Woodstock125 celebrations for Canada Day will include much more than fireworks

Kim Mitchell to bring his 'Wild Party' to Southside Park on July 1

It's a birthday year for my hometown -- Woodstock125. Among the festivities is the Canada Day Fireworks in Southside Park, which is a setting that could be re-named Rockland Wonderland for the Wednesday party celebrating Canada and Woodstock. The City was officially declared a 'city' in 1901.

Patio Lanterns could also be displayed as the Friendly City is welcoming Kim Mitchell to perform around 8 p.m. at the natural amphitheatre for concerts -- the toboggan hill. Later, at about 9:45, the glow off the Cedar Creek pond and lights and noise of the annual fireworks will be the star attraction under the stars. You could say Woodstock revelers will see Diamonds Diamonds in the night sky.   

TMMC (Toyota - Woodstock) is the day's main sponsor, but City special event director Kristen Brodhagen prepares for many other fun reasons to attend, such as food trucks, vendors, kids' activities (like bouncy castles and petting zoo) and the always-popular Lions Club of Woodstock beverage area and its great view of the stage, and its Lager & Ale.

Kim Mitchell's most popular chart hits include Patio Lanterns, Rockland Wonderland, All We Are, Go For Soda, Easy To Tame, Diamonds Diamonds, Alana Loves Me, Rock 'N Roll Duty, Let Go The Line, and of course Lager & Ale plus I Am A Wild Party. 

Mitchell is from the Sarnia area, but with Woodstock125 in 2026, the city's special events department secured the former Max Webster frontman for our wild party.

Since I'm circa 1966, my first recollections of Mitchell is the long hair and the OPP ball cap. Times have changed, but his rock set list is as solid as ever.

I've clipped and saved the city's press release from the website. . . www.cityofwoodstock.ca 

In 1983, Mitchell was named the Most Promising Male Vocalist at the Juno Awards. By 1990, he was honoured as Male Vocalist Of The Year by the Junos. 

In 2004, Kim Mitchell was honoured by Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN) with a national achievement award. He was named to the Canadian Songwriters Hall Of Fame in 2020. His top selling albums include: Akimbo Alogo, Shakin' Like A Human Being, A Million Vacations, and Universal Juveniles.

https://www.cityofwoodstock.ca/en/city-governance/woodstock-125.aspx