It's all hands on deck at the Richmond Maritime Festival, August 26 and 27
The event’s 20th-anniversary celebrates Steveston’s rich fishing history with music, cultural workshops, educational exhibitions, and more
Richmond Maritime Festival.
The City of Richmond hosts the Richmond Maritime Festival on August 26 and 27 from 11 am to 6 pm each day at the Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site
IT’S THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY of a popular Steveston event this weekend: the Richmond Maritime Festival, a celebration of the area’s abundant nautical history.
The fest is located on the atmospheric eight-acre Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site, which is characterized by its three kilometre-long wooden boardwalk that spans along the Fraser River. Britannia was first built in 1889 as a cannery used for fish processing, before being converted into a shipyard and fishing boat repair facility in 1917. Its doors were eventually closed in 1980, and the building took on new life in 1992 when it was named a National Historic Site.
Today, the grounds allow for hands-on educational opportunities. A collection of 15 historic wooden boats can be marvelled at from Britannia’s 600-foot-long dock at the fest. Another, the 1954 work boat MV Gikumi, can even be boarded for a special tour along the Fraser River, which is bookable in advance.
With so many events on the festival’s lineup, an emphasis is placed on interactive Indigenous learning opportunities. This includes a weaving and knowledge-sharing session with Debra and Robyn Sparrow; a stinging-nettle demonstration with Musqueam Elder Thelma Stogan; and a weaving workshop with Squamish educator Spelexilh, Anjeanette Dawson.
An impressive array of Celtic and folk-leaning music promises to fill the air with merriment. The roster includes Paul Silveria’s vintage folk banjo stylings, and John Michael Lind’s ‘60s-and-’70s-inspired tenor singing and rhythm-guitar playing.
Blackthorn Blossoms takes to the fest’s various stages several times during the event; the duo features vocalist-guitarist Michael Viens and fiddler Rosie Carver, who have been performing together for over 25 years.
Richmond Maritime Festival.
Bluegrass-inspired Celtic band The Seabillys are playing, too, with a lively multi-instrument sound that includes the Irish bodhrán drum, six-string banjitar, harmonica, bass, guitar, and cowbells. There’s also Undercurrents, a jazz-funk leaning performance from the Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy.
Plus, there’s the ballads of Victoria-based band Clanna Morna; surf rock-blues instrumental duo the Beautiful Losers; the traditional Japanese drum stylings of youth group GO Taiko; and the impressive talents of local singer-songwriter-musician Estella Celeste, who’s just nine years old—and she’s a ventriloquist, too.
Aside from music, there are plenty of family-friendly activities on site, including juggling, face painting, a caricature artist, and fantasy circus performers (think colourful 10-feet-tall jellyfish roaming the grounds). Get artsy with origami-making lessons from Aiko Matsushiba; or try a hand at cyanotype printing with Grace Gihm.
To top it off, there’s a selection of food trucks, from well-known favourites Japadog and Lemon Heaven to watermelon-flavoured scoops at Angel’s Gelato or Japanese onigiri, chicken karaage, and matcha lattes at Takenaka.
Richmond Maritime Festival.
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