A look at the drone show held during National Indigenous Peoples Day in Kamloops. (Photo via Victor Kaisar)
The City of Kamloops has confirmed plans to host a drone light show on Canada Day this year, as first reported by Radio NL.
Community Event Coordinator Janvi Desai says the show will include 200 drones with “a Canada Day theme” instead of the traditional fireworks show, which has been cancelled this year due to fire and drought concerns.
She says the drone show – which is expected to get underway around 10 p.m. – is dependent on the weather.
“For the best experience, attendees are encouraged to watch the show from Rivers Trail in Riverside Park,” Desai said. “The drone show is brought to you by the City of Kamloops and supported by the Kamloops Multicultural Society and Browns Locksmith/Ray’s Lock and Key.”
Monday’s show will be similar to one put on by Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc and Tourism Kamloops last Friday, June 21, to mark National Indigenous People’s Day.
Some snippets of this evening’s drone show over @Tkemlups.#Kamloops pic.twitter.com/N7WfHhiicb
— Victor Mario Kaisar (@supermario_47) June 22, 2024
Canada Day festivities will kick off with the Lions Club pancake breakfast from 7 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., July 1. It will be followed by the multicultural flag parade at the Rotary Bandshell at 10:45 a.m., drumming at 11 a.m., and opening ceremonies from 11:10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
“Afterward, spend the day wandering through the park, discovering local artisans, enjoying multicultural food, cooling off in the beer garden, and taking in a wide range of performances,” Desai said, noting there will be a variety of community booths and food trucks.
Art in the Park will be located at the west end of Riverside park near the Rose Garden. There will also be inflatables in the Kid Funzone, which will be located near the Rotary Bandshell.
“Attendees are encouraged to do their part and help reduce the landfill waste generated by this event by bringing a water bottle and a tote bag for swag collection from community booths and purchases at the Art in the Park,” Desai said.
The City is cautioning about traffic impacts because of the ongoing sewer work on Lansdowne Street. The first phase of that project – between 1st and 2nd Avenue – is expected to wrap up this week, with crews moving to work between 2nd and 4th Avenue starting next month.
Buses will be free and operating on a Saturday-level service on Canada Day. The Kamloops Bike Valet will also be stationed at the Riverside Park tennis courts, where people will be able to leave their bikes.
You can find an online interactive map of Riverside Park with details about the different booths and activities here.
Canada Day also marks the first day of Music in the Park, which will run until the end of August. You can find a lineup of the different musicians set to play at the Riverside Park Rotary Bandshell here.
