Port Credit is planning a massive ‘Paint The Town Red’ party and parade for Canada Day

PORT CREDIT, June 21, 2022 – Back in full on Friday, July 1, the Port Credit Paint The Town Red Canada Day celebration attracts tens of thousands of people from across Mississauga, and from the GTA at large. And after a pandemic hiatus, there is a big Canada Day party and huge parade planned near Port Credit’s breezy shores just 15 minutes West of Toronto.

On the go since 2003, this free All Ages event features a full day of live entertainment and dazzling evening fireworks in Memorial Park (40 Lakeshore Rd. E.), a parade including some 50 different floats and community groups, and music in the street.

“(The people that come out here) are pleasantly surprised by the magnitude of this event,” says vice-chair and event coordinator Diane Goldsmith.

“It’s a huge community celebration. It’s a sea of red and white. There are very proud Canadians that day.

On Stage at Paint The Town Red, Port Credit

The Main Stage entertainment in Port Credit Memorial Park will be headed up by The Hip Experience (Tragically Hip tribute) at 9 p.m.: Still Rock ‘n Roll: The Music Of Billy Joel at 7:45; Forever Seger (Bob Seger tribute) at 6:15; The Essence Of Bowie (David Bowie tribute) at 5 ; Celtic /Rockers Fiddlestix at 4; the Cawthra Park Secondary School Jazz Lab at 3; and the pop band Taylor Shawn Billie at 1 p.m.

Meanwhile, a Kids Zone runs from 1 to 6 p.m. in the park including Crafts & Games, the cast of Mirabel, Heroes and Princesses, Batman, Spiderman, and Sugar Spotlight Karaoke, and more.

At 11 a.m., Port Credit’s Hazel McCallion Canada Day Parade will make its way down Lakeshore featuring colourful community floats, marching bands, Bollywood and Caribbean steel bands, African drummers and dancers, vintage cars, a horse and carriage, and dignitaries like Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie, and ex-Mayor Hazel McCallion.

“As far as I’m aware, it’s the only Canada Day parade in the GTA,” Goldsmith says.

“Over the last two or three years, we really wanted to add cultural diversity (to the parade).”

Upwards of 50,000 people can be expected out for the fireworks, for which festival chair and founder John Bozzo, “spares no expense”.

Due to the effects of Covid-19, the festival was cancelled in 2020, and pushed back to October 11 in 2021.

“(So), there’s a lot of buzz in the street right now, a lot of talking on social media,” she adds.

For residents from surrounding cities “it’s a 10-minute walk” from the Port Credit Go Train station. For more information go online to paintthetownred.ca.

by Mike Beggs

photos supplied by Paint The Town Red

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