Vancouver 
If you’ve always been interested in life on the water, or even if you’re just looking for a fun event to take part in, visit Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site for the annual Richmond Maritime Festival.
Credit: Fun Richmond
This festival is Richmond’s largest nautical-themed annual celebration. This year marks its 23rd year and gives you plenty to explore on August 22 and 23, with artists, makers, family activities, wooden boats and food trucks joining the weekend. You can try hands-on workshops, watch live performances, learn about maritime history and get a close look at vessels dating back to the 1920s.
As the festival organizers put it, there is a “boatload of fun” for everybody and here’s what to see & do during the festival:
- See maritime art and craftsmanship: Steveston Maritime Modellers will display scale-model wooden ships, a hobby the group has pursued since forming in 2002. Richmond Carvers Society, established in 1988 and now numbering more than 74 members, will show nature and wildlife carvings connected to boat-building traditions and maritime culture.
- Walk the docks and meet the boats: Visiting vessels include Delta Lifeboat, Gikumi, Island Provider, Jaguar, Midnight Sun, Nimpkish II, Saravan, SS Master, Silver Ann, Jimmy Ng and Spirit of Hastings. Their histories cover fishing, towing, military service, search and rescue, freight work and even whale watching.
- Try a workshop or make some art: Grace Gihm will lead an all-ages cyanotype workshop using seashells, while The Knitting Tree offers beginner crochet and knitting. You can also make recycled-material fish with Lori Goldberg, ocean-inspired jewelry with Oxana Baydina or maritime-themed papier-mâché with Shahrzad Farahmand.
- Family Fun: Family activities include live musicians, storytellers and festival favourite Rikki the Rat, plus hands-on learning at Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site. You can also design a nautical flag, make a cyanotype print, join a knitting circle or create a papier-mâché craft.
- Grab something to eat between stops: Food options range from Golden Bannock, Japan Rice Bowl Association and D-Original Sausage Haus to Lee’s Donuts, Lucky Churros, Rotato Potato and Taco Nori. You can also find coffee, lemonade, kettle corn, sourdough pizza, ice cream and HK-style soft serve.
Trip Planning — Richmond Maritime Festival – 2026
The 23rd annual Richmond Maritime Festival will feature a vibrant lineup of workshops, puppet shows, and live entertainment. Spotlight performers are the Naden Band, the 35-member ensemble of the Royal Canadian Navy that was first formed in 1940. Visitors will also have a chance to view restored wooden boats and vessels from the boardwalk and learn about their history, including the SS Master, one of the region’s oldest steam-powered tugboats, built in 1922.
When: Saturday, August 22, and Sunday, August 23, from 11 AM – 6 PM.
How Much: Free Admission; select activities ticketed.
Where: Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site, 5180 Westwater Dr, Richmond
Parking is available at Homma Elementary ( 5100 Brunswick Dr, Richmond). The lot is accessible from Trites Road to Westwater Drive (and not from Railway Avenue). Parking will be by donation.
A complimentary shuttle from various locations will run to the event site on both days.
Road closures will be in effect from 10am to 7pm along Westwater Drive.
