July 1 Community Picnic

Celebrate in Waterloo Park with live music, local artists, food trucks and a drone show at our annual community picnic.

• → July 1 from 4 to 10 p.m.
• → West side of Waterloo Park, near the Bandshell
• → Free and family-friendly

Funded by the Government of Canada. Financé par le gouvernement du Canada.

On this page:

1. Canada Day and Reconciliation
2. Getting here
3. What's happening
4. What to bring
5. Get involved
6. Sponsorship

Canada Day and Reconciliation

July 1 is not a day of celebration for everyone in our community. We recognize Canada’s unjust treatment of Indigenous peoples.

Learn more about Canada Day and how we celebrate our community in an inclusive way that is mindful of Canada's history on our Indigenous Reconciliation page.

Getting here, parking and safety

There is NO parking available at the event, and the Westmount Road park entrance will be closed to vehicles on July 1.

Best ways to get here:

• walk, ride or roll
• take public transit – check Grand River Transit for routes and schedules
• use nearby parking lots – check our parking map

Get directions to Waterloo Park

First aid and security

If you have an emergency, find the first aid and security team at the booths located beside the stage.

What’s happening

• main stage music – all day
• food trucks – all day
• giant outdoor games – all day
• water refill station – all day
• art market – 4 to 9 p.m. (local vendors, caricatures, henna tattoos)
• community organization fair – 4 to 9 p.m. (local arts and culture groups)
• drone show – 10 p.m. (100 LED drones by North Star Drone Shows)

What to bring

Pack these items to enjoy the event:

• reusable water bottles – refill station available
• picnic blankets or camping chairs
• snacks and beverages – no alcohol
• sunscreen and bug spray
• cash – some vendors also accept debit and credit

Remember:

• NO fireworks
• NO alcohol
• NO personal drones – if public drones are operated during the drone show at 10 p.m., the show will be cancelled

Get involved

Watch for opportunities to be a part of the next year's event – applications will reopen in 2026 for:

• vendors 
• food trucks 
• community organizations
• volunteers

Sponsorship

The July 1 community picnic draws over 20,000 attendees. Contact festivals@waterloo.ca for our sponsorship guide.