Richmond Maritime Festival

The Richmond Maritime Festival is a free event that takes place in and around the Britannia Heritage Shipyard in Steveston Village in the summer.

The event celebrates its 20th year in 2023 when it takes place on August 26th and 27th.

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Maritime Festival in Steveston

The Richmond Maritime Festival is a fair-sized festival that includes live entertainment, artisans and boat-related activities.

Due to COVID-19 the festival couldn’t take place in its normal format in 2020. Instead, the 2020 Maritime Festival was run as an online event. A “Reimagined” version of the festival happened on August 21st and 22nd in 2021.

The 2022 Richmond Maritime Festival took place on the weekend of August 20th and 21st.

Where and When

In 2023 the Richmond Maritime Festival takes place on the Saturday and Sunday of August 26th and 27th from 11:00 am until 6:00 pm both days.

Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site is located at 5180 Westwater Drive in Steveston Village in the southwest corner of Richmond. It’s about 1.5 kilometres from the Gulf of Georgia Cannery, or just a five-minute drive from Steveston’s other National Historic Site.

Richmond Maritime Festival

Maritime Festival Activities

The Richmond Maritime Festival is a free, family-friendly event that includes educational and interactive activities, as well as historical exhibits and live entertainment. There are street performers, local artists, boats to explore, craft activities, food vendors and other forms of entertainment.

New for 2022 was the themed areas of the festival. For example, the Octopus Garden was a great area for kids and Captain’s Quarters featured hands-on workshops.

Battle of the Tall Ships

In 2019, you could experience the thrill and excitement of a real tall ship battle either from onboard ship or from the shorelines of Garry Point Park on Friday, July 26 or Sunday July 28 from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm.

Tickets were $80 to watch from onboard one of the two battling ships, while it was free to enjoy from the beach. Folks could bring their own chairs or blanket and enjoy a meal from any one of the more than 25 food trucks. Roving acts entertained when there was a break in the excitement of the battle.

A warning for those with sensitive ears – bring your earplugs! Cannons can be very loud.

To the best of our knowledge, this event did not happen in 2022. Perhaps it makes a comeback in 2023.

2023 Music and Entertainment Lineup

In 2023 there are multiple areas with live entertainment, including at Seine Net Loft, Britannia Shipyard and more. The full entertainment schedule for the weekend is listed below. Various roving performers are present throughout each day.

Note: Scheduled performers and times are subject to change.

Saturday, August 26th, 2023

Octopus’ Garden

11:45 am – Mimi the Mouse (Puppet)
12:00 pm – Riki the Rat (Puppet)
12:30 pm – Lola Claire (Storyteller)
1:00 pm – Mimi the Mouse (Puppet)
1:15 pm – Riki the Rat (Puppet)
1:45 pm – Allie McDonald (Musician)
2:30 pm – Riki the Rat (Puppet)
3:00 pm – Sara Mayfield (Storyteller/Musician)
3:30 pm – Riki the Rat (Puppet)
4:00 pm – Eric Regimbald (Storyteller)
4:45 pm – Mimi the Mouse (Puppet)
5:00 pm – Nick Longstaff (Storyteller)

Seine Net Loft

11:00 am – Richmond Delta Youth Orchestra
11:30 am – Jennie Bissell (Storyteller), Pat Chessell (Musician)
12:15 pm – Richmond Delta Youth Orchestra
1:00 pm – Jennie Bissell (Storyteller), Pat Chessell (Musician)
1:45 pm – Richmond Delta Youth Orchestra, Trevor Cook (Musician)
2:30 pm – Jennie Bissell (Storyteller), Pat Chessell (Musician)
3:15 pm – Mystic Avalon (Musicians)
3:30 pm – Trevor Cook (Musician)
4:15 pm – Mystic Avalon (Musicians), Sara Mayfield (Storyteller/Musician)
5:15 pm – Mystic Avalon (Musicians)

Chinese Bunkhouse

11:30 am – Lola Claire (Storyteller)
12:00 pm – Nick Longstaff (Storyteller)
1:00 pm – Eric Regimbald (Storyteller)
1:30 pm – Lola Claire (Storyteller)
1:45 pm – Nick Longstaff (Storyteller)
2:30 pm – Eric Regimbald (Storyteller)
3:15 pm – Nick Longstaff (Storyteller)
4:00 pm – Jennie Bissell (Storyteller)
4:30 pm – Danielle Girard (Storyteller)

Britannia Shipyard

12:30 pm – Lula the Mermaid (Puppet), Dan Propp (Musician)
1:15 pm – The Seabillys (Band)
1:45 pm – Lula the Mermaid (Puppet)
2:00 pm – Sara Mayfield (Storyteller/Musician), Dan Propp (Musician)
2:45 pm – Lula the Mermaid (Puppet), The Seabillys (Band)
3:15 pm – Mimi the Mouse (Puppet)
3:30 pm – Dan Propp (Musician)
3:45 pm – Lula the Mermaid (Puppet)
5:00 pm – Trevor Cook (Musician)
5:15 pm – Sara Mayfield (Storyteller/Musician)

