Whether you want to chill out, go on an adventure, explore the beautiful country, or just hang with friends, this year it’s time to elevate your celebration of 420 in Canada.
Looking for the best way to celebrate 420 in Canada? From watching the sunsets on the beaches of Vancouver or the rooftops in Toronto to hanging in the parks of Montreal or sitting seaside on the Nova Scotian coastline, there are a million ways to celebrate the beauty of Canada for the upcoming holidays. Nope, we’re not talking about Canada Day, Easter, or Christmas. For Canadians, celebrating 420 has become a yearly event where we can join together and enjoy some good company and quality cannabis.
April 20th is a day recognized by many as a celebration of cannabis culture. The first 420 celebration in Canada began as a peaceful protest in Vancouver at Victory Square Park in 1995. A few people gathered and celebrated cannabis culture – and we’ve kept the 420 events and traditions alive ever since.
While smoking a relaxing joint on the couch is nice, it’s always great to get outside and look for new experiences. Especially now that weed is officially legal in Canada, there’s never been a better time to explore while celebrating cannabis’ biggest day – 420.
1. Vancouver Beaches
With Covid-19 restrictions, many of us may not be able to travel for 420 in Canada in 2021. But that shouldn’t stop us from letting the good times roll. If you’re lucky enough to live in a city with gorgeous beaches like Vancouver, take advantage of the empty seasides of early spring and celebrate 420 with your toes in the sand. Sunset Beach, in particular, always draws a crowd of 420 enthusiasts, and it’s where 420 is usually celebrated ever since it moved from the Vancouver Art Gallery a few years back.
2. Parks in Montreal (Tam Tams)
Montreal locals know that although smoking cannabis in public is against the law, the city parks are a common place to hang out and enjoy the celebrations of 420. If it’s a community of like-minded folks you seek, head to the Mount Royal Park monument and explore the Tam Tams drum circles that happen every Sunday, and of course, every 420. Fun summer-y edibles like Budmail’s CBD Watermelons are an excellent option for sunny-day park hangs but if you prefer something with a bit (or a lot) more buzz, then grab one of the many delicious THC edibles off the menu.
Just make sure to keep an eye out for any bylaw officers or cops who could kill your buzz!
3. High-King
Grab your buddies and some buds and head out into the great outdoors. Victoria, BC, is a great place to explore hiking trails with incredible sights such as waterfalls and green, lush landscapes. If you’re close to the BC/Alberta border, the amazing splendour of the Rocky Mountains are at your doorstep. The Grey Owl Trail in Manitoba is a fantastic hike for those in the Prairies, and Maritimers can check out the East Coast Trail in Newfoundland or the Skyline Trail in Nova Scotia.
Wherever you are in Canada, you’re never too far from the wilderness, so if you don’t see your home province mentioned here, just hop on Google and look for some great local hikes to check out!
You can even opt to hire a guide with packages through groups like Canna Tours for hiking and whale watching. Get off the couch, and take your indica into nature.
Even with the legalization of cannabis, many nature parks and facilities still prohibit smoking on trails, so be sure to look out for regulations before lighting up near the pines! Also, be extremely careful where you ash and how you discard your roaches because you don’t want to be that person who accidentally started a forest fire.
4. Try a New Strain
Keep it simple and try out a strain of weed you’ve never purchased before to keep things exciting and fresh. Check out Budmail’s long list of cannabis flowers and various local and exotic strains. Budmail’s Premier Line and Skookum Tins are particularly popular among the cannabis connoisseurs and represent some of the best bud that BC has to offer.
Trying something new is a good way to get outside of your comfort zone without even leaving the house. You could even find a new favourite strain. Sounds like a win-win!
5. Release Your Inner Yogi
An outdoor or virtual yoga sesh is a great way to get in the spirit of 420 celebrations. Many studios that are closed due to Covid-19 are offering outdoor or virtual classes through Zoom and Google-meet. You can connect with a community of chill-vibe folks, get some gentle exercise, and connect your mind and body. Don’t worry about being a beginner; there’s no group less judgemental or more open than a group of yogis.
Try an indica-dominant hybrid such as Blackberry Sorbet for ultimate focus and relaxation during your yoga class! You’re bound to feel calm and centred with this flower.
6. Relax with a CBD-infused Massage
At St. Anne’s Spa in Grafton, Ontario, you can relax with a CBD-infused massage. Sounds like some ultimate 420-friendly stress-relief! The Canna Massage is a full-body herbal rejuvenation treatment that uses hemp-derived CBD oils for aromatherapy and skin conditioning.
7. Roll with Toronto Toke Tours
Toronto Toke Tours can let you experience expert rolling of joints— and sushi! A special class for both seasoned consumers and cannabis newbies offers lessons in sushi rolling and rolling the perfect joint. What more could you want? Oh, and some SAKE, of course! The tour includes a bottle of the popular Japanese rice wine. Ready to get rolling?!
