MUSKOKA — It’s almost all over … but for the many fireworks at dusk, which will wrap up another fun day in Canada.
And Muskoka.
Sunrise to sunset it’s been a colourful — red and white — celebration of who we are and what we stand up for .
There were plenty of “Elbows UP!” as Muskokans spread out in parks and main streets to revel in red.
Young and old shared what it means to be Canadian — “proud and free.”
From Heritage Place in Huntsville to Manitoba Street in Bracebridge to Gull Lake Rotary Park in Gravenhurst there were parties great and small.
Like the participants of all sizes, ethnicities and attitudes who enjoyed free cake, cup cakes, hot dogs, hamburgers and summer drinks.
It was fitting way to take the day off and for summer to officially begin.
Here are just a few of the thousands of happy Canadian faces we ran into today.
It was ‘Elbows UP!’ all day across Muskoka as Canadians celebrated their day in red and white style. PHOTOS Mark Clairmont, Lois CooperMuskoka Concert Band conductor Fran Harvey had her musicians play appropriate music including the theme from Hockey Night in Canada at the Bracebridge Band Shell.The band was the first of several afternoon acts in Memorial Park and downtown on Manitoba Street before this evening’s huge Rotary fireworks at dusk.First up was O Canada and the crowd loved it singing loud and proud.Most were decked out in their favourite red and white and enjoying the concert music.Some were even quite comfortable lounging in a Canadian canoe – even if they were Americans.Mitch Beube and Jason Crawford enjoyed mixing it up with some sax and eight-string guitar/synthesizer music for the younger music lovers.What a way to enjoy a day relaxing in the park and being Canadian.At Gull Lake Rotary Park the Gravenhurst Horticultural Society held Master Gardener classes for plant lovers.And Gravenhurst Mayor Heidi Lorenz, second right, councillors and staff hosted a barbecue as part of an afternoon of entertainment.At Bethune House it was “knee-how” as the National Historic Site was open to the public as part of a summer sites promotion. Left, staff member Shelley Hannah, Matt Meng and his wife Julie Cheng, his mother Doris Waht, staff member Sophie Hao, and Matt’s dad Qing He. The parents are from Shanghai and are visiting their children in North York.Families and friends of Dr. Norman Bethune’s birthplace enjoyed cake and tours.Lorna Fletcher brought her grandsons Miles and Teddy and daughter Janet to the Muskoka Discovery Centre.Roger Irwin joins Muskoka Discovery Centre director Wendy Fairbairn at this morning’s opening.The Youngs were among those who took advantage of a free day at the MDC today.Musician Marc Mantha shows off his banjo-le-le while performing at the MDC this morning.The Paulger family were all-Canadian with a moose at the MDC.Baby Paulger was ready for the Kidz Zone at the MDC with his family.Mary Galbraith, right, was able to get most of her geo-cache participants at Gull Lake Rotary Park as roads south of town were closed due to a police investigation.