This Friday, spend the day with family, celebrating Canada’s special day with cake, music and a 21-gun salute at Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Sites.
The guns will go off at noon sharp, so it’s best to arrive a little early.
“If you come at 10 after, you’ll miss it,” said Sophie Lauro, Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Sites promotion officer.
“When they fire, the ground just shakes. It’s really exhilarating and exciting.”
Although, she added that anyone attending with younger children may want to bring proper ear protection, as it can be a little loud.
If you can’t make it out for the guns, there’s still plenty to do and see throughout the day. A long list of local artists will be performing, serenading visitors while they explore the fort and lighthouse.
“This year we’ll have lots of young artists,” Lauro said. “It’s quite entertaining and great to see those young people perform … It’s an opportunity for them to showcase their talents.”
But it’s not just fresh faces in the lineup, she noted, as the lineup includes “something new and something traditional.”
Besides a variety of music to enjoy, there is also the picturesque scenery. If the weather co-operates, a giant Canadian flag will be seen flapping in the breeze near the lighthouse. Lauro noted it’s no small feat to hang that flag. “If it’s really windy it can be challenging.”
There’s also plenty of activities to keep the little ones busy and the concession will be open for food and snacks – just don’t forget to save a little room for birthday cake. “It’s a huge cake, it barely fits behind a pickup,” she said. “I don’t think there is a bigger cake in Victoria.”
The cake, donated by the Colwood Thrifty Foods, will have a “Women on the Home Front theme this year, paying homage to the park’s recent interactive historical display. Admission and a piece of cake are free for the day.
For more information go to the site's online events calendar.
katie@goldstreamgazette.com