Canada Day
Canada Day Celebrations 2026
Each year on July 1, the Town of Olds celebrates Canada Day providing activities, entertainment, food and celebration for citizens, surrounding communities, visitors and distinguished guests!
Festivities include a morning parade on the streets of Uptowne Olds followed by activities and family events at Centennial Park. Activities change each year but often include live music, special guests, bouncy castles, Canada Day swag and cookie give aways and a vendor market.
In the case of inclement weather, do not fear, the Sportsplex is near!!! On occasion we have had to move the celebration indoors to the Olds Sportsplex so we encourage visitors to follow our Canada Day Facebook Page for the most up to date information!
2026 Special Event Schedule
Coming Soon...
Register Your Parade Float!
Register HERE to be in the Canada Day Parade on July 1!
Staging time is from 9:00 AM until 9:30 AM with the parade starting at 10:00 AM.
The staging location in 2026 is in front of Olds Elementary School on 53 Street.
Deadline to register is June 26, 2026
Volunteers Needed!
The Canada Day parade has become an annual tradition and community favourite over the years. We are looking for 35 volunteers to assist us with the Canada Day parade route barricades!
- BEST Seat in the house for the parade
- Help ensure the safety of spectators and participants
- Great community networking opportunity
- Each volunteer receives a $25 gift card
- Opportunity to wear a really cool orange vest
Register as a Volunteer today!
Volunteers will meet on Wednesday June 24, 5:30 PM at the Community Connection Centre - 4911-51 Avenue. We will be having a quick meeting and you will pick up your safety vest.
Become a Vendor!
The Canada Day committee is excited to present an outdoor market during the Canada Day festival in Centennial Park. This market is ideal for home-based businesses, sports clubs, or community organizations to demonstrate their products or services.
Please direct any questions about this market to Lauren at laurenm@bgcolds.ca or 403-556-2466
Deadline to apply is June 19, 2026.
Canada Day Parade Rules and Regulations
- Parade staging area will be on 53 Street in front of the Elementary School and will open at 8:30 AM.
Parade begins at 10:00 AM sharp.
Note: with our extended parade route, the parade will start and end on 53rd street in front of Olds Elementary School. All floats must stay on the entire route for the duration of the parade with the exception of Protective Service Vehicles (IE, Police and Fire)- Drop Off and Pick up of float riders. Please drop off and pick up parade participants in the gravel parking lot behind the Library/Sportsplex. There is a pathway that the riders can walk on to meet their float. No Drop Offs in Parade Line Up area on 53 Street or along the roadway of 57 Avenue.
- The Canada Day Parade is intended to celebrate Canada, our community, and the contributions of local organizations, businesses, and residents. Entries must not promote or display content that is political in nature, divisive, discriminatory, offensive, or intended to provoke controversy or community conflict.
- The Parade Committee reserves the right to refuse, remove, or require modifications to any entry that, in its sole discretion, is deemed unsafe, inappropriate, offensive, misleading, contrary to the spirit of the event, or otherwise not in the best interest of participants, spectators, or the community. Decisions of the Parade Committee are final.
- All parade participants are expected to conduct themselves in a respectful and courteous manner toward parade volunteers, organizers, fellow participants, spectators, and event staff. Verbal abuse, harassment, threatening behaviour, discrimination, or physical aggression will not be tolerated.
- All units carrying people must be equipped with adequate rails or restraining devices that can reasonably be considered capable of stopping anyone from falling off the unit.
- If generators, lighting/special effects are used, a fire extinguisher must accompany float.
- IMPORTANT: Candy or advertising items may be handed out along the parade route but can not be thrown at spectators from vehicles
- Ample supervision must be provided, prior to and during the parade. Ratio being a minimum of 1 adult per 8 children.
- All drivers must have a valid driver’s license and may be asked to present their license when they arrive at the muster area.
- All entries must provide driver with full 180 degree view at all times.
- All entries should have direct communication with the driver at all times, whether they are attached or not.
- Noises must be kept at a reasonable level during the parade. Suitable noise levels will be determined by the Parade Committee and any requests to adjust sound levels must be obeyed.
- Those who wish to bike, skateboard, rollerblade, scooter or use ATV’s during the parade must wear protective equipment, especially helmets.
- Members of the parade committee have the right to pull livestock entries off the route at first suitable location if the managing of any livestock should become a problem.
*Please note that livestock need to arrive and leave by trailer to staging area, behind the ORE grandstand in Sportsplex lot. - All applicants must assume all liability relating to or arising from their involvement in the Town of Olds Canada Day Parade.
- The applicant will hold the Town of Olds and its volunteers harmless of any and all claims, actions or causes arising from their participation. If you are still reading, email Trina at tradcliffe@olds.ca for your name in a draw.
- In the event of an emergency, parade participants must move to the right of the parade route to allow clear access for Emergency vehicles. In the event of a large emergency and the parade must stop, turn to the nearest intersection to your left and cautiously proceed back to the staging area for further direction.
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