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Get on board the Richmond Maritime Festival
Ahoy, mateys, it’s time for some seafaring fun.
Ahoy, mateys, it’s time for some seafaring
fun.
This weekend marks the 16th annual Richmond
Maritime Festival at Britannia Shipyards and Imperial Landing.
The two-day celebration (Saturday, July 27
and Sunday, July 28) will see the docks lined with vessels, with wooden boats
from up and down the Pacific Coast open for boarding and viewing.
And on land, folks will rejoice in a
selection of local music and roving performers as they explore activities and
displays in the fresh sea air.
Both days will open with performances by
Juno-nominated children’s artists.
On Saturday, the award-winning duo Bobs &
Lolo will get kids moving with song and dance while on Sunday even the littlest
pirate can rock out to the witty wordplay and catchy choruses of Will’s Jams.
The Canadian Western Bank Main Stage will also provide the perfect maritime
soundtrack with appearances by festival favourites Beauty Shop Dolls and The
Seabillys along with festival newcomers Wooden Horsemen and Flint &
Feather.
This year, the Richmond Maritime Festival
will be bookended by a special high seas adventure, the “Sunset Battle of the
Tall Ships.” Featuring booming cannons, close-quarters maneuvers and a taste of
18th century life aboard tall ships, guests will experience the ships in action
as they vie to win the contest. Originally to be a battle between the Lady
Washington and the Hawaiian Chieftain, the highlight spectacle will now feature
Richmond’s own Providence in place of the Hawaiian Chieftain. This will be a
David versus Goliath battle for bragging rights as the 2019 champion of the
Fraser.
For those who consider themselves to be more
land-lubbers, Garry Point Park will provide an optimal viewing location for the
evening Battle Sail, as well as a selection of food trucks and roving
performances. At the same time, artist Jon Sasaki will showcase his own unique
talents by crafting his own boat out of materials found in the water as the
battle roars on behind him. Guests are invited to take part in the picnic and
enjoy the tall ship spectacle on July 26 and 28 from 6 to 9 p.m.
Richmond Maritime Festival hours are 11 a.m.
to 6 p.m. on July 27 and 28. Admission is free. For more details, visit www.richmondmaritimefestival.ca.