Interest in this year's Canada Day parade already shows it should have a high number of participants, including a mystery float to commemorate part of Yellowknife's history.

"It will all unfold July 1 -- it will celebrate a recent event which will be important in Yellowknife's history," said Austin Marshall, who is this year's parade marshall.

While he won't reveal what the float will be, Marshall said that it's going to be an impressive display.

"It will be a pleasant surprise," he said.

There are a number of floats that enter the parade every year, but this one will be a highlight, said Marshall.

"There will be many there -- it will take a half an hour to 45 minutes for the parade to pass at any given point."

"It looks like it could be the biggest, but we've got lots of room for more."

The parade, organized by the Rotary Club, is the central event in the city's celebration of Canada's birthday, with people lining the streets from beginning to end. The club has been responsible for the parade for at least 22 years.

The pipe band, the Royal Canadian Legion, Caribou Carnival, as well as floats with cultural, commercial and recreational displays are expected to participate.

At about 10:30 a.m., just prior to the parade, entrants will be judged at the Yellowknife Community Arena parking lot and awarded prizes for their efforts.

"There will be everything from large trailers pulled by trucks to kids on bicycles -- there was even a fellow on stilts last year who stood about 16 feet tall," said Marshall.

The parade begins at 11 a.m. at the Yellowknife Community Arena, travels down Franklin Avenue, turns right at 47th Street and finishes on 52nd Avenue near Sir John Franklin high school.