Our family had a great time celebrating Canada Day at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival’s Canada Day Family Weekend.
There were only three of us for Canada Day this year since Katie flew to Scotland for her summer abroad program the night before. It was the first time that our family wasn’t going to be together for a holiday and Emma was feeling a bit sad about it so I knew ahead of time that I had to find something fun for the three of us to do on the day. When we received an email from the Stratford Shakespeare Festival announcing their 1st Annual Canada Day Family Weekend, I jumped at the chance to book tickets.
The Stratford Shakespeare Festival is an internationally recognized theatre festival that presents the works of William Shakespeare and other great writers and runs each year in Stratford, Ontario from April to November. Attending the theatre in Stratford is one of our family’s favourite things to do each summer.
This summer marks the 20th season that my husband and I have been attending and we have been taking kids since Katie saw a performance of Sound of Music in 2001. If there was anything that was going to take Emma’s mind off her big sister’s absence it was a trip to the theatre and a walk along the Avon River. The Canada Day family program sounded like it would be a lot of fun as it included a matinee performance of You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown at the Avon Theatre followed by an after party in the Chalmers Lounge.
We arrived in Stratford early in the afternoon to find a Canada Day festival across the street from the Avon Theatre and we stopped to acquire a couple of Canada flags for waving and to watch an Irish dancing demonstration.
Canada Day Festival in Stratford
We headed to the Avon Theatre for the matinee performance of You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown with time to spare for a bit of shopping at the Theatre Store. One of the highlights of the day was discovering that Justin Bieber has a star in the sidewalk right outside the Theatre Store quite near the spot where he was known to busk during theatre season when he was growing up in Stratford.
The Avon Theatre in Stratford
Justin Bieber’s Star
I wasn’t sure what to expect from this musical as I wasn’t familiar with any of the songs and I wasn’t sure how much Emma would like it as she doesn’t really know the Peanuts characters. There was no reason to have any doubts though – we loved this musical! It was a bright, colourful, fun show to watch and the six member cast was wonderful. Snoopy, in particular, had the kids in the audience in giggles throughout and brought down the house with his performance in the number Suppertime.
After the show we attended the Canada Day Family party in the lounge upstairs where we met the cast members who played Charlie Brown (Ken James Stewart), Linus (Kevin Yee), Sally (Amy Wallis) and Snoopy (Stephen Patterson). The four charming young actors answered questions and posed for photos with partygoers.
Emma with cast from Charlie Brown
Kids also had the opportunity to try on costumes and have snaps taken in a photo booth which thrilled Emma. There was face painting and there was a creative balloon guy making planes, flowers and whatnot. Each family was provided with a pizza to go and we headed down to the river to eat ours picnic-style.
Trying on costumes
The Balloon Guy
After the party and our pizza dinner, we bought some feed for the ducks and swans which is one of Emma’s favourite parts of going to Stratford. We stroll the path alongside the river while Emma tosses the corn feed to the birds and she is as happy as can be – so long as the birds don’t get too eager to get the food out of her paper bag.
Celebrating Canada Day
Cutest ducks ever
Happy Canada Day!!
We missed having Katie with us but we still managed to have an incredible Canada Day at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival – hopefully Katie was enjoying herself as much in St. Andrews!
Related Articles
15 Fun Things To Do in Stratford, Ontario
52 Things To Do in Ontario: The Ultimate Bucket List
Visiting the Charming Town of St. Marys, Ontario
10 of the Best Day Trips from Toronto
Laurel
I’m from Calgary but even I’ve heard about the Stratford Festival and all great things. Sounds like a fun day!
Tonya @ The Traveling Praters
What a great day of fun! One of my local friends (here in the States) attended the Stratford Festival years ago and still raves about it.
Muza-chan
I love festivals too…
Leigh
Looks to me like your daughter is all smiles. What a fun thing to do and sometimes that one on one outing turns out to be much better than you think it will be. I haven’t done the Stratford Festival in a million years – at least that’s what it feels like.
Lisa Goodmurphy
If you ever get the chance you should definitely make a trip to Stratford – it’s lovely in the summer time and the theatre is amazing!
Lisa Goodmurphy
It’s amazing how many people from the States head up to Stratford in the summer – it’s definitely worth the trip for theatre fans. You should plan to visit sometime!
Lisa Goodmurphy
Thanks, Muza-chan!
Lisa Goodmurphy
She did have a wonderful day – it’s really not possible to have anything else at the Stratford Festival! It’s going to be a long 3 weeks for Emma though waiting for Katie to come home again.
Sabrina
Looks like Emma had an awesome day! And how cute are those ducks?!
Mary @ The World Is A Book
It’s nice to see you had a great holiday celebration despite Katie being gone. I love all the activities there and getting to dress up looks so fun. Of course, the Justin Bieber star can make any young girl smile =)
InsideJourneys
What a great idea. I’m sure this Canada Day will not be forgotten in a hurry. Sorry Katie had to miss it.
Lisa Goodmurphy
You would not believe how many photos of the ducks we took – they were so cute!!
Lisa Goodmurphy
Seeing Justin in person would have made her smile even more! He had been home in Stratford a couple of weeks earlier and theatre goers turned up at the Avon one afternoon to discover him busking on that spot. I think Emma might have lost all semblance of control if we had walked up to the theatre and saw Justin Bieber sitting on the steps!
Lisa Goodmurphy
It was a little weird not having Katie here for a holiday but she is having an amazing time in Scotland!
Cathy Sweeney
Definitely looks like Emma was cheered up! Trying on costumes must have been pretty fun. Great idea to spend Canada Day at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival. I’d love to do that sometime.
Jenna
Looks so fun, and I agree, those are the cutest ducks ever!
Camels & Chocolate
OK, I’m going to send my husband to you when he complains about me adopting a family of baby ducks after seeing that photo. SO CUTE.