There's something for everyone along the shores of the Petitcodiac on our nation's birthday

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On Tuesday it will be 141 years since the Fathers of Confederation brought Canada into being. Canada Day is celebrated across the country, and our local communities do their bit as well. Alma, near the gates of Fundy National Park, has an entire weekend of events planned leading up to Canada's birthday. Louise Butland, Alma Village Clerk gives a few highlights.

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"Alma Celebration Days starts on Friday with family games and picnics, and there's a fisherman's demonstration at the wharf at 1 p.m.," she says. "On Saturday we have a mock jail, where people pay to put others in 'jail' in a wood-shed. The proceeds go toward Celebration Days expenses.

"There's an adult social Saturday night, and tickets are only $10. There's also a gospel concert at the Activity Centre on Sunday afternoon, and a children's games night on Monday."

That is a short list of what Alma Celebration Days entail. Then, appropriately, Canada Day begins with a historical walk around the town in the morning of July 1, followed by a blacksmithing demonstration. In the afternoon, there's a demonstration at Collins Lobster, put on by owner Mike Mitchell.

This is the third seafood eatery demo of the weekend, the others being at Butland's Seafood on Sunday, and the Alma Lobster shop on Monday. After lunch, things move to the Headquarters area of Fundy Park, where there will be children's activities followed by a concert and Canada Day birthday cake.

"The only thing we don't have," Louise explains, "is fireworks. Because it's so often foggy here we just don't bother."

Hopewell Rocks is also having a party on Canada Day. Dan and The Boys are performing at the upper site while Jeremy Reid entertains at the lower site, from 2 to 5 p.m. Face-painting, games and birthday cake are also on the agenda.

"Our celebrations are from 2 to 5 p.m.," explains special events co-ordinator Annick Robichaud, "So people can enjoy high tide at 11:03 a.m., and low tide at 5:32 p.m. We have no fireworks, because it wouldn't be safe in our very wooded venue."

There are fireworks a-plenty farther up the shore, though. Hillsborough will light up the night skies at 10 p.m. in the ball field across from Patty's Place Restaurant, and the Tri-Community Fireworks will be putting the exclamation mark on Canada Day celebrations in Riverview.

Like Alma, Riverview leads up to Canada Day with a weekend of festivities at their annual SunFest. Cotton candy, inflatable bounces, crafts, barbecues and more, pave the way to a popular birthday bash that attracts people from miles around.

"Canada Day events are at Caseley Park starting at noon," says Community Co-ordinator Paulette Tingley. "We've got great stuff going on, and we invite everyone to come out and enjoy themselves."

Featured bands at Riverview's Canada Day are the Codiac Concert Band, the Dixieland Ramblers, Shanklin Road and Samantha Robichaud. There's a silent auction where you can bid on Via Rail tickets to Halifax for a family of four. Face-painting, birthday cake, popsicles, the list of the day's fun goes on and on.

There are Canada Celebrations to suit every taste, from picturesque seaside Alma, to the wooded area around the stunning Hopewell Rocks, to the pleasantly urban experience in Riverview. Take a bus, get a lift with a friend, and celebrate.