First annual Canada Day festival coming to Ferndale Park

Fort Erie residents will have a new free Canada Day festival at Ferndale Park this year, as local business owners try to build a full-day celebration they say the town has been missing.

The Fort Erie Canada Day Festival is scheduled for Wednesday, July 1, from 3 to 10 p.m.

Matt Goch Real Estate Group and Tranquility Through Therapy are organizing the event, which will have live music, food trucks, children’s activities, local vendors, a beer tent and fireworks at dusk.

Local realtor Matt Goch, owner of Matt Goch Real Estate Group, says the idea grew out of other community events he has planned, including a Christmas free skate and a pumpkin giveaway last year.

He says he had been looking for a summer event to organize when he landed on Canada Day.

“I think Fort Erie’s really been lacking anything for Canada Day since the Friendship Festival,” Goch said. “We were going to do a very simple one this year just to get it going, and then one thing led to another.”

The event has since grown to a full afternoon and evening program.

“The goal is to make this an annual event, and we want to get bigger and better every year,” he said.

The evening’s main concert will be headlined by The Trip, a Niagara-based Tragically Hip tribute band fronted by Fort Erie singer John Genet. The band plays a catalogue of about 60 to 75 songs by The Tragically Hip and has performed across southern Ontario. The Trip will play from 7 to 10 p.m.

“To me, Tragically Hip is Canada’s band, and I think it ties in nicely to Canada Day,” Goch said.

A children’s K-Pop Demon Hunters performance is scheduled earlier in the evening from 5:30 to 6 p.m. A photo opportunity will follow from 6 to 7 p.m.

The Canada Day festival will also have karaoke, free inflatables, free popcorn, face painting, several sporting challenges from various local sponsors, and of course, Fluffy the Clown will make her requisite appearance.

Food trucks listed for the event are Mama J’s Eats and Treats, Heist Burger, Purple Perk Coffee, Tikka Masala, Coal Fire Kitchen and The Ice Cream Truck.

Admission and entertainment will be free. Anyone buying from the food trucks will have to pay for their own food.

The festival will also have a Brimstone beer tent. The licensed area will be for people 19 and older.

Fort Erie Festivals will launch its own Canada Day fireworks at 10 p.m. near Old Fort Erie, with viewing along Niagara Parkway between Mather Arch and Old Fort Erie.

Lakeshore Road will close between Beatrice Street and Dominion Road beginning at 8 p.m. Parking will be banned on Beatrice Street.

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