Richmond Maritime Festival sets sail August 20 and 21

02 August 2022

The City’s biggest nautical celebration returns this summer to the Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site in Steveston. The 19th annual Richmond Maritime Festival will be held on Saturday, August 20 and Sunday, August 21 from 11am to 6pm. The in-person event is free and open to the public with no advance bookings required.

The two-day event will unfold across the eight-acre site and showcase a vibrant program of live music, historical characters and storytellers, heritage boats and displays by community groups.

“The Richmond Maritime Festival has long been a highlight on Richmond’s cultural calendar,” says Mayor Malcolm Brodie. “We are thrilled to share this year’s festivities in-person once more, providing new and returning visitors with a chance to learn about this region’s maritime history.”

New to the festival this year are a series of themed areas, where festival-goers can experience different aspects of sea-faring culture. Activities for families include interactive performances by festival favourites Rikki the Rat and his crew, hands-on workshops, fun water features, heritage games and a family portrait sketch artist.

The community stage will feature performances by the Tsatsu Stalqayu (Coastal Wolf Pack), the Irish Wakers, and Go Taiko. Look for other pop-up musical and storytelling performances throughout the site by festival favourites like The Seabillys and the Cannery Mermaids.

Down on the docks, visitors can take in the beauty of restored heritage vessels including the 1903 Providence sailing ship and 100-year-old SS Master tug boat.

Visitors will be able to discover surprises around every corner with artisans and immersive art installations located throughout the shipyards. Britannia Shipyard’s many historic buildings will be open to public and will feature costumed interpreters. The site also has plenty of picnic tables for families to enjoy the offerings of exciting local food vendors.

For more festival details, visit the Richmond Maritime Festival website.

About the Richmond Maritime Festival and Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site
The Richmond Maritime Festival is presented by the City of Richmond, the Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site Society, Richmond Arts Coalition and Anigraph Productions with funding support from the Department of Canadian Heritage through the Building Communities through Arts and Heritage grant program.

Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site is an authentic representation of a once-thriving community of canneries, boatyards and residences. Many of the heritage buildings date back to the 1880s and tell the stories of a diverse community of workers through recreations of living and work spaces. The site is located at 5180 Westwater Drive and is open seven days a week from 10am to 5pm. Admission is free.