Richmond Maritime Festival to rock the boat this weekend
At age nine, actress Shirley Temple became a millionaire, Mozart began composing symphonies and American gold medal figure skater Peggy Gale Fleming took up skating.
Also—this weekend—the Richmond Maritime Festival enters its ninth year with plenty of family-friendly attractions to carry the weight of such expectations.
Among those making an appearance is Crabby the Crab. He's no millionaire, composer or gold medallist, but he has support from tall ship Kaisei, emerging folk-pop band Headwater and the historic Britannia Heritage Shipyard to make for a fun festival weekend.
The Richmond Maritime Festival runs Friday, Aug. 10 through to Sunday, Aug. 12 at the historic Steveston shipyard. Admission is free to the event, as are the ship tours, children's activities and entertainment jam-packed into the weekend.
It all starts with an evening of music on Friday from 7 to 9 p.m., with the indie folk-pop band Headwater headlining. Emceed by CTV's Norma Reid, the evening will also feature the taiko drumming group Tetsu Taiko and the Eire Born Irish Dancers.
Two days of maritime activities—Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.—follow, with attractions suitable for landlubbers and sailors alike.
Visitors are welcome to explore local maritime lore, board rare wooden boats and create their own nautical works of art. Picnicking is encouraged while taking in entertainment courtesy of musicians, roving performers, painters, woodcarvers, potters, stilt-walkers, puppeteers, storytellers, dancers and drummers.
A centrepiece at this year's festival is the 151-foot Kaisei tall ship, which visitors are welcome to board and see up close. Maritime-themed displays, colourful characters and exhibits chronicling the history of Canada's West Coast fishing industry are also on deck all weekend.
Richmond Maritime Festival
•Aug. 10 to 12 at Britannia Heritage Shipyard (5180 Westwater Dr.)
•Concerts are Friday, Aug. 10, from 7 to 9 p.m.; main festival is Saturday and Sunday (Aug. 11 to 12) from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
•Kaisei boarding opportunities are Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
•Admission is free
•More info at richmondmaritimefestival.com or call 604-718-8050
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