The Town of Grimsby is shifting its annual Canada Day celebration to Coronation Park on July 1, 2026, moving away from the traditional Grimsby Museum grounds on Murray Street where construction is now underway. The change comes as part of the $9.1 million Downtown Reimagined project that has closed the museum for the duration of the work. The free event will run from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., offering families a lineup of activities in the recently renewed park beside Forty Mile Creek.
The museum at 6 Murray Street sits inside the construction zone for Phase 1 of the downtown project, which began with a groundbreaking ceremony on June 22, 2026. The Grimsby Museum website now displays an important notice confirming the closure. Active construction on watermains along Elm Street, Mountain Street, and parts of Main Street starts the week of July 6, making the museum grounds unavailable for the holiday gathering.
Coronation Park, located at 12 Elm Street, recently completed a $310,000 renewal with funding from the Canada Community-Building Fund. The upgrades added retaining walls, seating areas, a multi-use pathway, landscaping, and new lighting, transforming the park into a refreshed community space. It was also the site of the June 22 groundbreaking ceremony attended by Mayor Jeff Jordan, MPP Sam Oosterhoff, and Ontario’s Acting Minister of Infrastructure Todd McCarthy.
The Canada Day event will feature bounce houses, face painting, live entertainment, music, food vendors, and activities for all ages. While last year’s celebration at the museum ran until 4:00 p.m., this year’s festivities wrap up an hour earlier. The Town says the full schedule is available on its website and thanked residents for their flexibility during the construction period.
With the museum closed and the first phase of construction continuing through October 31, 2026, the relocated celebration offers a chance for the community to gather in a park that has served Grimsby since 1953. “The Town thanks the community for its flexibility and support during this period of improvement and looks forward to welcoming everyone to Coronation Park on July 1 for a memorable day of celebration,” the municipality said in its announcement.
