Plenty of road closures and parking restrictions to be in place for Canada Day in Kelowna

Plans for the return of Canada Day celebrations in Kelowna were announced earlier this week.

It’s the long-awaited return of the annual celebration that was put on pause for the last two summers due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

More than 55,000 people are expected to attend the event next Friday, with activities taking place all over the downtown core.

For starters, July 1 is the first day of Meet Me on Bernard, which means Bernard Avenue will be closed west of St. Paul Street until the end of summer.

Closures that will be in place only for Canada Day celebrations include:

• Water Street - closed to vehicle traffic from Cawston Avenue to Sunset Drive (6 am to midnight)
• Access to Sunset Drive and the Playtime Casino parkade will be limited to local traffic only.
• Boat locks at Waterfront Park will be closed from 6 am on Friday until 9 am on Saturday.
• Dolphins parking lot closed from 6 am until 11 pm
• Prospera Place parking lot will remain open, but is only accessible from Cawston Avenue.
• Two bays of the City hall parking lot will be closed from 6 am until midnight.
• North end of the lakefront promenade of Waterfront Park will be closed for set up from 8 am until 10 pm on Thursday.

The City of Kelowna is urging residents to reduce traffic and parking congestion by biking, walking or carpooling to the festivities on July 1.