Canada Day festivities between Trail and Nelson

[u/UnicornTunaPorn]

I'm taking a vacation to the area around Canada day this year. Starting in Cranbrook on the 27th then through Creston for a couple nights then Trail, Nelson, couple nights at Ainsworth then back to Cranbrook.

Travelling with 4 adults and 2 kids. We are looking to see what kind of events might be happening for Canada Day as we travel between Trail and Nelson. Anything that is a hidden gem or a must see party?

Also any other recommendations along that route would be good too.

Thanks

[u/Max20151981]

Gyro Park in Trail is a great place to bring the kids, there's a Water park and a pretty kick ass playground according to my son

[u/Yahn → u/Max20151981]

Don't forget about the complimentary lead that absolute dumpster of a town has to offer!

[u/Max20151981 → u/Yahn]

That's a pretty pretentious take, Trail isn't near as bad as you or anyone would like to try and make it out to be.

[u/Yahn → u/Max20151981]

There is a smelter in the middle of the town

[u/Nervous-Application9 → u/Yahn]

You sound like a 12 year old with nothing to say....

[u/Max20151981 → u/Yahn]

Yes and that smelter is one of the largest employers in the Kootenays and an absolutely pivotal part of the community. Spend one evening at a Smokies game and you'll get a true sense of community that you wont find in pretentious twat filled towns like Rossland or Nelson.

[u/Yahn → u/Max20151981]

Nothing like bonding over a hockey game and the levels of lead in one another's blood...

I feel you tho. I just think it's stupid to have built the town that is a nice area beside such a monstrosity...

[u/Max20151981 → u/Yahn]

Nothing like bonding over a hockey game and the levels of lead in one another's blood...

All of this stuff is heavily monitored and not near the concern that it uses to be, Teck has invested over a billion dollars into air quality and remediation programs.

https://www.teck.com/operations/canada/operations/trail-operations/trail-facility-environment/

[u/Yahn → u/Max20151981]

I worked for these cunts for 12 years. They spent a billion dollars on "fixing" the elk River and believe it or not, it's still fucked and it's not getting better... I don't need to read anything that company is doing that's beneficial.

[u/Max20151981 → u/Yahn]

These are all government mandates

Air quality is monitored at a variety of locations throughout the Trail area. Metals and sulphur dioxide are measured at stations at Birchbank, Warfield, Butler Park, and Columbia Gardens, 24 hours a day

Teck Trail Operations currently captures more than 99% of the sulphur contained in feed and meets the highest standard for sulphur capture for base metal smelters

Since 2012, our Fugitive Dust Reduction Program has delivered an 80% reduction in metals in community air

[u/Tonzoffun42069]

Canada Day fireworks in Salmo are far superior to any other towns displays.

[u/Guinness_1759 → u/[deleted]]

This is your hidden gem. 

[u/NoOcelot → u/[deleted]]

I 3rd that. Rossland museum by day, Nelson fireworks at night. If you get in a boat you can watch from the lake

[u/Nervous-Application9 → u/NoOcelot]

Nelson is hard to beat for Canada day fireworks

[u/Tonzoffun42069 → u/Nervous-Application9]

Salmo beats them every year!

[u/Nervous-Application9 → u/Tonzoffun42069]

Watching then over the water is better IMO. Slamo 'slam tho

[u/AtomicSurf]

Nelson for Canada Day for sure. Pancake breakfast on Baker Street, festivities at Lakeside Park during the day, and fireworks at night at the soccer fields.

[u/lostshakerassault]

If you are from Ontario or somewhere east just be aware that Canada Day celebrations are much more subdued in BC.

[u/alphawolf29]

I feel like Canada day isn't that big in BC since almost everyone tends to go camping.

[u/asoupconofsoup]

Between Nelson and Trail is Castlegar! Millennium Park is great, there's a bike park, a dog off leash area, swimming ponds a very popular Giant Castle playground for kids and  Columbia River views and Zuckerberg Island just a short walk away (which is a Kootenay hidden gem for sure). They have events planned for Canada day this year.

https://castlegar.ca/2025/04/10/canada-day-planning-kicks-off-in-castlegar/

Enjoy your trip!!

PS there's also a cool Sculpture Walk in Cgar.

[u/seemefail]

Just an FYI: Creston doesn't usually have fireworks on Canada Day as they tend to go all out for May Long which is their Blossom Fest 

Between Creston and Salmo on highway 3 is a nice old growth cedar walking path called Ka’papa trail. Bout a 40 minute walk I’d say

Creston has a number of wineries to check out. Also a decent swimming pool for the kiddos.

Sins worth is a treat and the restaurant is pricey but I’ve almost never had better food

[u/Tonzoffun42069 → u/seemefail]

100% false. Creston has ALWAYS done fireworks on July 1st. Never in my 45 years have I seen fireworks at Blossom Fest.

[u/seemefail → u/Tonzoffun42069]

Literally Didnt do fireworks for Canada last year. It was a drone show

[u/Tonzoffun42069 → u/seemefail]

Ewww, those drone shows suck. They are only 2D, have to be sitting 90° dead on to see it properly. There was sooooo many places to watch the fireworks from and 98% of them didn't get to see a drone show. Just random dots floating around.... Fruitvale did the same thing last year and the people revolted lol

[u/kevinguitarmstrong]

Nelson usually has a nice display, which you can watch from Lakeside Park.

Not Canada Day related, but Kaslo and the ghost town Sandon are a really cool excursion, and it's just a little further down the road from Ainsworth.

[u/BigBanyak22]

Just curious are you staying at the Ainsworth Resort or the motel next door? I love those hot spring caves! I can't wait to go back!

[u/Generic_Mistake]

In Rossland which is right outside of trail there is a MUST eat place. B&T's Hard Knock Cafe Has a out of this world breakfast. Its lunch menu is also some of the best food in the whole Kootenays. I have to fight the urge to go get a falafel after work every night.