Richmond Maritime Festival: the Insider’s Guide

An armada of locals and visitors will be gathering in Steveston Village this month for the much-anticipated return of B.C.’s favourite nautical-themed celebration. Anchored in and around the shoreline heritage buildings of Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site, the Richmond Maritime Festival once again promises a bulging treasure chest of fun for everyone.

Running from 11:00am to 6:00pm on August 22 and August 23, the admission-free event is the 23rd annual edition of the much-loved festival. But whether you’re a returning fan or experiencing it the first time, here’s our exclusive insider’s guide to help you plan your 2026 visit. It’s nearly time to gather all your friends and family and set sail for Steveston––sea legs not required!

Britannia Shipyards is once again hosting the Richmond Maritime Festival. PHOTO CREDIT: City of Richmond.

WHAT WILL I SEE THIS YEAR?

The eight-acre Britannia Shipyards site––with its evocative historic buildings and waterfront wooden boardwalks––will be open throughout the weekend, bringing to life B.C.’s salty maritime backstory. You’ll encounter fascinating exhibits and displays, artist and artisan demonstrations, and a mini-fleet of beautifully restored antique boats. Add in the event’s food trucks and huge playbill of live performances, and you’ll have plenty to see and do on both days.

Boats Docked for the Maritime Festival in Steveston — Historic vessels line the docks during the Richmond Maritime Festival at Britannia Shipyards. PHOTO CREDIT: City of Richmond.

CAN I BRING MY KIDS ALONG?

The festival is perfect for families, with a boatful of fun activities and performances for junior visitors. Interactive arts and crafts throughout the weekend include opportunities to design a nautical flag, make a papier mâché boat, and create a unique cyanotype print. There will also be face painting, where kids can get that perfect festival look!

Children's Activities in Steveston for the Maritime Festival — There will be lots of activities for children. PHOTO CREDIT: City of Richmond.

A full array of child-friendly live performances is also scheduled, many of them in the dedicated Octopus’ Garden area. These include storytellers, puppeteers, musicians, and the return of whisker-twitching festival favourite Rikki the Rat. Children will also want to catch performances such as Accordion to Dan, Skipp the Skipper, and Mermaid Storytime with Mermaid Tristan.

Family-favourite Rikki the Rat will be at this year’s event. PHOTO CREDIT: City of Richmond.

WILL THERE BE ANY OTHER PERFORMERS?

The 2026 festival features lots of toe-tapping live acts on both days. You’ll find everyone from singer-songwriter JD Miller to lively foot-stompers the Celtic Cowboys; from jazz specialists Ikuko May Quartet to the brilliant First Nations Stars of the North Drum Group; and from Celtic rockers the Whiskeydicks to Japanese and Canadian folk singer Kevin Takahide Lee.

Richmond Maritime Festival — Don’t miss the festival’s roving performers. PHOTO CREDIT: City of Richmond.

Keep your eyes (and ears) open for the festival’s roving performers as well––including the Royal Canadian Navy’s smartly uniformed Naden Band and the ever-popular Cannery Mermaids, who will be singing their entertaining songs about life on the cannery line. Check out the full playbill of this year’s performers here.

The Whiskeydicks - Maritime Festival — The Whiskeydicks will be on stage at this year’s festival. PHOTO CREDIT: The Whiskeydicks.

TELL ME MORE ABOUT THE ARTS, CRAFTS, AND DISPLAYS

You’ll encounter lots of intriguing artists and artisans during the festival. Look out for the intricate scaled-down ships crafted by the Steveston Maritime Modellers as well as the displays of traditional carvings from the Richmond Carvers Society. Adults and children can also get crafty at the Knitting Tree, a crochet and knitting workshop aimed at all skill levels.

In addition, several Metro Vancouver organizations and community groups will be showcasing their work during the weekend. These include the Vancouver Maritime Museum, BC Dive Fisheries Society, Fraser River Discovery Centre, and both the 10th Richmond Sea Scouts and the Sea Dragon Sea Scout Group. You definitely won’t run out of things to see!

The Steveston Maritime Modellers will be displaying their amazing creations. PHOTO CREDIT: Steveston Maritime Modellers.

WHAT ABOUT THE HISTORIC BOATS?

Speaking of things to see, don’t miss the opportunity to view some beautiful vintage wooden vessels. Moored alongside Britannia’s floating dock, these meticulously restored boats are a festival highlight. This year, there will be around a dozen to view, including the century-old SS Master tugboat; former Canadian Navy defence tug Saravan; and the 1977-built freezer troller, Island Provider. And don’t miss the Gikumi, a handsome former logging industry vessel that’s a local favourite. Viewing the boats is very popular, so we recommend making this a priority when you arrive.

The beautifully restored MV Gikum — Historic wooden vessels will be moored at the dock, including the Gikumi. PHOTO CREDIT: John Lee.

WILL THERE BE ANYTHING TO EAT?

A full menu of at least a dozen food trucks will be serving on site throughout the weekend. Options include bannock burgers from Golden Bannock, crunchy fusion tacos from Taco Nori, and spiral potatoes from Rotato Potatoes. You’ll also find treats from Lucky Churros, Martha’s Kettle Corn, and Steveston Ice Cream. In addition, Steveston Village has lots of cafes and restaurants to consider during or after your visit.

A bowl of food in front of CultivATE food truck. — Food trucks will be on site to keep you well-fed. PHOTO CREDIT: City of Richmond.

WHAT ELSE IS THERE TO SEE AT BRITANNIA SHIPYARDS?

Built as a cannery in the 1800s but transformed into a boat-building complex a century ago, this fascinating National Historic Site has a rich and gritty story to tell. Explore the preserved living quarters and tool-lined boat sheds and you’ll discover what it was like to live and work here back in the day. The attraction is free to enter at any time, so planning a return trip outside the festival weekend should definitely be on your agenda.

Historic stilt houses at Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site. — Explore the heritage buildings as part of the Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site. PHOTO CREDIT: Tourism Richmond.

HOW DO I GET TO THE FESTIVAL?

The Richmond Maritime Festival is at the Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site––a picturesque shoreline stroll from the heart of Steveston Village. If you’re driving, there will be by-donation parking at nearby Homma Elementary School. The free Richmond Discovery Shuttle will also be running; the nearest stop is Homma Elementary. Alternatively, ride your bike here or hop on transit (use TransLink’s online trip-planner to plot your route). For cyclists, there will be a free Wheel Watch service on site.

EVENT DETAILS

Richmond Maritime Festival
Date: August 22 and August 23, 2026 (11:00am to 6:00pm)
Location: Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site, 5180 Westwater Drive, Richmond, B.C.
Admission: Free

Last Updated on August 18, 2026 by Tourism Richmond