Why would you want to deal with crowded highways and crazy drivers for the Canada Day weekend when there is so much to do and see right here in your own backyard?
Canada Day celebrations are the big events this week.
There are massive celebrations in Galt Gardens and Henderson Lake as well as the Japanese Gardens. 
Live music begins at 10 a.m. at Galt Gardens July 1 with the New Weather Machine playing at 10 a.m.. They will be followed by Bridgette Yarwood, rockabilly band Bent Eight, Bruce Roome, Jesse and the Dandelions, the Nefertiti Belly Dancers, Trevor Panczac, Alyssa McQuaid and Double Jack, who end the show at 4 p.m.
There is also a lot of music and a variety of dance happening at Henderson Lake beginning at noon with Lethbridge classic rock band Who’s Yer Daddy.
The Irish Dance Academy follows at 12:40 p.m. followed by Karen Romanchuk at 1:10, the Urban Beat Dance Studio, local original classic rock inspired band Argus, the Canadian Rocky Mountain Cloggers and the Lethbridge Legion Pipe Band at 3:45 p.m. The opening ceremonies are at 4 p.m.
There will be a variety of entertainment leading up to the fireworks at 11 p.m. inlcuding hoop dancers Julie and Maria are at 4:40 p.m., followed by the Lethbridge Highland dancers at 5 p.m. They will be followed by blues band Riviera Paradise at 5:30, then the Expression Dance Studio and Wild Fire. Lethbridge improv group the Drama Nutz perform at 7:20 p.m. followed by local rock band Band of Brothers.
The Desert Wind Belly Dancers perform at 8:30, followed by more rock and roll from Soup of Flies and Unzipped, plus there will be firespinners before the fireworks.
Over at the Mocha Cabana, O’ Reely performs and afternoon show beginning at 1 p.m.
If you are up for a short drive to Fort Macleod, help celebrate the Empress Theatre’s centennial this week.
They will be having a massive gala event on June 29 featuring their two summer productions — The Stage that Made Us” — an original play written by Ron Chambers examining the Empress Theatre’s storied history in all of the different productions the theatre has been home to from wrestling matches to a plethora of onstage productions. It runs June 29-July 21 every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m., with a special Canada Day performance at 7 p.m. as well.
Celebrations continue June 30 with the premiere of Stephen Massicotte’s comedy “ The Boys Own Jedi Handbook,” a comedy which explores two pre-teens’ reaction to the release of Star Wars in 1977. The play will run June 30- Sept. 1, every Saturday at 1 p.m., on Canada Day at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., as well as on July 4 at 1 p.m. and Aug. 1 and 29.
Other than Canada Day celebratations, there is a lot going on on as well this week.
Lethbridge singer/ songwriter Brenna Lowrie is releasing her debut CD this week on June 29 at the Slice
The Owl also has a couple shows this week with Braden Gates on June 29 and Toques and Beards playing June 30.
If you didn’t get enough jazz at the Lethbridge Jazz Festival, the Herb Hicks Quartet featuring Sheena Lawson perform at the Mocha Cabana on Friday and Saturday.
And Toronto based the Heavyweights Brass Band adds their own jazzy twist to popular hits at the Slice, June 27.
For those who want to rock, Vancouver punk-pop band Gob plays a special one time show with Burlington born rockers Finger 11 at Pulse, June 28. The Juno award winning band Finger Eleven has a number of hits on contemporary radio including “Paralyzer,” “One Thing,” “Living in a Dream,” and many others.
The show begins at 8:30 p.m. at Pulse, June 28. Tickets are $40 in advance.
Also June 28 Steve Brockley plays the Slice with Toques and Beards. There is a $10 cover.
There is no jam at the Slice tonight as Elliott Brood returns for a second show.
— By Richard Amery, L.A. Beat Editor
