Live music, a classic car show, and fireworks are just a few of the highlights of this year’s Canada Day celebrations.
The day is even more special this year, as the country celebrates its 150th birthday, or sesquicentennial.
Events take place in two of Hope’s parks, Memorial and Sixth Avenue parks. The day gets started at 9 a.m. in Memorial Park, with acitivites there running until 2 p.m. Be sure to get to the park for the flag raising and official opening at 9:30 a.m. The morning also brings the Hope Motorsports Group Classic Car Show, a KidZone with games, cake cutting, face painting and plenty of live local music.
In the evening, the fun moves over to Sixth Avenue Park. Events there begin at 6:30 p.m., with a long list of entertainers. They’ll include the Modini Drum Line, Jayme Knyx, Rockin’ Chair and even Canadian Idol finalist Jaydee Bixby.
There are children’s activities planned for the evening, and it all caps off at the end of the night with a fireworks display.
As for the performers, Jaydee Bixby won the hearts of people across the country as a Canadian Idol finalist. Raised in a home of dedicated musicians, it’s Bixby’s family that initially encouraged him to participate in local competitions as a young boy and to follow his dream of becoming a recording artist.
The dream led 17-year-old Bixby to grab life by the horns and try his hand at the discerning Canadian Idol where he would eventually become the fifth season’s runner-up, gaining millions of adoring fans in the process thanks to both his impeccable voice and hip-swaggering Presley-esque stage manner that left more than a few ladies swooning. Even Idol guest star Paul Anka was compelled to endorse Bixby, noting that he “has the type of talent that will keep him around for decades to come.”
Musician Jayme Knyx also thanks his family for supporting his musical talents.
Influenced by the likes of George Straight, Garth Brooks and Johnny Cash, it’s no surprise that family has always been the cornerstone and driving force behind Knyx’s music. His number one support system over the years has been his parents. He fell in love with country music at an early age, but sparking the dream was country legend George Strait. When Knyx was only six years old his mother gave him his first guitar. From his Grandpa Bob, who played and sang for the Country Playboy’s to his mother, who sang for many years in the Kelowna night club scene, family influenced his music career heavily.
Catch both these acts and more by making your way to Sixth Avenue Park on Canada Day, July 1.
