Portland, Ontario, will host A Rideau Canal Nautical Heritage Festival July 18 and 19, 2026 to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the beginning of construction of the Canadian inland waterway. The free two-day festival will be held along the shores of Big Rideau Lake, and brings together heritage boats, traditional boat builders, historians, authors, filmmakers and visitors from across North America.
Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Rideau Canal was constructed in 1826 and stretches over 200 kilometers between Ottawa and Kingston. Today it remains a popular boating destination, attracting more than a million visitors annually.
In addition to antique and classic boats, the festival will also feature ceremonial flotillas honoring the history of the Rideau, and live demonstrations of traditional boatbuilding. Festival visitors will have opportunities to participate in guided pontoon boat excursions and voyageur canoe experiences that bring the history of the waterway to life, with guides to interpret the surrounding landscape, explain the strategic importance of the canal and share stories of the people who built, navigated and depended upon the waters over the past two centuries. Additionally, interactive exhibits and interpretive displays will guide visitors through key chapters of the region’s nautical history.
To learn more, visit rideaulakes.ca/experience/about/stories/festival2026.
PHOTO: RIDEAULAKES.CA
