By Tegwyn Hughes
The ByWard Market may be open throughout the year, with Christmas markets, Winterlude festivities and end-of-term school trips keeping vendors and buskers busy, but in the summer season the Market truly comes alive. The number of visitors grows with every minute of additional sunlight and with each added degree of warmth that we enjoy every day.
On any given day in the summer season, a visitor to the ByWard Market will be able to spot fresh fruits and vegetables grown nearby, crafts made by local artisans, performances by talented buskers and numerous retail locations filled with all kinds of hidden goods.
Out of the 363 days of activity the ByWard Market sees every year, Canada Day is by far the most exciting. Canada Day in the National Capital Region is certainly a sight to behold, and it has grown exponentially over the past 152 years of celebrations.
Here in the ByWard Market, we are proud to host some of the most exciting, event-filled Canada Day festivities. Visitors and locals clad in red-and-white attire crowd the streets of Lowertown from morning to night to take part in countless activities across the neighborhood.
For families, Major’s Hill Park is usually the hub for kid-friendly fun. This picturesque park overlooking the Ottawa River and Parliament often plays host to booths, games and musical performances over theCanada Day weekend, and deserves to be on anyone’s list of spots to check out. What’s more, the Park is one of the best places to view Ottawa’s iconic Canada Day fireworks.
If you walk down the colourful stairs in front of the Park and pass the photo-ready Ottawa sign, you will eventually find yourself seeing the ByWard Market in its prime on Canada Day. The streets will be filled with visitors, and every vendor’s stall will be busy with purchases. Not only that, buskers will be out in full force too, drawing awe-struck crowds with their acts.
With the recent unveiling of William Street as a pedestrian street, the stretch of pavement next to the historic ByWard Market Building will be full of brightly-coloured chairs and umbrellas if you need a break, with ample activities and giant-sized games like Connect Four and Jenga for kids to enjoy.
Canada Day is also one of the best times to enjoy some uniquely Canadian foods. Indulge in a BeaverTail at the oldest location in Canada, pick up maple fudge from our local vendors or stop by one of the Market’s many patio restaurants to try some regional craft beer with your meal.
If you’re looking for the ultimate Canadian experience this July 1, put on your favourite red-and-white outfit, slather on some sunscreen and take the City’s free public transit down to the ByWard Market to join the crowds and see what Ottawa has to offer.