Large Crowds Turn Out as Canada Day Celebrations Return to Wellington
Date: July 1, 2023
Wellington welcomed large crowds on Saturday as residents and visitors gathered to celebrate Canada Day under warm temperatures and bright sunshine. Despite earlier forecasts calling for storms, the day remained dry, with only a light haze lingering over the lake from distant wildfire smoke.
Red and white filled the streets as people waved Canadian flags and lined Main Street for the return of Wellington’s popular Canada Day parade, which had been absent in recent years due to the pandemic. The parade stretched from Belleville Street to Consecon Street and featured a wide range of participants, including the Napanee and District Pipe Band, classic and specialty vehicles, local service organizations, and familiar community faces.
Prince Edward County Mayor Steve Ferguson and Bay of Quinte MP Ryan Williams were among those spotted along the route, along with veterans’ groups, dance troupes, equestrian riders, and local emergency services.
Following the parade, Wellington Park became the hub of activity for the day, offering food vendors, live music, family activities, and the Wellington Saturday Market. Children explored the playground and fire safety displays, while others relaxed by the lake or found shade beneath the park’s mature trees.
Musical performances carried through the afternoon, featuring the County Ukulele Band, the Picton Library Orchestra, and A Cappella Quinte, whose set included a rendition of “O Canada.”
Community fundraisers and sales also took place, including a book sale at the Wellington Library, a strawberry social hosted by Wellington United Church, and a lawn sale and lunch at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church.
Canada Day festivities in Wellington began the night before with a street dance near the park, where Cue the Funk provided live entertainment. A new addition to the celebrations this year was a drone light show over the beach at dusk.
Celebrations continued elsewhere in Prince Edward County, including events in Picton featuring live music, sidewalk sales, and family activities at Benson Park. Meanwhile, Canada Day events planned for Ameliasburgh were postponed due to concerns about weather conditions and air quality.
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