Victoria Day Weekend

May 14 – 18, 2026

Celebrate the unofficial kickoff to summer with the Victoria Day weekend midway and parade! 

New this year, join us after the parade for Victoria Day Rewind in Southside Park! Enjoy a throwback afternoon of retro games, classic play and all ages fun in celebration of the City of Woodstock’s 125th anniversary.

World's Finest Shows Midway
Marching band walking down a street

Victoria Day Parade

Victoria Day Rewind

World's Finest Shows Midway

The midway runs Thursday, May 14 to Monday, May 18 in Southside Park and features a variety of amusement rides, carnival games and food.

Midway hours are dependent on the amount of foot traffic and weather. The midway may close earlier in the case of inclement weather.

Midway Hours

Thursday, May 14 5 – 11 p.m.

Friday, May 15 4 – 11 p.m.

Saturday, May 16 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.

Sunday, May 17 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.

Monday, May 18 11 a.m. – 5 or 6 p.m.

Rides and Pricing

Admission to the park is free, but credits must be purchased for the rides. This year, Worlds Finest Shows Midway is introducing a new payment system. 

Customers will purchase credits at a self-serve ride credit trailer. There is a one-time activation fee of $5 on your initial purchase, which includes 25 bonus credits. You will then receive a reloadable card to scan at each ride. Each ride costs between 29 and 52 credits per person.

Ride All Day wristbands will also be available on Friday, May 15 for $40 (includes a $2 activation fee).

Featured rides include (subject to change):

  • Pharaoh’s Fury, Alien, Elephants, Magic Carpet, Tornado, Super Slide
  • Kiddie Rides: Bulgy the Whales (Nemo’s), Hampton Tractors, Teacups, Hampton VW’s

Ride Credit Prices

33 credits $5

137 credits $20

242 credits $35

350 credits $50

721 credits $100

Victoria Day Parade

Join us on Monday, May 18 starting at 10 a.m. for one of Woodstock’s most anticipated traditions! The 78th annual Victoria Day Parade will feature marching bands, floats from local organizations and businesses, vintage cars, inflatables, entertainers and more.

Please consider bringing a non-perishable food item. Volunteers will be collecting food donations along the parade route.

Join the Parade

Applications for parade floats, walking groups, bands and Shriners are now closed.

Parade Route

The parade will depart from the Woodstock Fairgrounds (875 Nellis St.) down McKenzie Street and head west on Dundas Street, turning left on Wellington Street South and then right onto Henry Street, ending at Finkle Street. The parade will disband on Finkle Street.

Victoria Day Rewind

After the parade, head to the Victoria Day Rewind in Southside Park for a throwback afternoon of retro games, classic play and all-ages fun until 2 p.m.

South Gate Centre Cruise

9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

From vintage favourites to modern rides, take a stroll through the South Gate Centre Car Show. No registration or fee to bring your classic car!

Band Tattoo

12 – 12:30 p.m.

We're reviving a favourite community tradition! A band tattoo is a static choreographed performance by a marching band or drum corps in front of an audience. We will be featuring performances from Top Hat Marching Orchestra and Burlington Teen Tour Band.          

The Ultimate Team Day!

12 – 12:45 p.m.
1 – 1:45 p.m.

Join us to compete in retro themed community games focusing on collaboration and teamwork! Races will include Hula Hoop Contest, Tic Tac Toe Race, Egg & Spoon Race, Pong My Bucket, Parachute Run, Tug of War, Water Balloon Toss and more (subject to change).

Each session will have two teams with 20 people per team. Registration is not required. Each participant will receive a colored bandana and an Olympic-style medal.

Knight School

12 – 1 p.m.
1 – 2 p.m.

Each 60-minute show includes an exciting live steel sword fight between two knights! A brave volunteer will be suited up in a real suit of armor. Ten volunteers will also participate in a sword fight class.

Their booth will also feature a child-safe replica spear throw and a full sized quintain — the spinning target a knight hits on horseback — for adults to spin.

Bella Magic Show and Carnival Stilt Walkers

12 p.m.

Lawn Games

12 – 2 p.m.

Games include bean bag toss, Jenga, chalk, Hula hoops and Connect 4.

Beach Volleyball

12 p.m. and 1 p.m.

Brought to you by City of Woodstock Recreation staff! Join us at the South Street beach volleyball court for family-friendly games, open to all ages and abilities.

Picnic in the Park

12 – 2 p.m.

Unwind during the Victoria Day Rewind! Enjoy a traditional Victoria Day picnic. Pack a picnic, bring blankets, or find a picnic table in Southside Park to enjoy a picnic in the park with friends.

Teddy Bear Picnic

12 – 2 p.m.

Proudly presented by the Rotary Club of Woodstock, the Teddy Bear Picnic invited children to bring their favourite teddy bear or stuffed animal to the park for a fun filled picnic-style adventure featuring:

  • Storytime with local author Alice Hatchard and the Teddy Bear Picnic story reading
  • The Teddy Bear Art Zone
  • Bubble station
  • “Can You Find the Teddys?” scavenger hunt
  • Teddy Bear Picnic photo opportunities

Woodstock 125 Merch and Woodstock Coin Club

12 – 2 p.m.

Stop by the Woodstock 125 booth to buy limited edition merch and commemorative coins from the Woodstock Coin Club in celebration of our city’s milestone anniversary!

City of Woodstock Voting Information

12 – 2 p.m.

The 2026 municipal and school board elections are nearly here! Visit our booth to find out how to get on the voters list and become an informed voter before you head to the polls in October.

Become a volunteer

Have fun, meet new people, earn community hours and make an impact in your community as a Special Events Volunteer! 

Apply to be a volunteer

Know Before You Go

Plan your trip to Southside Park, avoid road closures, and help make Victoria Day weekend safe and fun for everyone!

Parking at Southside Park will be very limited, so we encourage you to ride the bus with Woodstock Transit!

You can take Route 7 to the park. Buses run from 6 a.m. – 10 p.m. on weekdays and Saturdays. Please note, there is no service on Sunday, May 17 and Monday, May 18.

Regular fares apply. Group passes are also available to purchase on the bus and allow up to five people to ride all day for just $8.25. The pass can be used by two adults, one adult and four children, or two adults and three children.

May 14 – 17:

Accessible parking will be located in Southside Park near the main washrooms.

General parking will be very limited. Please watch for no parking signs in and around the park to avoid getting a ticket.

May 18 (Parade Day):

Accessible parking will be located in Southside Park across from the east baseball diamond, near the outdoor exercise equipment. Turn right into the park from the Walter Street entrance.

During the parade, there will be no parking in the park other than the accessible area.

9 a.m. - 12 p.m. on May 18 (Parade Day):

  • All roads along the parade route
  • Finkle Street from Henry Street to Parkinson Road
  • All roads into Southside Park

  • Smoking, vaping and cannabis are not permitted in city parks and can result in a $250 fine. 
  • No alcoholic beverages of any kind are permitted on site.
  • Security, Police, Auxiliary Unit and City-bylaw will be monitoring the area.

Please be considerate so that everyone can enjoy the weekend's festivities!

2025 Event Recap

Relive all the fun from 2025 and get excited for this year's event!

Video by Blackmore Media

Thank you to our 2026 sponsors!

Dairy Capital Sponsor

In-Kind Donations

Contact Us

City of Woodstock

P.O. Box 1539, 500 Dundas Street
Woodstock, ON N4S 0A7
Phone: 519-539-1291

 

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