The Snowbirds typically fly over Ottawa’s official Canada Day event.
The Snowbirds are the aerobatic demonstration team of the Royal Canadian Air Force, formally known as 431 Air Demonstration Squadron. Their Canada Day appearance is associated with the national celebrations in Ottawa, historically centred on Parliament Hill and now sometimes spread across official sites in the capital region.
A flyover is not the same as the team’s full aerobatic show. Weather, air-traffic restrictions, programming, and national ceremonies can affect the format, so the Snowbirds may conduct a flypast or a non-aerobatic display rather than a complete routine. Other Canadian military aircraft, including CF-18 demonstration aircraft, may also participate.
The alternatives are different or unrelated formations. The Golden Hawks were an earlier RCAF aerobatic team, active in the 1950s and early 1960s, while the Golden Centennaires were formed for Canada’s 1967 centennial. The Snowbirds became the enduring modern symbol of Canada’s military aviation displays.