The 2012 edition of Surrey's big Canada Day party will again attract tens of thousands of people to Millennium Amphitheatre in Cloverdale.

The event takes place Sunday, July 1 at the corner of 176th Street and 64th Avenue in Surrey. The concert is free to the public and gates open at 10 a.m., with the fireworks show slated for 10: 15 p.m.

Montreal-based Sam Roberts Band is the musical headliner this time around, giving the party a Junodecorated hitmaker.

The concert lineup also boasts singer songwriter Hannah Georgas, altcountry group The High Bar Gang, Jerry Doucette, Blaze of Glory (a tribute to Bon Jovi), Andrew Allen and others. Also, dual stages will again feature bands involved in the Peak Performance Project talent contest.

Surrey's free Canada Day celebration has grown to become one of the nation's largest. Last year, close to 100,000 people turned up for headlining band Trooper, amusement rides, games, food, fireworks and more. Presenting sponsors help pick up the tab to stage the event, including Coast Capital Savings, Chevron, Fruiticana, Great Canadian Gaming Corp. and CTV.

A special attraction will be aerial stunts done by members of the Global FMX freestyle motocross team, to launch over an 80foot gap at heights of more than 30 feet. The awardwinning riders include Kris Garwasiuk and Bruce Cook (for show details, visit www. globalfmx.com).

As well, Shooting Star Amusements will have a full range of family-oriented fun for the younger crowd, including amusements, interactive games and bouncy castles.

New this year is the Bell Soccer Zone, an 80-footlong fenced-in soccer pitch for kids age five to 10. A few players from the Vancouver Whitecaps may also make an appearance there.

An improved Kids Zone at Surrey's Canada Day event will include Toddler Town, crafts, Storyville, a giant sandbox and Games Land. In the Games Land tent, kids can play classic board games like chess, checkers, Scrabble, Sorry, Battleship and more, along with oversized versions of Connect4 and Snakes and Ladders.

At Storyville, join the storytellers from Surrey Public Library to hear stories, sing songs, play games, laugh with puppets and meet new people.

Live, interactive recreations of Surrey pioneers will happen at the Frontier Tale Blazers tent site, with show times every 15 minutes (from 10 a.m. to 5: 15 p.m.) at the southwest corner of the grounds. This unique event features actors who will engage and amaze you as Dr. Fredrick Sinclair, teacher Mary Jane Shannon, Reeve T.J. Sullivan, printer's devil Stan McKinnon and pioneer carpenter Eric Anderson.

More than 100 vendors and exhibitors will be on site in Cloverdale on July 1.

A great variety of food will be available, in the food court and at food carts positioned throughout the amphitheatre area. The food court will offer kettle corn, Caribbean dishes, mini doughnuts, South Asian fare and more. Food carts on site will include Wings (gourmet chicken wings), C-Lovers (seafood), Smoke & Bones (ribs and smoked meat), JJ Hot Cobbs (corn) and Mr. Frosty (ice cream and more).

"Surrey's Canada Day is an exciting event for the entire family," said Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts. "Every year, we welcome proud Canadians from around the region to celebrate our country's birthday and showcase our national pride and community spirit."

For more details about Surrey's Canada Day event, visit www.surrey. ca/canadaday.