the same time, the Woodstock Ukulele Group will perform at the Woodstock Farm Market.
Alpine John will perform at the nearby Woodstock Royal Canadian Legion Branch 11 hall from noon to 2 p.m., with Noel and Cora hitting the stage from 2 to 5 p.m. The legion will also offer a barbecue and face painting from noon to 2 p.m.
Visitors and participants will find much of the day’s fun and action on the water as the second annual Canada 1st Floats expands its goal to take advantage of the Meduxnekeag River’s natural resources.
In addition to the dragon boats, water events throughout the morning will include the racing of paddle boards, kayaks, canoes, inner tubes and almost anything that floats. Organizers encourage participants to create their own rafts or do-it-yourself floating devices to compete on the Meduxnekeag waters.
Harness racing will launch its new season at the Connell Park Raceway at 1 p.m. with the Walter Dale Memorial Race.
Canada Day celebrations will close on the Woodstock waterfront with the traditional Boat Parade of Lights, starting around 9 p.m., followed by fireworks at 10:30 p.m.
Canada Day Schedule:
8:30 a.m.: NBCC Parking Lot: Exercise with Sydney Haines
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Downtown Square: Snow cone, plastic duck 50/50 tickets, merchandise for sale. NBCC Parking Lot: Vendor market and Bouncy castles.
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Woodstock Farm & Craft Market will be open
JULY 1ST FLOATS WATER SCHEDULE:
8:30 a.m.: Paddleboard registration
9 a.m.: Paddleboard race and kayak registration
9:30 a.m.: Kayak race and canoe registration
10 a.m.: Canoe race and Floaty/inner tube/anything hand-paddled registration
10:30 a.m.: Floaty/inner tube/anything hand-paddled race and DIY homemade raft registration
11 a.m.: DIY (do-it-yourself homemade raft) race
11:30 a.m. First Plastic duck 50/50 race from town bridge to Woodstock Farm Market
Noon: NBCC Parking Lot: Cake Cutting and the Martin Boys perform
Woodstock Farm and Craft Market: Woodstock Ukelele performs
NBCC Docks: Dragon Boat Races
Noon to 2 p.m.: Royal Canadian Legion: Barbecue, face painting and Alpine John performs
1 p.m.: Connell Park Raceway: Harness Racing Walter Dale Memorial Race
2 to 5 p.m.: Royal Canadian Legion: Noel & Cora perform
4:30 p.m.: Second Plastic Duck 50/50 race
Evening
9 p.m.: Waterfront: Boat Parade of Light- members of Valley Yacht Club
10:30 p.m. Waterfront: Fireworks
For more details, visit the Town of Woodstock website: www.town.woodstock.nb.ca
