CENTRE WELLINGTON – Long-running favourites return this Canada Day in Centre Wellington.
Pancake breakfast
Bright and early, the Elora Volunteer Firefighters Association will offer its annual pancake breakfast in MacDonald Square in Elora from 7 to 11am.
Soap Box Derby
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Centre Wellington held its annual Soap Box Derby in Elora on Canada Day in 2024, and it is set to return again this year from 8 to 11am on Geddes Street in Elora.
From 8 to 11am, the annual Soap Box Derby, hosted by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Centre Wellington, will return.
Attendees will watch young racers speed down Geddes Street in their soap box cars.
Racers are separated by age, with groups aged six to nine and 10 to 16. The age groups are then separated by wheel size (under or over 10 inches in diameter).
Geddes Street between David and Henderson Streets will be closed to normal traffic for this event.
Dominion Day Parade
Elora’s Dominion Day Parade will be held at 11am, right after the Soap Box Derby finishes. The parade will begin at the Jefferson Elora Community Centre and end in Bissell Park. Advertiser file photos
Once the Soap Box Derby has wrapped up, the annual Dominion Day Parade will commence at 11am. It will begin at the Jefferson Elora Community Centre, travel through downtown Elora and end at Bissell Park.
The food bank will be accepting donations along the route.
Those interested in joining the parade should meet at the Jefferson Elora Community Centre by 11am.
Free hotdog lunch
There will be a free hotdog lunch at Bissell Park from 12 to 1pm from the Elora Lions, Geddes Street Market and the Township of Centre Wellington.
Duck race
Also in Bissell Park, the popular duck race will return. Hosted by the Community Resource Centre, the rubber ducks will be dropped off the bridge at 1:30pm to begin the race down the Grand River.
Ducks can be purchased in-advance online, or in-person in Elora on Canada Day for $5 each.
Proceeds go towards child and youth programs run by the Community Resource Centre, such as the Backpack Program, Winter Wear Program, Let Kids Play, and Summer Snax.
Fergus celebration
Behind the Centre Wellington Community Sportsplex in Fergus, the Rotary RAGAS eClub will be hosting a Canada Day celebration from 7 to 9:30pm.
Centre Wellington councillor Barbara Lustgarten-Evoy said the evening will have multiple performances from the community.
This includes dancing from the Blue Bonnet Lassies School of Highland Dance, a skit from the Elora Community Theatre and live music from Paul Whitaker and his band.
Lustgarten-Evoy said there will also be Zumba, face painting, henna painting, and arts and crafts.
To eat, there will be three food trucks: Groovy Grilled Cheese, SWAT (Sandwiches with a Twist) and an ice cream truck with special Canada Day-themed ice cream.
The township water truck will also provide free water for all.
The Canada Day celebrations will have a grand finale at 9:30pm with a fireworks show by the township.