Port of Call Stage

11:00 am – Coastal Wolf Pack Dance Group
11:30 am – The Naden Band
12:00 pm – Mayor Malcolm Brodie
12:30 pm – Go Taiko (Drummers)
1:00 pm – The Naden Band (Musicians)
1:45 pm – The Irish Wakers (Band)
2:45 pm – The Naden Band
3:15 pm – The Irish Wakers (Band)
4:15 pm – The Seabillys (Band)
5:15 pm – The Irish Wakers (Band)

Sunday, August 27th, 2023

Octopus’ Garden

11:15 am – Mimi the Mouse (Puppet)
11:30 am – Lola Claire (Storyteller)
12:00 pm – Riki the Rat (Puppet)
12:30 pm – Blackthorn Blossoms (Band)
1:15 pm – Riki the Rat (Puppet)
1:45 pm – Blackthorn Blossoms (Band)
2:30 pm – Riki the Rat (Puppet)
3:00 pm – Sara Mayfield (Storyteller/Musician)
3:30 pm – Riki the Rat (Puppet)
4:00 pm – Eric Regimbald (Storyteller)
4:45 pm – Mimi the Mouse (Puppet)
5:00 pm – Nick Longstaff (Storyteller)

Seine Net Loft

11:00 am – Richmond Delta Youth Orchestra
11:30 am – Jennie Bissell (Storyteller), Pat Chessell (Musician)
12:15 pm – Richmond Delta Youth Orchestra
12:30 pm – Lola Claire (Storyteller)
1:00 pm – Jennie Bissell (Storyteller), Pat Chessell (Musician)
1:45 pm – Richmond Delta Youth Orchestra, Trevor Cook (Musician)
2:30 pm – Jennie Bissell (Storyteller), Pat Chessell (Musician)
3:15 pm – Mystic Avalon (Musicians)
3:30 pm – Trevor Cook (Musician)
4:15 pm – Mystic Avalon (Musicians), Sara Mayfield (Storyteller/Musician)
4:45 pm – Jill Raymond (Musician)
5:15 pm – Mystic Avalon (Musicians), Sara Mayfield (Storyteller/Musician)

Chinese Bunkhouse

12:00 pm – Nick Longstaff (Storyteller)
1:00 pm – Eric Regimbald (Storyteller)
1:45 pm – Nick Longstaff (Storyteller)
2:30 pm – Eric Regimbald (Storyteller)
3:15 pm – Nick Longstaff (Storyteller)
4:00 pm – Jennie Bissell (Storyteller)

Britannia Shipyard

11:15 am – Blackthorn Blossoms (Band)
12:00 pm – The Naden Band
12:15 pm – Mimi the Mouse (Puppet)
12:30 pm – Lula the Mermaid (Puppet), Dan Propp (Musician)
1:15 pm – The Seabillys (Band)
1:45 pm – Lula the Mermaid (Puppet)
2:00 pm – The Naden Band, Dan Propp (Musician)
2:45 pm – Lula the Mermaid (Puppet), The Seabillys (Band)
3:30 pm – Mimi the Mouse (Puppet), Dan Propp (Musician)
3:45 pm – Lula the Mermaid (Puppet)
4:15 pm – The Seabillys (Band)
5:00 pm – Trevor Cook (Musician)

Port of Call Stage

11:00 am – Musqueam Elder Thelma Stogan
12:00 pm – The Irish Wakers (Band)
1:15 pm – The Irish Wakers (Band)
2:00 pm – Sara Mayfield (Storyteller/Musician)
2:45 pm – The Irish Wakers (Band)
4:00 pm – Norine Braun (Musician)
4:45 pm – Danielle Girard (Storyteller)
5:00 pm – Michèle Christen (Stiltwalker)
5:15 pm – Norine Braun (Musician)

Historic Shipyard Buildings at Steveston Village — Britannia Heritage Shipyard

About the Area

Steveston Village and the area around the Britannia Heritage Shipyards are worth visiting any time of the year.

Steveston Village is full of history. Walking and cycling trails along the water and two National Historic Sites are to be explored. Britannia Heritage Shipyard is in a neighbourhood along the water with historic buildings, some of which you can go into and explore.

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If you like maritime history, then be sure to visit the Vancouver Maritime Museum at Vanier Park. Inside the attraction is the St. Roch that you can climb aboard and explore. Outside on the water are other interesting boats to see too. And if you use the promo code BESTVANCOUVER you can save yourself 25% on the price of admission!

Tips and Advice

Below are some tips and advice to help you make the most of your visit to the Richmond Maritime Festival and surrounding area.

TIP #1: Take your walking shoes or bicycle and explore the trails while you’re in the area. Parking close to Britannia Heritage Shipyard will likely be challenging during the festival, which means parking elsewhere and walking or cycling the rest of the way can be a good idea.

TIP #2: While in Richmond, combine your trip to the Richmond Maritime Festival with visits to other weekend activities, including the giant Richmond Night Market on either evening, or the Steveston Village Farmers’ Market on the Sunday.