Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th of July, United States of America! I suppose I already celebrated a few days early with fireworks and festivals for the July 1st Canada Day. I started off by attending the flag raising ceremony, the changing of the guard, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police musical ride, all on Parliament Hill.
They had a cultural fair in Major's Hill Park, with different tents representing the provinces of Canada, each with crafts, information, and demonstrations. The streets of downtown were blocked off to cater for the pedestrians, which lined the streets to watch the street performers, including musicians and acrobats. Later in the evening, I went to Jazz Fest in Confederation Park, and watched a great group from Nova Scotia: Gypsophilia.

I made my way back to Parliament Hill with thousands of other Canadians to watch the headline concerts (from afar) of Gordie Johnson and the Respectables, Marie-Mai, and Sara McLachlan. The music was great, and at 10 the fireworks began. The scene was picturesque, the Peace Tower glowing with fireworks in the background and millions of people cheering it on. It was a great Canada Day! (sorry the video is sideways...)