Rotaryfest

Rotaryfest is an annual community festival that takes place in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. For 2026, the festival is planned for the weekend of Saturday, July 18, through Sunday, July 19. The event encompasses various activities, including the Annual Rotary Community Day Parade and other gatherings primarily at Clergue Park.

A central highlight of Rotaryfest is the Rotary Community Day Parade, scheduled for Saturday, July 18. The parade has previously featured themes such as "Out of This World," with participants often including astronauts, aliens, and spaceships. To accommodate the parade, significant road closures are implemented in the downtown core. On Saturday, July 18, Queen Street East (from Pim Street to Churchill Boulevard) and lower Church Street are closed for staging, beginning at 9:30 a.m. The main parade route, which runs from lower Pim Street to Bay Street to Andrew Street, closes at 10:30 a.m. and reopens around 1:00 p.m.

Motorists are advised to anticipate traffic delays and an increased presence of pedestrians in the downtown area during the parade. Vehicles found on the parade route after 9:30 a.m. on Saturday will be towed. The festival also hosts events at Clergue Park, though some attractions, like the Tenaris PlayZone and GFL Inflatable Park, may experience closures, particularly on the final day. All Rotaryfest activities are subject to change, especially due to conditions like poor air quality.