Canada Day at Base31

JUNE 27 - JULY 1

CELEBRATE CANADA DAY WEEKEND AT BASE31

Get ready for a Canada Day Celebration like no other as Base31 gears up for an unforgettable weekend of music, food, and history.

Canadian music icons Blue Rodeo will headline the Canada Day festivities on Saturday night, delivering their legendary sound to one of the country’s biggest holiday events in the heart of Prince Edward County.

Start your weekend with the official opening of the Exhibition Hall, a powerful new space that brings Base31’s WWII-era history to life through immersive storytelling and curated exhibits, open daily from Friday through Monday. On Friday, settle in for an intimate performance by County favourites The Brian Barlow Trio and Heather Bambrick. On Saturday, savour the flavours of a Canada Day-themed food event, featuring special offerings that celebrate the tastes of the country. Plus from Friday through until Tuesday, enjoy great eats, drinks and relaxed vibes at The Commissary, our open-air food and drink market, which is the centre of all the action and the place to be all weekend long! Don’t forget—our site is open to the public to wander at your leisure.

Scroll down to explore the full lineup and start planning your visit!

CANADA DAY WEEKEND HEADLINER

BLUE RODEO

Drill Hall RBC Stage
Saturday, June 28, 7:30pm

Now celebrating their 40th anniversary, Blue Rodeo has proven to be one of Canada’s most enduring and influential bands. With over four million albums sold, 12 JUNO Awards, and inductions into both the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, Base31 is thrilled to welcome them to the Drill Hal RBC Stage!

Formed in Toronto, Blue Rodeo electrified the supercool Queen West scene before dominating Canada’s soft-seaters and arenas. With over four million albums sold and thousands of shows performed, they have become a national treasure. Their impact on rock and country music is undeniable and the band has created a body of work that stands as a benchmark in Canadian music, weaving deeply resonant, distinctly Canadian stories that have influenced countless songwriters. From their breakout single Try to their beloved album Five Days in July, their music remains a vital part of Canada’s cultural fabric. As frontman Jim Cuddy reflects, “When you look back, you realize it’s just been this beautiful dream.”

What could be more Canadian than experiencing the magic of Blue Rodeo this Canada Day weekend? This is a performance you won’t want to miss.

CANADA ROCKS:

Celebrating Canadian Food + Drink

Saturday, June 28
The Commissary

EVENT DETAILS

Celebrate the best in Canadian food, drink + culture this Canada Day long weekend! Immerse yourself in all things Canada in The Commissary, Base31’s open-air food + drink market, from iconic Canadian tunes to our spin on traditional dishes like a Nanaimo Bar Blizzard. Plus, savour All-Day Breakfast, unwind at the Beer Garden, and sip at the Caesar Bar. Don’t forget to BYOF – Bring Your Own Family for a truly memorable experience!

EXHIBITION HALL + TOURS

Friday, June 27 12pm to 5pm | Saturday, June 28 10am to 6:30pm | Sunday, June 29 10am to 5pm | Monday, June 30 11am to 5pm

What better way to celebrate Canada Day than with the Official Opening of our Exhibition Hall?

Base31 is set to bring history to life this Canada Day weekend with the opening of its 18,000 square foot Exhibition Hall. This new space is dedicated to preserving and celebrating the site’s 14,000-year human history, its impact on the local community and its broader national and global significance.

The Exhibition Hall will feature blockbuster artifact Lancaster Bomber KB 882, on loan from the National Air Force Museum of Canada. With more than 40 WWII-era buildings still standing across the 70-acre site, Base31 is a unique open-air museum. The new Exhibition Hall serves as an exciting focal point in the broader experience, both commemorating the past and providing a dynamic setting to connect with history in an unforgettable environment.

Visitors can take Exhibition Hall Tours led by our expert team. To mark this historic opening, Base31 is offering special Canada Day weekend pricing with entry to the Exhibition Hall at just $8.82—a tribute to the Lancaster Bomber and its important legacy for not only the site, but all of Canada. Self-Guided and Guided Outdoor Site Tours are also available at regular price on Saturday, Sunday and Monday on Canada Day long weekend.

COUNTY FAVOURITES

THE BRIAN BARLOW TRIO + HEATHER BAMBRICK

Live Performance of Ella Be Good

Friday, June 27, 7:30pm
Sergeants Mess Hall

On Canada Day, we celebrate what makes this country great—including our ability to appreciate and interpret the world’s most iconic music through a distinctly Canadian lens. With deep County roots and national acclaim, The Brian Barlow Trio and Heather Bambrick return to Base31 to honour the legacy of jazz icon Ella Fitzgerald in Ella Be Good. A joyful, swinging celebration performed by two of Canada’s finest.

ADVENTURE + FUN FOR ALL AGES

Get ready for weekend fun for all ages! Saturday will feature Axe Throwing by County Axe (for a small additional fee). Sunday is all about free, family-friendly programming, with activities designed especially for children, including Heal with Horses, an interactive petting zoo where kids can meet and connect with gentle therapy animals, plus balloon animals, face painting, a scavenger hunt activity, a colouring contest and children’s entertainment. And discover a variety of unique experiences at Base31 including Escape Camp Picton escape room activities, Pedego bike rentals, galleries Melt Studio + Gallery, Side x Side Gallery, and Wallis Design + Build and ice cream and lemonade shop Sweets + Lemons.

EXPLORE THE SITE

CANADA DAY EVENT CAMPING

Thursday night, June 26 through Sunday night, June 29

Stay close to the action with Canada Day Event Camping at Base31! Walk to your event, enjoy food and drinks at The Commissary, explore site or Exhibition Hall tours, discover art galleries and more. A short driving distance away from downtown Picton and other popular hot spots around Prince Edward County like Sandbanks Provincial Park, wineries, breweries, cideries, distilleries and countless restaurants and art galleries. Choose from Lawn, Preferred, or Club Tent Camping, or RV sites with generator options. Book now for a seamless stay!

EXPLORE THE COMMISSARY

Base31’s vibrant food + drink market—The Commissary—continues to be the social heart of the site, where the community and visitors can relax this Canada Day long weekend. The venue showcases five unique vendor kitchens and an outdoor stage with a music-infused vibe surrounding a central Commissary Bar + Café. The Commissary opens Victoria Day long weekend (Friday, May 16) for the season with varying hours per food vendor. The featured food vendors will be announced later this month.

EXPLORE THE COMMISSARY

Base31’s vibrant food + drink market—The Commissary—continues to be the social heart of the site, where the community and visitors can relax this Canada Day long weekend. The venue showcases five unique vendor kitchens, a boardwalk market experience, night markets and an outdoor stage with a music-infused vibe. The Commissary opens Friday, May 16 through November 2 with varying hours per food vendor. The featured food vendors will be announced later this month.

VISITOR CENTRE

Stop by Base31’s Visitor Centre to explore information about the site, shop Base31 merch to commemorate your visit, pick up a site map and talk to a team member about your experience.

PLAN YOUR STAY

As you plan your Canada Day weekend with us, head to our Visitor Information page for everything you need to make your visit smooth and enjoyable. Discover directions, public transportation options, local accommodations, accessibility details, and more—we can’t wait to celebrate with you!

MAJOR SPONSOR

SERGEANTS MESS HALL SEASON SPONSOR

FOOD + DRINK SPONSORS

Casa Dea Estates Winery

County Cider

Slake