(250 News archive photo)

Prince George, B.C. – It’s going to be a little damp in the Prince George area through Monday, but it appears the sunshine will return just in time for Canada Day celebrations in the city.

The Multicultural Heritage Society promises a fun-filled day of entertainment and activities at Fort George Park this year, which just happens to be the 40th year the society has hosted the Celebrate Canada festival.

There will be live entertainment from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., starting off with the Prince George Community Band.  Opening ceremonies go at noon, with Lheidli T’enneh Chief Dominic Frederick, MLAs Shirley Bond and Mike Morris, and Mayor Green on hand.  The national anthem will be performed in three languages this year, English and French and, for the first time, a group of young children from the Lheidli T’enneh will be singing the anthem in their mother tongue as well.

The celebrations will also include the cutting of the big birthday cake, supplied by Kandy’s Custom Cakes, face painting and other children’s activities and a Juggling Librarian who will be performing in the children’s activity area to keep the kids entertained while they’re waiting to get their face painted.  There is also the annual Craft Fair featuring the works of local crafters, Information booths, medieval fighting demonstrations every hour and of course, one of the big draws each year, the International Food Fair.  This year there will be Chinese, Indian, Greek, Ukranian and Canadian food, and the MSS will have its kids’ hot dog stand set up as well.

There will be a couple of added attractions for the youngsters, with Safety Bear and Nanguz, the official mascot of the 2015 Canada Winter Games, on site throughout the day.

And it’s all capped off at 11 o’clock Tuesday night with the big fireworks display, sponsored by Canfor and staged by Starlight FX, at Connaught Hill Park.  We’re told that if a fire ban is imposed on the area the fireworks would be moved to the Rotary soccer fields.  However, with a fair bit of rain in the forecast from now until Monday evening, a ban is highly unlikely.

So lots to do in Prince George this Canada Day.  Enjoy.