Oh, Canada!: Celebrating our Northern Neighbors on Canada Day

I've been busy decorating for the Fourth of July around our house and have a few more patriotic projects in the works, but I am taking a quick break to feature a fabulous party idea featuring our neighbors up North.

My friend Wynne is a Canadian enthusiast. So much so that she decided to have a destination wedding in Banff last summer. Who wouldn't want to get married there after seeing one of these photos from their special day?

Before the August wedding festivities, Wynne hosted a party to celebrate Canada Day and invited many of the people who would be traveling to take part in the big day. It was a great way for people to meet ahead of the wedding. 

What is Canada Day you ask? Frequently referred to as "Canada's birthday," the occasion marks the joining of the British North American colonies into a single country with provinces. This took place on July 1, 1867. Today, the country recognizes it as a national holiday.

If you are looking for a fun theme party to execute before you kick-off your Fourth of July festivities, check out some fun ideas below for hosting your own Canada Day soirée.

Look no further than Canada's flag for food and decor inspiration.

A fresh white tablecloth paired with red accents made everyone ready to sing "Oh, Canada." To re-create Wynne's centerpieces, pick-up some simple white floral and pair it with a floral pop of red and a mini Canadian flag. The flags can be found at online retailers like Amazon. You may also want to incorporate this https://lollyjane.com/patriotic-free-printables/ into your decor.

Dinner included a grill out with fun red sides including cherries, watermelon, and a fresh caprese salad. But, you can't host a Canadian-themed event without including the country's famous poutine -- a Canadian dish made up of french fries and cheese curds and topped with a light brown gravy. I was surprised at how much I liked it!

To satisfy the sweet tooth of partygoers, Wynne ordered some delicious maple bacon donuts from a local bakery. There was also a selection of red and white frosted cupcakes adorned with Canadian toothpick-sized flags. Toothpick flags to adorn your cupcakes or poutine can also be found on Amazon.

What better to wash down all this deliciousness with than some Canada Dry Ginger Ale? Wynne displayed it on ice in an adorable retro red cooler. A similar cooler is currently available at Crate and Barrel.

It was a great evening of food, fun and friends! And just think, a few days after your Canada Day party you can bust out the leftover red and white, add in some blue and you've got yourself ready for the Fourth!