(Barrie, ON) – The City of Barrie is expanding its Canada Day celebrations with the return of Canada Day On the Move, bringing free, family-friendly programming to local neighbourhood parks in addition to the main festivities at Centennial Park and the fireworks on Wednesday, July 1, 2026.
Canada Day On the Move will feature three-hour pop-up events at Lampman Lane Park from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Painswick Park from 3 to 6 p.m., offering free, family-friendly entertainment. Activities include an animal education show by Speaking of Wildlife, face painting, busker performances, interactive games, inflatables, live music and more.
Celebrations at Centennial Park begin at noon and will include a Food Truck Festival, live entertainment, and a featured performance by the Ultimutts Animal Actors Show. The Moonwalk Entertainment Family Zone will also be on-site, offering paid attractions such as inflatables, games, face painting, fun food, and additional family-focused activities.
Downtown celebrations will include Open Air Dunlop, presented by the Downtown Barrie BIA, taking place in Meridian Place. Dunlop Street will be closed to vehicles from Maple Avenue to Mulcaster Street. The Open Air Dunlop event will feature activities, vendors and live entertainment
The evening will end with a fireworks show at approximately 10 p.m. The show will be visible from multiple vantage points along Barrie’s waterfront. Heritage Park will be closed to the public for safety during the show. In case of inclement weather, fireworks will be held on Friday, July 3.
| 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. | Canada Day On the Move at Lampman Lane Park (59 Lampman Lane) |
| 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. | Open Air Dunlop – Canada Day Celebrations by the Downtown Barrie BIA (Dunlop Street) |
| 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. | Canada Day activities, food trucks, entertainment at Centennial Park (61, 65, 75, 79 Lakeshore Drive) |
| 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. | Canada Day On the Move at Painswick Park (231 Ashford Drive) |
| 10 p.m. | Fireworks Show (waterfront) |
On July 1, Barrie Transit will operate on a Sunday service schedule. After the fireworks show, the last buses will depart the Barrie Allandale Transit Terminal and Downtown Hub at approximately 10:30 p.m.: Barrie Allandale Transit Terminal: Routes 7A, 7B, 8A-NB, 8A-SB, 8B-SB, 12A, 12B, TOD-C, & TOD-D. Downtown Hub: Routes 2B, 10, 11, 100, 101, & TOD-B.
The Chase McEachern Way Parking Lot and the Centennial Beach Lot (south end) will be closed July 1, 2026 for the Canada Day celebrations.
The City of Barrie’s Canada Day celebrations are generously supported by Tim Hortons and Alectra.
For full event details and activity times, visit barrie.ca/CanadaDay.
