Celebrate Canada Day In The Nations Capital

From morning to midnight, Ottawa throws the country's biggest party

Where: Ottawa, Ontario

It's a day to celebrate all that is Canada: that means music, fireworks, fine food and drink, dancing in the streets, parades, marching bands and Mounties. Sometimes, even royalty drops in for a cuppa: the big news for 2011 is that newlyweds William and Kate, just two months after their Westminster Abbey nuptial spectacle, are expected to join the party.

Music rings out all over town: The Ottawa Jazz Festival stages a series of free concerts at Confederation Park 11am-7pm. The National Arts Centre's musical program is one of the city's most ambitious on Canada Day -- and it's all free. A typical July 1 begins at 10 am with the 400-voice Unisong Massed Choir, then moves onto a series of hourly kids concerts, a series of stand-out performances by the NAC Orchestra, the NAC Young Artist Programme and African Drummers. July 1 is also a good time to check out the city's top museums -- so long as you don't mind line-ups -- since most offer free admission for the day.

Rideau Street keeps a street party humming all day with sports demonstrations, skateboard competitions, crowded patios, street food (including the Annual Great Canadian Chicken BBQ) and live music, and as nightfall descends, evening concerts begin. Again, the event organizers manage to attract top Canadian acts to regale the crowds as the party continues on Parliament Hill. The day closes with a spectacular fireworks show over the Ottawa River (starting at about 10pm). The best views are from across the River in Gatineau at the Canadian Museum of Civilization or Jacques-Cartier Park. The unofficial partying continues into the night on both sides of the River: in open parks, on restaurant patios, and in crowded clubs. July 2nd is a good day to plan on sleeping in.

More Information: www.canadascapital.gc.ca.