A Rideau Canal Nautical Heritage Festival Is Set to Make Waves in Portland This July!

The Township of Rideau Lakes is gearing up to welcome thousands of visitors for one of the most significant heritage celebrations the region has ever hosted. The Rideau Canal Nautical Heritage Festival 1826 to 2026, taking place July 18 and 19, 2026, will mark 200 years since construction began on the Rideau Canal, a national historic site and UNESCO World Heritage treasure.

The free, two-day festival will transform Portland Harbour and the adjacent parks into a vibrant waterfront celebration featuring over 50 vintage and heritage boats, live demonstrations, guided water tours, storytelling, film screenings, children’s programming, and special ceremonies, honouring “the canal’s role in shaping Canada’s early development.”

Marie White, Economic Development & Cultural Heritage Coordinator for the Township of Rideau Lakes, says the festival is the culmination of a year of planning and collaboration among more than 75 area partners.

“The festival is an opportunity to celebrate not only the canal itself, but also the generations of people whose lives have been connected to it, from boat builders and mariners to local families, business owners, historians, and volunteers who continue to preserve its stories,” shared White.

The Rideau Canal, White says, “is much more than a waterway. It is a remarkable achievement in Canadian history that helped shape the development of our country.” The festival brings that history to life in an immersive, deeply community-driven way. The township is “especially grateful to the Province of Ontario for selecting this event for the Experience Ontario Grant,” noted White, who also expressed appreciation for the support of council, the volunteers of the Rideau Lakes Nautical Heritage Group for lending their skills and knowledge, plus all the volunteers and community members helping in all capacities.

When asked what makes heritage and antique boats such an important aspect of Rideau Canal history, White stated passionately that the significance is rooted in the history of boat building and three distinct traditions that were established around the canal: “the working boats of Portland, the steamships and barges of the Tett and Chaffey enterprises around Newboro and Bedford Mills, and the canoe-building traditions of the Delta area. Together, they reflect how the Rideau evolved from a commercial transportation route into one of Canada’s premier recreational waterways.”

As part of the festival, local experts Iain McAleese and Paul Groenewoud will be showcasing the tools and techniques used in Dowsett boat building.

The weekend is designed with everyone in mind, whether you are a history buff, a boating enthusiast, or out for a fun day with the family; there is a packed schedule from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day when visitors can explore a wide range of activities on water and on land, including interpretive talks, documentary film screenings by filmmaker Allison Margot Smith, and guided voyageur canoe tours on Big Rideau Lake, and more.

The festival will officially open on Saturday at 10 a.m. with remarks from MPP Steve Clark and former Canadian Ambassador to the United Nations, the Honourable Bob Rae, at Portland Harbour. Saturday morning from 9 a.m. to noon, the popular Three Sisters Market at Hanna Park will be open, featuring a variety of local vendors.

Sunday’s flagpole dedication at 1 p.m. at Hanna Park will honour Admiral Sir Charles Edmund Kingsmill (1855–1935), “one of the most significant historical figures associated with Portland and Big Rideau Lakes.” White notes that while Sir Kingsmill is nationally recognized as the founder and first admiral of the Canadian Navy, he also had a deep personal connection to Portland that lasted more than two decades, having retired in 1921 and choosing to spend his summers on Grindstone Island on Big Rideau Lake. A closing ceremony flotilla will honour Admiral Kingsmill, with boats led by Commodore Brian Preston circling Grindstone Island.

A special storytelling booth will be available to visitors, with Tyson Legault of the Rideau Lakes Public Library on hand to record stories told at the festival “with a focus on the history of each boat on display.” These oral history recordings are another way for the community to preserve the past and help “connect past and present while ensuring local history is passed on to future generations,” says White. For a full listing of the festival schedule, visit www.rideaulakes.ca/festival2026. Local restaurants, parks, and businesses will be open and ready to host guests from across the region and beyond. Economic Development & Cultural Heritage Coordinator Marie White hopes that visitors gain “an appreciation for the ingenuity, craftsmanship and perseverance that helped build our communities and our country,” and “most importantly, develop a sense of pride and connection to the place they call home.”

Rideau Lakes Mayor Arie Hoogenboom echoes White’s sentiments, saying, “The Rideau Canal is one of Canada’s most recognized destinations, and this festival showcases why people continue to be drawn to this region. We look forward to welcoming visitors from across Canada and beyond to discover our heritage, support local businesses, and experience the beauty of Rideau Lakes.”

With its rich programming and beautiful setting, the festival promises to be a highlight of the summer and a meaningful tribute to one of Canada’s most iconic waterways.