A Port Colborne signature event, the Canal Days Marine Heritage Festival is a can’t-miss summer party featuring top-notch entertainment and activities centred on the area’s nautical history.

The 41st annual Canal Days Marine Heritage Festival will be taking place from Friday, August 2nd to Monday, August 5th throughout downtown Port Colborne. During the Canal Days Festival, downtown closes to traffic and the streets fill with food vendors, merchants, buskers, and all sorts of activities.

Canal Days is known for having new and exciting activities every year, along with plenty of old favourites. Activities take place at many different venues in town. There will be plenty of children’s games at Seaway Park, educational displays at the Port Colborne Historical & Marine Museum, and many more fun and family-friendly events to attend over the weekend.

One of the most enduring and well-loved features of the Canal Days Marine Heritage Festival is the tall ships that gather at the canal. Hop on board to explore the decks or go for a cruise aboard the Empire Sandy. Cruises are offered over the course of the entire festival.

Another festival highlight is the celebratory fireworks, which will light up the sky above the Welland Canal starting at 10 pm on Sunday. Grab a spot along the canal after a day of taking part in the festivities and just sit back and enjoy the show. You can also book a fireworks dinner cruise on the Empire Sandy for the best views.

Other activities to look forward to include the International Kite Festival on Killaly Street West and West Side Road, a concert series at H.H. Knoll Lakeview Park, and a Jazz on the Lawn event at Roselawn Centre. A free east side shuttle will also be available to take guests over to the Vale Health & Wellness Centre for an indoor craft show and for the largest outdoor classic car show in Ontario.

The very first Canal Days Festival was held in 1979. It was put on by the Port Colborne Historical & Marine Museum as part of a regional celebration for the 150th anniversary of the First Welland Canal. That year, the event attracted a modest 400 people. Today, more than 400,000 people attend the festivities over the course of the four days, and it is all made possible through the tireless efforts of hundreds of volunteers.

Located on the north shore of Lake Erie, Port Colborne is still very much a working marine community. The town has grown and prospered in large part due to its marine heritage, and the locals love to celebrate that nautical connection with Canal Days. Visitors can look forward to warm hospitality while they explore this picturesque town.

As in previous years, the Canal Days Marine Heritage Festival has once again made the list of Ontario Festivals & Events’ Top 100 events. Now in its fourth decade, the festival promises to be as fun as ever, if not even more so. Come enjoy some of the best days of summer with plenty of fun activities at Canal Days.