Discussions

I will be in Toronto area on Canada day. Just wondering if Toronto will have more spectacular celebration or Niagara falls on July 1st? If you have been in any of these cities on Canada day please help on making my decision!

Niagara Falls is pretty impressive on July 1st and if you can hang on there until July 4th you also get to see the fire works on the American side as well.

Hands down... Niagara Falls.. But it will be packed! there will be no place to even sit on the ground. Ppl get there and claim their spots early!! Take a blanket, or a outdoor rug because the grass areas is where everyone hangs out!

Never been , would be amazing for sure!!!!!

If you plan on going to Niagara i would go early. Last year we went around noon and it took us an hour and a half to drive there (we lived 50 km's away). We came back before the fireworks because we found there wasn't very much to do for activities unless you came with your children. The Toronto fireworks were amazing!

only been once and not for July 1 so am guessing the fireworks are by the falls.  
 
so if you are staying in a hotel by the falls make sure you get a full falls view room at the right hieght. I booked through an online agency and asked for full falls view, they assured me that it was.  
 
I happened to call the hotel later about booking in a tour  
and asked to double check our reservation. Turned out the room the online agency had reserved was not a full falls view off the balcony unless you leaned over the balcony and crossed your fingers.  
 
the hotel apologized and upgraded us to the right room and floor that we wanted.  
 
lesson here, is if you are wanting something particlar, like a view call the hotel front desk direct to book direct rather than an online agency. the hotel folks are the ones you will be dealing with any way.

I have never done Canada Day in either locations (I lived in Toronto for 3 years but we did Canada quietly with beer and friends in the back yard) but I would pick Toronto over Niagara.  
 
I think that there will be much more to do to fill your entire day in Toronto. Even walking around downtown or the Beaches, or .. or... or... or... and just looking would fill your day. If a particular place is crazy busy you can wander around to another interesting site. Also, I think you will be able to find less expensive food and less expensive or free entertainment in Toronto. Niagara will be all super pricy tourist food and entertainment. You will spend a fortune and stand in line for hours to do the tourist-y things that you could easily do any other day. The other expense would be parking. If you park way up Young Street you can take the subway downtown very easily and parking will be less costly (and more plentiful) North of the 401. At least that was the case when we lived there...

I’ve seen them on Canada and they were pretty good but getting out of there after was horrible with how many people were there. If you have kids and have never gone, it’s worth it. But I’ve also seen the fireworks in Mississauga over Lake Ontario and they weren’t too bad either. Anywhere you go will be good. But yes niagara probably better.