8. Have a DIY 420 Paint Sesh
Talent not required! Painting is a great way to relax and release some stress through good, old-fashioned artistic expression. For an at-home DIY painting sesh, all you need are some cheap canvases, paints, brushes, imagination, and maybe a little inspiration.
Try Budmail’s BC Rockstar indica flower for a relaxing and focused painting and a super chill night to celebrate 4/20.
9. Spend the Night at a Bud & Breakfast
Don’t you mean BED and Breakfast? Nope! Check out Saint John’s (the one in Newfoundland and Labrador) best-kept secret, the Bud & Breakfast location known as Rock the Joint— a cannabis-friendly hotel! The coastal town of Saint John’s is worth a visit, with a beautiful view of the ocean and colourful fishing houses lining its rocky beaches. It’s like stepping back in time. What better place to celebrate 420 than one of Canada’s oldest port cities?
The Bud & Breakfast concept started in the US but has now spread to almost all Canadian provinces, so look into the bud-friendly over-nighter closest to you. If you don’t have any luck with that, there are always 420-friendly Airbnb’s as well.
10. Hit the Greens
Why not take some tokes while you work on your stroke? April 20th is the perfect date to be outside, enjoying the spring sunshine while hitting a few balls and celebrating 420. If golfing is your go-to sport for peace and quiet, hit the greens with your green at the first 100% cannabis-friendly course, Rolling Greens Golf Club in Smith Falls, Ontario.
If the golf course you’re going to isn’t 420-friendly and you need to be discreet, try a cannabis vape pen or edible instead for your day on the greens. Vape pens allow users to enjoy cannabis products with a much less pungent odour, with small devices that can fit in your pocket, and edibles look like regular gummies or candies, so nobody will even know!
11. Check out Your Local Dispensary
Everyone knows that the year of Covid was super tough on small businesses. Check out an online Canadian shop like Budmail, which offers a finely curated selection of flowers from hard-to-find connoisseur strains, concentrates, edibles, and other cannabis products.
Shops with home delivery options are exactly what you need to enjoy the holiday while respecting Covid-19 quarantines and regulations. Plus, you don’t have to leave the house (bonus!).
12. Celebrate with a Virtual Concert
One of the best ways to enjoy cannabis is with live music. Even if concerts and venues aren’t accessible, there are still ways to enjoy some tunes. Billboard is keeping a running list of live streaming shows and concerts, while platforms like Stageit offer virtual venues for lesser-known musicians and artists.
If you’re into the virtual scene, you may want to hit up a virtual nightclub, online 420 events, or host your own 420 Zoom party. In 2020, Montrealers hosted a Facebook Live party to celebrate the day, so something similar will likely pop up again for 2021.
13. Get Intimate at Home
Ready to let some good times roll? Ring in the 420 celebrations with a little cozy at-home alone time with your significant other (or sometimes-other). Weed and sex are like a match made in cannabis heaven. It’s all about finding that perfect balance between relaxing enough to enjoy each other’s company and getting that euphoric high to increase sexual pleasure.
Check out Budmail’s CBD products and how they can be integrated into your intimate 420 celebrations.
14. Eat Some Pizza
Enough said, right? Pizza and weed go together like, well, pizza and weed. Can’t go wrong with this late-night snack. In 2020, select Pizza Pizza locations across Canada offered pizza lovers a very special 420 deal. 4 small one-topping pizzas for $20. It’s like all your munchies dreams come true. Let’s hope that the popular chain keeps up the tradition this year so we can once again honour the holiday with a little extra ‘za.
15. Watch Your Favourite Stoner Flicks
For more at-home fun on 420, get cozy with your “bubble”, some snacks, and a few great films. Dig into some classics like This is the End, The Big Lebowski, Wet Hot American Summer, Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle, Pineapple Express, or basically anything with the beloved stoner duo Jay and Silent Bob. What’s better than chilling out and indulging in some quality cinema? Just don’t forget the weed.
What’s your favourite stoner movie? Tell us in the comments below.
Conclusion
Still wondering what to do on 420 in Canada in 2021? Canada’s 420 events this year may be a little more sparse. With plenty of Covid-19 related restrictions currently in place, we may have no choice but to stick close to home. Hopefully, this list highlights a few travel-free options for your 420 celebrations.
However you choose to celebrate 420, get a little adventurous with your weed product of choice. If you’re stuck at home, you can even try vaping, tinctures, capsules, or topicals. Or there’s always cannabis edibles for a good time at home. If you do choose to travel or explore, remember to respect Covid-19 related regulations and restrictions.
Sources Cited
Leafly: The Best 4/20 Events of North America 2020.
Sharp Magazine: 20 Ways to Celebrate 420 Across Canada.
Bud Mail: Blog.
Global News: A Look at 420 Celebrations Across Canada.
420 Vancouver: About 4/20.
Rotten Tomatoes: 27 Essential Stoner Movies, Ranked.
