Rideau Canal Festival Celebrates 200 Years of Canada’s Historic Waterway

Vintage Dowsett Boats at the original Dowsett Boat Building Shop, now The Galley Restaurant, Portland ON

July 9, 2026

Owners and enthusiasts of antique and classic boats are invited to take part in a unique celebration of Canada’s nautical heritage during the inaugural Rideau Canal Nautical Heritage Festival, taking place July 18–19, 2026, in Portland, Ontario.

Hosted on the shores of Big Rideau Lake, the free public festival commemorates 200 years since construction began on the Rideau Canal in 1826, a milestone in the history of one of North America’s most remarkable inland waterways and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Antique Boat Display at the Harbour on Big Rideau Lake

The festival’s centrepiece will be a display of more than 50 heritage, antique, and classic boats, showcased both on land and in the water at Portland Harbour. Visitors will have the opportunity to view beautifully restored wooden launches, working boats, canoes, fishing craft, and examples of the distinctive Dowsett Punt that once served communities throughout the Rideau Lakes.

Throughout the weekend, local craftsmen will highlight traditional boatbuilding techniques, tools and the enduring skills required to preserve Canada’s maritime heritage. Guided Voyageur Canoe experiences and pontoon boat tours will offer visitors the opportunity to experience the Rideau from the water, while interpretive talks, documentary screenings, and exhibits will explore the rich history of boating, steamships, and commerce along the Canal.

Admiral Sir Charles Edmund Kingsmill 1855-1935 Heritage Plaque 

Special programming will also celebrate the legacy of Sir Charles Edmund Kingsmill, founder and first Admiral of the Canadian Navy, whose summer residence on nearby Grindstone Island connected him closely to Portland and Big Rideau Lake.

Located 340 km from Toronto, and less than an hour from Kingston and the Thousand Islands, Portland Ontario has long been a gathering place for boaters and waterfront enthusiasts.

Antique and classic boat owners, restorers, and enthusiasts are encouraged to participate and help celebrate two centuries of boating history on one of Canada’s most iconic waterways.

For more information, visit rideaulakes.ca/festival2026.

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