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 21st year in 2024.

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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.

Where and When

In 2023 the Richmond Maritime Festival took place on the Saturday and Sunday of August 26th and 27th. Festivities ran from 11:00 am until 6:00 pm on both days. It’ll take place around the same time in 2024, although exact details are to be confirmed.

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.

Battle of the Tall Ships

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

Tickets were $80 to watch from on board 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.

Sadly it doesn’t look like this event happened in 2023. It didn’t happen last year either. We hope to see its return in future years.

Music and Entertainment Lineup

There were multiple areas with live entertainment in 2022, including at Seine Net Loft, Britannia Shipyard and more. The entertainment schedule for the weekend in 2023 is listed below. Various roving performers were also present throughout each day.

Note: Scheduled performers and times were subject to change.

Saturday, August 26th, 2023

Octopus’ Garden

11:00 am – Tales from Mara the Mermaid
12:00 pm – Paul Silveria
1:00 pm – Clanna Morna
2:00 pm – Blackthorn Blossoms
3:00 pm – The Seabillys
4:00 pm – Clanna Morna
5:00 pm – Blackthorn Blossoms

Seine Net Loft

11:30 am – Dan Propp
11:45 am – Pat Chessell
12:00 pm – Richmond Delta Youth Orchestra
12:30 pm – Estella Celeste Banez
1:00 pm – Dan Propp
1:15 pm – Paul Silveria
1:30 pm – Richmond Delta Youth Orchestra
2:00 pm – Beautiful Losers
2:30 pm – Dan Propp
2:45 pm – Pat Chessell
3:00 pm – Richmond Delta Youth Orchestra
4:15 pm – John Michael Lind

Chinese Bunkhouse

11:00 am – Weaving Workshop with Spelexilh, Anjeanette Dawson
11:00 am – Origami with Aiko Matsushiba
11:15 am – Estella Celeste Banez
12:15 pm – Tales from Mara the Mermaid
1:00 pm – Pat Chessell
2:00 pm – Paul Silveria
3:00 pm – John Michael Lind
4:00 pm – Beautiful Losers
5:15 pm – John Michael Lind

Port of Call Stage

11:00 am – Opening Ceremony
12:00 pm – The Naden Band
12:30 pm – Go Taiko Drummers
1:00 pm – The Naden Band
2:50 pm – Clanna Morna
3:50 pm – The Naden Band
4:50 pm – The Seabillys

Captain’s Quarters

11:00 am – Seagal the Seagull
11:45 am – Rikki the Rat
12:30 pm – Seagal the Seagull
1:15 pm – Rikki the Rat
2:00 pm – Estella Celeste Banez
2:45 pm – Seagal the Seagull
3:30 pm – Rikki the Rat
4:15 pm – Seagal the Seagull

Sunday, August 27th, 2023

Octopus’ Garden

11:00 am – Tales from Mara the Mermaid
12:00 pm – Paul Silveria
1:00 pm – Clanna Morna
2:00 pm – Blackthorn Blossoms
3:00 pm – The Seabillys
4:00 pm – Clanna Morna
5:00 pm – Blackthorn Blossoms

Seine Net Loft

11:30 am – Dan Propp
11:30 am – Kevin Takahide Lee
12:00 pm – Richmond Delta Youth Orchestra
12:30 pm – Estella Celeste Banez
1:00 pm – Dan Propp
1:15 pm – Paul Silveria
1:30 pm – Richmond Delta Youth Orchestra
2:00 pm – Beautiful Losers
2:30 pm – Dan Propp
3:00 pm – Richmond Delta Youth Orchestra
3:30 pm – Blackthorn Blossoms
4:15 pm – John Michael Lind

Chinese Bunkhouse

11:00 am – Weaving Workshop with Spelexilh, Anjeanette Dawson
11:00 am – Origami with Aiko Matsushiba
11:15 am – Estella Celeste Banez
12:00 pm – The Irish Walkers
1:00 pm – Tales from Mara the Mermaid
2:00 pm – Paul Silveria
3:00 pm – John Michael Lind
4:00 pm – Beautiful Losers
5:15 pm – John Michael Lind

Port of Call Stage

11:00 am – Vancouver Okinawa Taiko Drummers
12:00 pm – Blackthorn Blossoms
1:00 pm – Mashigeta Crew
1:45 pm – The Irish Walkers
2:50 pm – Clanna Morna
3:50 pm – The Irish Walkers
4:50 pm – The Seabillys

Captain’s Quarters

11:00 am – Seagal the Seagull
11:45 am – Rikki the Rat
12:30 pm – Seagal the Seagull
1:15 pm – Rikki the Rat
2:00 pm – Estella Celeste Banez
2:45 pm – Seagal the Seagull
3:30 pm – Rikki the Rat
4:15 pm – Seagal the Seagull

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.

SAVE 25% AT THE MUSEUM!

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 & 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.