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Plan a trip to Brockville this weekend to see and cruise on majestic tall ships.
Brockville Tall Ships Festival
Brockville Tall Ships Festival is the first stop on the 2025 Tall Ships Challenge Ontario Great Lakes Tour.
Tall Ships you can see and explore this year include a range of historic and modern vessels. Playfair (1973) is a 72-ft steel brigantine built in Kingston, Ontario. When and If is an 83-ft wooden schooner based in Key West with a storied history. Lettie G. Howard, a 125-ft wooden fishing schooner, hails from New York. EcoMaris, an 85-ft steel vessel, emphasizes ocean education. Liberty Clipper and Pride of Baltimore II are large schooners from Boston and Baltimore, respectively. Others include Fair Jeanne, Empire Sandy, and CCGS Griffon.
The Main Stage lineup includes violinist Anna Baksheeva, a one-man folk-bluegrass performer, and the Bytown Sea Shanty Collective. Saturday brings sibling harmonies, genre-blending funk from Friendly Frogs Freak Show, and Kingston rockers The Wilderness. Sunday showcases award-winning Amanda Rheaume and a high-energy 90s tribute from a Toronto-based Spice Girls-inspired act.
Festival-goers can look forward to a wide range of free, hands-on experiences in Adventure Bay, located in Hardy and Centennial Park. The area will feature engaging family-friendly attractions such as a vibrant Pirates Village, petting zoos, and face painting stations. Visitors can also tour real Navy and Coast Guard ships docked along the river wall.
The Interactive Drop-in Endangered Species exhibit, presented by Thousand Islands National Park invites participants to learn about the region’s at-risk wildlife through touchable displays and surprising facts.
Another key attraction is McCaw’s Privateers 18th Century Naval Camp. This reenactment setup offers an immersive look at naval life in the 1700s, complete with period-accurate gear, stories from the age of sail, and opportunities to meet historical interpreters.
There will be a variety of local vendors and delicious food available on site.
You will need a ticket to access the festival grounds. A Weekend Admission Pass offers access to the festival grounds, live entertainment, food, and shoreline views of the ship for $15–$30. To board ships, add a $10 Weekend Boarding Pass. A Sunday-only pass is available for $7.50–$15, with a $5 Boarding Pass optional. Exclusive add-ons include luxury breakfasts ($40), Friday’s Captain’s Reception ($10–$15), Empire Sandy Parade Sail ($55), sunset cruises ($45), and hands-on sailing adventures on tall ships ($75–$100). All add-ons require a Weekend or Sunday Admission Pass.
In addition to the Tall Ships, Brockville is also renowned for its numerous attractions, including the Brockville Railway Tunnel and the Aquatarium.
Make a weekend of it or come back another weekend to enjoy all that Brockville and Leeds & Grenville offer:
- 25 Summer Adventures and Activities in Leeds & Grenville
- 20+ Things to Do in Brockville During Summer
Brockville is an easy day trip (less than an hour) from Ottawa and Kingston and about 3 hours from downtown Toronto.
This festival only takes place once every three years, don’t miss your chance to see these beautiful ships!
Brockville Tall Ships Festival
What: Join us at the waterfront this summer as majestic tall ships descend upon Brockville. With a larger fleet of stunning ships, expanded interactive experiences, and plenty of new activities, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
When: Friday, June 20 to Sunday June 22, 2025
How Much:
General Admission:
- Weekend Admission Pass (June 20–22):
Access to festival grounds on all three days (Blockhouse Island & Centeen Park): $15.00 – $30.00 - Sunday Sailors Delight Pass (June 22 only):
Sunday-only access to festival grounds: $7.50 – $15.00
Boarding Passes (for ship deck tours): - Weekend Boarding Pass (June 21–22):Add-on to Weekend Admission for deck tours: $10.00
- Sunday Boarding Pass (June 22): Add-on to Sunday Admission for deck tours: $5.00
- Add-On Experiences (must be paired with admission pass): Varies
Where: Blockhouse Island, 30 Blockhouse Island Parkway, Brockville
Complimentary shuttle available
Parking & Shuttle Locations:
• Brockville Memorial Civic Centre – 100 Magedoma Blvd, Brockville, ON K6V 7J5
(Main shuttle hub with accessible city buses)
• St. Lawrence College – 2288 Parkedale Ave, Brockville ON K6V5X3
• Cabn Co Ltd. Parking Lot – 130 North Augusta Rd, Brockville, ON K6V 7B2
Saturday and Sunday Only
• Swift Waters Elementary School – 556 King St W, Brockville, ON
