Port Colborne Mayor Vance Badawey
Obviously, Katie and I love living in Niagara (we do, after all, share all these stories with you about it). There are things we love in nearly every corner of Niagara and because everything is so close, we consider an activity in Fonthill or an event in Vineland still part of our “backyard.”
This week is a pretty exciting time of year for us as Port Colborne (which is actually our backyard) gets ready to host the Marine Heritage Festival known as Canal Days. This year’s event begins with the Farmer’s Market on Friday morning and runs through the holiday weekend until Monday at 5:30 pm.
Embrace the unique opportunity to tour or cruise on a fantastic tall ship!
Last summer was our first living in Port Colborne and it was then that we truly experienced what it is like to have a festival of this magnitude take over our small community. Though the numbers vary from season to season, an estimated 300,000 people flock to this little city of 19,000 people to take in the spectacle, food and activities that fill the duration of the first long weekend every August.
Embrace Niagara had a chance to sit down and speak with Port Colborne Mayor Vance Badaway and highlighted some of the things that are exciting about having a festival like this in Niagara:
There is the chance to explore tall ships, great music, fun events for the whole family (including amazing displays of kite flying) and the chance to eat your bodyweight in great food (starting with multiple breakfast choices every morning)! Some highlights of this year’s festival include:
FRIDAY
- Free Admission to the Port Colborne Historical and Marine Museum
- Wine & Beer garden
- Sunset Cruise on Empire Sandy
- Live at Market Square: The Trews with guests The Stanfields and Poor Young Things
- Showboat Theatre presents Pop Goes the 60′s
- Much Music Video Dance Party
SATURDAY
- Kid’s Fun Run
- Canal Days Craft Show
- Morning Cruise on Empire Sandy
- Jay Cochrane tightrope demonstration
- Free Fairy face painting
- Roselawn Centre presents Garden Swing Jazz on the Lawn
- Afternoon Cruise on Empire Sandy
- Live at Market Square: Sloan with David Wilcox
- Dinner Cruise on Empire Sandy
- Niagara Windriders – kite night fly
SUNDAY
- Canal Days Car Show
- Morning Cruise on Empire Sandy
- Canal Days Mountain Bike race
- Canal Days Kite Festival
- Canadian Coast Guard 50th Anniversary
- Afternoon Cruise on Empire Sandy
- Town Crier Competition
- Live at Market Square: Celtic Music Party!
- Fireworks Dinner Cruise on Empire Sandy
- Boat Parade of Lights
- Canal Days Fireworks Spectacular
War of 1812 Bicentennial Celebrations feature a camp set up at HH Knoll Park on Friday and re-enactments on Saturday at 11 am and 2 pm. Showboat Theatre has showtimes throughout the weekend and there are dozens of events running through to Monday. For more details you can access the full schedule here or visit the official Canal Days website or updates at the Canal Days Facebook Page.
Amazing kites are on display throughout the Canal Days celebration
Normally, Katie and I share our experiences and stories, but we wanted to give you a head’s up to get down here and celebrate with us! So, whether you have a few hours, or a few days, I would encourage you to make some time to bring your family and friends to share in this incredible festival!