And now that you’re energized by meat, fries, and gravy-syrup you need to get out and celebrate this fine country we call home.

Edmonton does Canada Day pretty damn well. You can catch the Silly Summer Parade on Whyte Avenue at lunch, then head just about anywhere for more red and white festivities; City Hall, the Alberta Legislature, Mill Woods (which has a huge party), attractions like Fort Edmonton Park (where they call it Dominion Day), the Muttart Conservatory, and Valley Zoo, and the Edmonton Garrison.

Don’t forget about fireworks! The big show is downtown in the river valley. Mill Woods also fills the sky with spectacular-ness.

The World’s Longest Flag Football Game also begins today, at noon. You can help them out, play, volunteer, cheer, and donate to the Stollery.

Speaking of sports…the Edmonton Capitals have the Maui Na Koa Ikaika in town.

Don’t think the festivals stop for a holiday. The Works Art and Design Festival continues at Churchill Square and around downtown. The musical lineup at Churchill Square continues to be amazing.

Speaking of amazing music…we’ve got this thing called the Edmonton International Jazz Festival. Yeah, that’s gonna have a great lineup too. (And is a good time to check out jazz if you’re not a regular at the Yardbird Suite.)

A new festival just began this weekend too. (New as in it just started, it’s not new to Edmonton.) The Freewill Shakespeare Festival is on in the Hawrelak Park Amphitheater. This summer you can see Othello and Twelfth Night.

Great show Saturday night at Wunderbar, with Shotgun Jimmie, Liam Trimble, and The Mitts. There’s also a big Slave Lake fire fundraising show this weekend up in Widewater (which is on Lesser Slave Lake).

Also this weekend, Edmonton is hosting the 2011 Canadian Ismaili Games. Neat.

Along with the midway, shopping, games, food, the Telus Stage (Shane Yellowbird tonight, Metric tomorrow, Hedley Saturday, Default Sunday), casino, stuff for the kids, and the food and wine experience (Sip!), you can also just people-watch.

Plus there are fireworks. And mini donuts.

You know, when you write it all down, there actually does seem to be quite a bit going on up there at Northlands.

FIREWORKS!

Did you find a nice spot in the river valley to watch the fireworks? Maybe you saw them down in Mill Woods?

Watching dogs run and jump through an obstacle course as part of the Canada Day celebrations at the Alberta Legislature.

Sometimes they slipped and flipped off course. But in a cute way.

And, of course, what’s a holiday without reduced transit service to pack the trains and buses?

Transit boss #3: "I'm telling you guys, nobody will use ETS on a holiday full of big events."

Happy Canada Day, Edmonton!

If you’re feeling patriotic today can get into the Canadiana all over the city. There’s the Silly Summer Parade down Whyte Avenue, Churchill Square is busy with The Works and City Hall has Canada Day activities, the Alberta Legislature is all about our country’s 143rd birthday, and Mill Woods always throws a huge party. For a complete listing of all of Edmonton’s Canada Day fun head to the City’s website.

And don’t forget about fireworks! Mill Woods has them tonight and the river valley will light up with the city’s main sky display. There are some traffic restrictions downtown, tonight, because of the fireworks, so, again, check the city’s website for Canada Day and fireworks details.

Now, because Canada Day is Thursday this year it’s going to throw the week totally off for some people. I’ll be be back at work Friday, but you might not be. So let’s just call this a long-weekend and see what’s going on Thursday-Sunday.

As I noted above, The Works continues in Churchill Square, and various installations around downtown.

The Edmonton International Jazz Festival continues. You should snap some photos and win our hat.

One more festival…feats – estival of dance, continues to move.

July is a new month, and a new month means new movies.

Tonight, the Summer Rooftop Patio Series is on at Latitude 53, and they’re open late for Canada Day.

Meanwhile…over at the “tentue” you’ve got Kim Mitchell and Sass Jordan Friday night. You can’t get more Can-con than that. Speaking of homegrown talent, Calgary’s Roman Danylo is going to be making people (maybe you) laugh over at The Comic Strip.

There’s some big news at the City Market. Eva Sweet Waffles is going to be at the downtown farmers’ market for the rest of the summer. Get some waffles.

It’s a pretty good sports weekend here in the City of Champions. The Edmonton Capitals are taking on Calgary, and you can get another fix of fireworks after Friday’s game. There’s more baseball with the Edmonton Prospects. And the Edmonton Eskimos kick off their 2010 CFL season Sunday, against the B.C. Lions.

Now it’s time to check in with ShareEdmonton and YEGLive.ca for important events and music.

Lil Kim is at Union Hall tonight. Lil Kim is at Union Hall tonight!

The Freewill Shakespeare Festival is back, and they start with my favourite of the Shakespears; Macbeth. They’re also doing Much ado about nothing.

Let me know if there’s anything else I’m missing. Last week I forgot to tell you about the Edmonton Turkish Festival and that’s one of my favourites.

UPDATE: How could I totally forget about the E-Ville “Declaration of Derby,” happening Saturday? I mean, we were giving away tickets and everything. It just proves you guys need to keep me on my toes.

We don't skimp on the show.