This year marks Canada’s 150th birthday! To celebrate, organizations like Parks Canada and VIA Rail offered promotions, while Toronto is hosting year-round events celebrating the milestone. With Canada day just around the corner, the big question is… where will you be on Canada Day this year?

If you don’t already know the answer to this question, we’re here to help you out. Here are the top destinations for Canada Day in Ontario for 2017:

Niagara Falls

Situated right next to a natural wonder of the world, Niagara Falls is a magnet for people from all walks of life! Niagara Falls boasts tons of activities and ways to explore throughout the year, and Canada Day is no exception. The celebration will run all weekend long, starting on Friday, June 30th. Planned activities include live music, skateboarding, parades, raffles, shows, and of course fireworks over the Falls! If you want to venture to Niagara on the Lake the following day, there’s a concert featuring The Strombellas, Blue Rodeo, and City and Colour!
a person looking at the mist of Niagara Falls

Toronto

You didn’t think we would leave Canada’s largest city off of the list, did you? This year alone, Toronto is spending $8.4 million on its celebrations for Canada’s 150th. Its “Canada Days” celebration is the longest on our list, spanning four days across the city! The main party will be downtown at Nathan Phillips Square, but there will be other celebrations across the city, including Mel Lastman Square in North York and the Scarborough Civic Centre. Live music, free exhibits, food, and shows are all parts of the festival that’s meant to give Canada the birthday that it deserves!
Time-lapse of cars coming and going from downtown Toronto

Ottawa

What better place to celebrate Canada Day than in our nation’s capital? Each year, Ottawa hosts one of the biggest parties in the country. It’s always busy because Ottawa puts on an amazing show! We can only imagine how much more fun Canada’s 150th is going to be! Live music, the Snowbirds flyover, and a speech from Justin Trudeau are all planned for the day, making Ottawa a top contender for any Canada Day list. That being said, a lot of people are going to be thinking the same thing. The celebration is focused in the downtown core, so you’ll want to travel light and get there early to enjoy the day.
parliament hill in Ottawa

Waterloo

Every year Waterloo University hosts its annual Canada Day celebration. Last year, nearly 60,000 people came together at Columbia Lake for the all-day party. There’s live music, tasty food vendors, and family-friendly activities making a day of fun, all before the amazing fireworks display over the lake. With both the University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University within walking distance of the lake, there will be tons of other students at the party! This year’s event is rumoured to be the biggest party yet. If you need more convincing, check out photos from last year.

Mississauga

Mississauga’s “Celebration Square” has that name for a reason! The city holds electrifying events right next to its Town Hall, including its Canada Day Celebration! Live performances tell the story of the city while a variety of activities run through the day. Over 25 food trucks will be at the event, which means there will be lots of hungry students like yourself. Nothing is better than fireworks and food!
a crowd of people at Mississauga Town Hall

We hope these ideas help you come up with some great Canada Day plans. No matter where you go for the celebration, don’t forget to share it with us. Tag us in your Instagram and Tweet us @ShareIGNITE.