Niagara Falls 
The city of Port Colborne‘s signature summer festival is back this long weekend.
Credit: Port Colborne/Canal Days
Celebrating history and heritage along the Welland Canal, the Canal Days Marine Heritage Festival, which runs from August 1 to 4, will feature a variety of entertainment, a midway, guided tours, a lighted boat parade, fireworks, tall ship cruises, concerts by chart-topping artists, and delicious eats from local restaurants.
If you are wondering what to do this long weekend, here are all the reasons why you should consider a trip to Port Colborne:
- Family Fun: Families can enjoy face painting, get balloon animals, explore a kids’ area featuring inflatables and crafts, take pony rides, try rock climbing at West and Adelaide Street and scream through thrilling midway rides. Other highlights include interactive experiences, a foam party, super superhero and princess meet & greet.
- Lighthouse Tours: Friends of the Port Colborne Lighthouses will host tours of Port Colborne’s historic lighthouses. On time, which costs $15 per adult and $5 per child (ages 6-18), you can see the 12.8-square-meter tower of the inner lighthouse, which was constructed in 1903 and the 11-meter-tall foghorn/outer lighthouse in 1928. Since the tour requires a boat ride, you can also see large ships and other ocean-going vessels up close. Tickets can be purchased from a pavilion at Sugarloaf Marina, from where the tours depart.
- Shop: Shop from heritage artisans and local businesses located on Historic West Street. Additionally, over 75 vendors from across Ontario will be selling unique handmade crafts, artwork, dolls, candles, and much more on Saturday, August 2 & Sunday, August 3, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Vale Health and Wellness Centre, 550 Elizabeth Street, Port Colborne.
- Concerts: Enjoy a weekend of live music at H.H. Knoll Lakeview Park, featuring Big Sugar, Sloan, The Trews, and Finger Eleven, along with rising acts like Feral Minks and Boston Levi. On Sunday, catch Desire and Main Event Music during the Fireworks & Boat Parade of Lights on West Street. Gates open each evening at 6 p.m. for music and festivities.
Credit: Canal Days
- Cruises: Take a cruise on the 200-foot-topsail Schooner, Empire Sandy. The cruise runs all weekend long, and tickets cost from $40 to $160 depending on the type of cruise (daytime, sunset, fireworks, etc).
- Deck Tours: Visitors can explore an array of maritime vessels, including Tall Ships and Coast Guard boats, directly in the downtown area by the Welland Canal. Highlights include deck tours of the Lettie G. Howard and the E.M. Cotter Fireboat. The tours are by donation.
- Classic Cars: Those interested in classic cars can see Sewell’s NAPA Automotive Annual Classic Car Show on Sunday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., at T.A. Lannan Sports Complex, 550 Elizabeth Street, Port Colborne.
- Lighted Boat Parade: Experience the spectacular sight of more than 20 lighted boats sailing the Welland Canal. The free parade organised by Sugarloaf Sailing Club can be seen from West Street in downtown Port Colborne on Sunday at around 9:15 p.m.
- Fireworks: Following the parade, you can enjoy an exhilarating fireworks show across the Canal at around 10 p.m. on Sunday.
Canal Days – Trip Planning
How Much: Free & Ticketed Events
Midway: Bracelets: $30 per person per day on Saturday and Sunday. All rides are one ticket per ride. Single tickets – $6 each, 11 tickets – $60, 22 tickets – $110
Lighthouse Tours: Tour donation of $15 per adult and $5 per child (ages 6-18). Children 5 and under are free.
Empire Sandy Tours: Ages 2-12 $40.00; 60 (+) $40.00; Adult $50.00; Fireworks/Sunset Cruise, etc: $60 to $70
When: August 1 to 4, 2025 – All Day
Midway:
Friday, August 1 – 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Saturday, August 2 – 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Sunday, August 3 – 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Monday, August 4 – 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Concerts at H.H. Knoll Lakeview Park:
Friday, August 1 –
- 6:00 p.m. – Small Town Strip Club
- 6:35 p.m. – Feral Minks
- 7:45 p.m. – Sloan
- 9:45 p.m. – Big Sugar
Saturday, August 2 –
- 6:30 p.m. – Boston Levi
- 7:45 p.m. – Finger Eleven
- 9:45 p.m. – The Trews
Sunday, August 3 –
- 5:00 p.m. – Desire
- 8:30 p.m. – Main Event Music
Lighthouse Tours: August 1 to 4, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Car Show: Sunday, August 3, 2025, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Boat Parade of Lights: Sunday, August 3, 2025, at 9:15 p.m.
Fireworks: Sunday, August 3, 2025, at 10 p.m.
Where:
Canal Days festival sites are situated along the Welland Canal along Steele Street, Elm Street, Clarence Street between West Street and the west side of King George Park, Sugarloaf Street and Welland Avenue. The core of the festival is on West Street.
If you are planning to visit Port Colborne during the festival, free parking is during the festival is available at:
– The Vale Health & Wellness Centre, 550 Elizabeth Street, with shuttle service
– West Side Plaza Parking Lot, 53 West Side Road, with shuttle service
– select sections of streets like Clarence St and Charlotte St
There will be free transport from the Vale Health & Wellness Centre parking lot (550 Elizabeth Street) or the West Side Plaza Parking Lot (53 West Side Road) to the festival site in downtown Port Colborne along the Welland Canal. Shuttles run approximately every 30 minutes.
Paid street parking is also available for visitors through the HONK Mobile app.
Visit the Canal Days website for more information.
