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 July or August.

Maritime Festival in Steveston

Last year the Richmond Maritime Festival took place in mid-August. In 2019 in takes place on the Saturday and Sunday of July 27-28.

It’s a medium-sized festival that includes live entertainment, artisans and boat-related activities.

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Where and When

In 2019 the Richmond Maritime Festival takes place on July 27th and 28th from 11 am until 6 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 km from the Gulf of Georgia Cannery, or just a 5-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 an artisan market and live entertainment. There are street performers, local artists, boats to explore, craft activities, live music, food vendors and other forms of entertainment.

2018 Festival Boats

Every year at the Richmond Maritime Festival there are historic boats on display. In 2018, vessels that you could go on board and explore are liste below (among others). 2019 vessels will be comparable.

SS Master: a 1922 Canadian boat based in Steveston Village.
Ella McKenzie: a 1951 Vancouver-based tugboat that was originally built in North Vancouver.
Providence: a Gaff Ketch sailing boat built in 1903 and based in Steveston.
Hesquiat: a 1944 Steveston-based fishing vessel.
River Queen: a 65-person fiberglass lifeboat based in Steveston Village and built in 1965.
Delta Lifeboat: a 52-foot lifeboat that’s based in Delta and built in Pearl Harbour in 1944.
Thane: a Victoria-based and built sailboat that was made from locally-sourced lumber and scrap metal in the 1970s.

2018 Music and Entertainment Lineup

There are two three areas for entertainment at the Richmond Maritime Festival – the Main Stage, the Octopus Stage and the Puppet Stage.

Live entertainment at the various venues in 2018 is listed below. The 2019 lineup will be comparable.

Note: scheduled performers and times are subject to change.

Saturday, July 28, 2018

On the Main Stage

10:00 am – The Wild Moccasin Dancers
11:15 am – The Seabillys
12:45 pm – The Beauty Shop Dolls
2:10 pm – The Boom Booms
4:00 pm – The Eire Born Irish Dancers
5:00 pm – Wooden Horsemen

On the Octopus Stage

10:00 am – Dan Propp
11:20 am – Ben Dunnill
12:15 pm – Jessica McMann
1:00 pm – Dan Propp
1:50 pm – Shawn Bullshields
2:45 pm – Rogue Crows
3:45 pm – Beauty Shop Dolls
4:45 pm – Red Dread

On the Puppet Stage

10:00 am – Rikki the Rat
10:30 am – Mimi the Mouse
11:00 am – Lulu the Mermaid
11:30 am – Rikki the Rat
12:00 pm – Mimi the Mouse
12:30 pm – Lulu the Mermaid
1:00 pm – Rikki the Rat
1:30 pm – Tabby the Cat
2:00 pm – Lulu the Mermaid
2:30 pm – Rikki the Rat
3:00 pm – Tabby the Cat
3:30 pm – Lulu the Mermaid
4:00 pm – Rikki the Rat
4:30 pm – Tabby the Cat
5:00 pm – Rikki the Rat

Sunday, July 29, 2018

On the Main Stage

10:00 am – Flint & Feather
11:15 am – Will Stroet & the Backyard Band
12:45 pm – Fraser Valley Children’s Chorus
2:15 pm – Jocelyn Petit Trio
3:45 pm – Roku Shichi Taiko Drummers
5:00 pm – Company B Jazz Band

On the Octopus Stage

10:00 am – Dan Propp
11:20 am – Ben Dunnill
12:15 pm – Jessica McMann
1:00 pm – Dan Propp
1:45 pm – Beauty Shop Dolls
2:45 pm – Ben Dunnill
3:45 pm – Beauty Shop Dolls
4:45 pm – Music by Adrienne

On the Puppet Stage

10:00 am – Rikki the Rat
10:30 am – Tabby the Cat
11:00 am – Lulu the Mermaid
11:30 am – Rikki the Rat
12:00 pm – Tabby the Cat
12:30 pm – Lulu the Mermaid
1:00 pm – Rikki the Rat
1:30 pm – Mimi the Mouse
2:00 pm – Lulu the Mermaid
2:30 pm – Rikki the Rat
3:00 pm – Mimi the Mouse
3:30 pm – Lulu the Mermaid
4:00 pm – Rikki the Rat
4:30 pm – Mimi the Mouse
5:00 pm – Rikki the Rat

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 to explore. Britannia Heritage Shipyard is in a neighbourhood along the water with historic buildings, some of which you can go in and explore.

Tips and Advice

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

TIP #1: Take your walking shoes or bicycles 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.