It is the 39th annual Canal Days Marine Heritage Festival this weekend in Port Colborne.
Another great way to spend the weekend locally in Niagara. Enjoy watching vessels gather in Port Colborne as they do each Civic holiday weekend, for a four-day celebration of history and heritage along the canal. Explore the decks, try your hand at the wheel, or feel the spray as you cruise the Empire Sandy, Tall Ship on Lake Erie or the E.M. Cotter Fire Boat along the Canal wall.
Located at the juncture of the Welland Canal and the Lake Erie north shore, Port Colborne is considered a working marine community, with a rich nautical history and that is why the entire city takes time to celebrate its marine heritage and connection to the St. Lawrence Seaway and the seafaring world at large.
The Canal Days Marine Heritage Festival encompasses the entire community, with activities at a dozen different venues: HH Knoll Lakeview Park hosts Ontario’s Largest outdoor Classic Car and International kite show. The Seaway Park children’s area has games, entertainment and kid’s activities throughout the weekend. At the Port Colborne Marine Museum the history of the Canal is on display, and heritage artisans can be seen working their trade. At the Roselawn Centre Saturday & Sunday offers two days of live entertainment. Festival guests can ride the free Canal Days shuttle to the Vale Centre where the indoor Craft Show is held. Festival food and shopping kiosks fill historic West Street, and the Market Square concert venue features top notch entertainment nightly.
Each year more than 400,000 people visit the festival over four days. Friends, families, and former residents return and reminisce, and Canal Days continues to grow by bounds. An ever-changing roster of activities has redefined Canal Days again and again, and as the festival moves into its fourth decade, that growth will continue as the festival blooms again. 2016 Canal Days Marine Heritage Festival will feature once again feature celebratory fireworks which will light the night sky.
Canal Days is Port Colborne’s signature event, and runs August 4 – 7, 2017. For more information check out their website HERE.
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