Annual Canada Day Race in Burlington, area Canada Day festivities and fireworks

The annual Canada Day Race kicks off this morning from Burlington’s Spencer Smith Park and is a sell out this year.

Around 1,300 racers are expected to participate in three races. 1, 3 and 5 kilometres, with the 3K race being dog friendly.

Canada Day medals will be handed out as well as cash prizes for the top three finishers in the 5K race.

The event starts around 9 a.m. from the park’s East Lawn with water stations set up along the race route.

Organizers VRPRO are raising money for local charities, including Hamilton Food Share and the Mental Health Services Program at Joseph Brant Hospital.

There will also be free yoga, food vendors and later in the day a drone show at 9:40 p.m. followed by a fireworks display.

AREA FIREWORKS AND FESTIVITIES

Other celebrations in the region include activities at Bayfront Park in Hamilton, the Grimsby Museum and Firemen’s Park in Niagara Falls, which will host a celebration from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. with music, food vendors and fun for kids.

St. Catharines is honouring Canada’s 158 years at Lakeside Park as part of its Lakeside Long Weekend with live music and more.

Almost all fireworks shows across southern Ontario including in Hamilton, Brantford, St. Catharines and Welland (Merritt Park and King Street) will start around 10 p.m.

The city of Thorold is celebrating its 50th birthday and will have fireworks at Battle of Beaverdams Park.

THE NATION’S CAPITAL

Ottawa’s Canada Day ceremony will be getting the royal treatment with a speech from Prince Edward at noon, followed later by words from Prime Minister Mark Carney and an evening celebration with Canadian artists, including Sarah McLachlan.

Also during the day will be Order of Canada appointments, the country’s highest civilian honour, including that of actor-producer Ryan Reynolds who grew up in Vancouver, B.C.

For people curious as to what else is going on across the country, the Government of Canada has an interactive ‘Celebrate Canada‘ events map.

READ MORE: What’s open and closed on Canada Day in Hamilton and area