Big smiles and seas of red and white and Canadian flags waving in the air were all the eye could see in Kelowna’s downtown on Monday.
From Waterfront Park to Kelowna’s City Park, thousands of people flooded the waterfront to celebrate Canada’s 152nd birthday by taking part in a variety of activities for people of all ages.
WATCH BELOW: Canada Day fireworks in Osoyoos
Inside Prospera Place, Folkfest put on a display celebrating the many cultures that make up the mosaic that is Canada. With several performances; traditional cuisines such as Italian, German, Hungarian and Caribean, and, of course, a giant cake to celebrate the country’s birthday,
“I love it here, it’s so beautiful,” said Eva Halasz of the Hungarian-Canadian Cultural Society of the Okanagan.
“It’s really beautiful here. I love Canada. ”
Russian-Canadian Victor Hamel-Alecsivcz said it was an honour to be Canadian.
“It’s a big honour to be able to represent Canada on Canada Day. It’s a big privilege because you see every culture that is mixed together and Canada has a very open-minded culture,” said Hamel-Alecsivcz.
“People (Canadians) are very thankful and people are very hospitable. I have never met people in other places and countries that are this open-minded, this welcoming and have an open heart.”
The festivities will continue throughout the night of July 1 with live music and will end with a loud and colourful show at 10:30 p.m. that will be visible from Kelowna’s downtown waterfront.