Happy birthday, Canada!
Businesses that cater to tourists will be open for business
Canada Day may be a holiday but stores will be rolling out the red carpet on this the unofficial kick off to summer in Prince Edward Island.
A number of businesses, in particular those in the hospitality industry who cater to visitors, will be open regular hours.
Included in that group are Island liquor stores.
Atlantic Superstores and Sobeys stores will open at 10 a.m. and close at 6 p.m., allowing employees to get home in time to have supper and take in the Canada Day fireworks displays.
Confederation Centre of the Arts will be open and is presenting two shows. The Confederation Centre Young Company will present We Are Canadian! at noon and Anne of Green Gables at 1:30 p.m. There will be no evening performance.
For the majority of gift shops and restaurants that dot Queen Street, Victoria Row and Water Street in Charlottetown it will be business as usual for much of the day. It’s also expected to be a busy day at Confederation Landing.
The story is generally the same in areas like Cavendish where Islanders and tourists are expected to gather in large numbers. A spokesman for the Cavendish Tourist Mart said it will be business as usual for that store. Most government offices and banks will be closed.
Charlottetown's official Canada Day opening ceremonies begin at 11:30 a.m. at Victoria Park with the singing of the national anthem, Canada Day cake, and a 21-gun salute.
Between 1 and 5 p.m., there will be family day activities including balloon twisting, face painting, bouncy rides, horse and wagon rides and a petting zoo.