Canada Day celebration planning is underway, as the City of Lethbridge and Excite Lethbridge collaborate once again for the second year.
City Facility Programmer and Canada Day Committee Chair Sarah Burton said July 1 is not only an opportunity to celebrate the country, “It’s also an opportunity to celebrate the diversity we have in Lethbridge, and all the people that make up such an amazing community.”
This year, the Main Stage and food trucks will be located at the Lethbridge Trade and Convention Centre, with the Youth Zone at Henderson Lake Park.
“There will be a wide-variety of free family-friendly entertainment, from bouncy houses to face painters to interactive games. Something for everybody, and free,” Burton added.
The big finale will feature fireworks at 11 p.m., weather permitting.
For something earlier in the day, Galt Gardens will host Interfaith Food Bank, as they provide breakfast sandwiches, and a show and shine will follow.
“They’ve got Indigenous activities, markets, and all sorts of different activities and performers,” Burton noted. “It starts at 9 a.m.”
There will also be free parking at Excite Lethbridge with parking available in the north and south lots.
“It’s a hop, skip, and a jump from all the activities at the Lethbridge Trade and Convention Centre to Henderson Lake. Bring a lawn chair, bring some shade, and come enjoy everything Canada has to offer and the City,” said Burton.
Director of Event Development Paul Kingsmith added Excite Lethbridge loves producing local and live events. “We get to be a part of some of the biggest events the city puts on. To be involved with Canada Day, which has been such a massive event and has been produced so well for so long, to be able to be a part of it and add some of our flair to it, is just something we really appreciate.”
Kingsmith noted a couple of the entertainment pieces have been moved inside, including the Community Band, “who kicks things off in the morning. They’ll perform in the lobby of the Lethbridge Trade and Convention Centre, instead of out on the stage.”
One of the cool things about Canada Day is party revellers get a little bit of everything when it comes to the entertainment lineup, Kingsmith explained.
“You have a lot of your cultural and community groups, dance groups, choirs, and those sorts of things. You get a stage for that, and in between you have some of your more classic performances from music artists throughout the day, in a variety of genres and a variety of styles. Our headliner this year is Martina Dawn. She’s out of Calgary. She puts on a great party. The exact kind of artist you would want to see, leading right into those fireworks. She’ll get the crowd going. We know it’ll be a party, and people will really enjoy it,” he added.
Burton added Lethbridge Transit will be free on Canada Day. “We do have some different routes that will be happening. There will be transit at the end of the night after the fireworks. You can pop on and they’ll take you to one of the four sides of the city.”
Visit myride.lethbridge.ca for transportation-related information or lethbridge.ca/news/posts/canada-day-2026 for a schedule of events and activities.
