Sesqui Dome, concerts, outdoor ice skating highlight London’s Sesquifest

It’ll be impossible to miss the Canada 150 festivities if you’re in London’s downtown core at all over the next few days.

Sesquifest, a five-day festival to celebrate Canada 150, kicked off Thursday and includes a slew of free activities and musical performances.

At the centre of it all is a 50-foot high, 80-foot wide dome called the Sesqui Dome that is travelling across Ontario.

Inside the dome, Londoners can take in an immersive film, Horizon.

“It’s a 22-and-a-half-minute film, we filmed scenes in 360 degrees across the entire country — so all territories, all provinces. It’s 90 scenes all stitched together in an audio and visual symphony of Canada,” said Sean Moffitt, Sesqui head of marketing and communications.

“I think the resulting experience is people walk out going ‘Oh my Lord, what a great country we live in.’ And also there’s some really interesting curiosity about the technology itself.”

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While the Sesqui Dome is hard to miss, it’s just one in a long list of activities, events and performances going on in the downtown core for the five-day Sesquifest.

“There’s free London Ice Cream Company ice cream for several hours a day from 1 to 8 p.m. so you definitely want to check that out,” said Lia Karidas, Canada 150 London co-ordinator.

“Bring your skates with you — yes, in June — because there is a synthetic ice skating rink. Certainly all the great live music, there’s a really fun kid zone in jubilee square at Bud Gardens, and lots of great activities along Dundas.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Bring your skates with you — yes, in June — because there is a synthetic ice skating rink. Certainly all the great live music, there's a really fun kid zone in jubilee square at Bud Gardens, and lots of great activities along Dundas."

Hollerado performs Thursday night, Fefe Dobson hits the stage on Friday, the Jack Richardson Orchestra will perform along with 15 local singers on Canada Day, and Sloan performs on Sunday.

Two beer gardens are also available, including a craft beer garden on Carling Street featuring a beer from the London Brewing Co-op created specifically for the event dubbed the Sesquicentenni-Ale.

A full lineup can be found on the Canada 150 London website.