Pembroke residents can enjoy two days of free family fun along the Ottawa River for Canada Day, as the City of Pembroke Parks and Recreation Department has planned a full lineup of activities at Riverside Park Beach on June 30 and Waterfront Park on July 1, 2026.
The celebration kicks off Monday, June 30 from 5:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. at Riverside Park Beach with a free hot dog BBQ, live music, inflatable bounce houses, up-close magic performances, and a free outdoor movie showing of Zootopia 2. On Tuesday, July 1, festivities move to Waterfront Park from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., with an opening ceremony at noon, live music, craft and food vendors, magic shows, soccer performers, a petting zoo, face painting, and kids crafts. The afternoon also includes free boat rides on the Ottawa River.
Later on July 1, the action shifts back to Riverside Park, where families can settle onto Soccer Field #4 from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. for live music and food vendors leading up to a large fireworks display at dusk. “We will have food vendors and live music right up until dusk, when we will present a large fireworks show thanks to the generous support of the Pembroke Firefighters Association,” states the city’s Canada Day page.
Steven & Julie’s No Frills at 1200 Pembroke Street West is the presenting sponsor for the 2026 celebration. The fireworks are made possible by the Pembroke Firefighters Association, whose members have historically set up and launched the Canada Day display. Additional event support comes from the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #72 as zone sponsor, Kings’ Sports, Smitty’s Home Hardware, and Sunbelt Rentals, along with funding from the Government of Canada.
All events are free, and the city encourages residents to bring chairs and blankets for the evening fireworks. Past Canada Day waterfront celebrations in Pembroke have drawn thousands of people, and organizers expect another strong turnout this year.
