Hamilton’s Waterfront comes alive June 30 and July 1

HAMILTON, ON - June 15, 2017 -  Two Canada 150 Hamilton 2017 Signature Events will pay tribute to Canada’s 150th anniversary on the waterfront Friday, June 30 and Saturday, July 1.

Tall Ships

Eleven magnificent Tall Ships will gather on Lake Ontario near the entrance to the Burlington Bay Canal on Friday, June 30 for a Parade of Sail around Hamilton Harbour beginning at 2 pm with all ships docking at Pier 8 at 4 pm. Prominent vantage points to watch the parade include:

• Pier 8
• Bayfront and Pier 4 Parks
• York Boulevard Bridge
• Burlington Canal and Fisherman’s Pier
• Eastport Drive
• LaSalle and Bayshore Parks in Burlington

Access to vantage points will be affected by the closure of Eastport Drive at the Burlington Canal Lift Bridge from 2 to 3 pm to enable the ships to enter Hamilton Harbour.

The Parade of Sail launches the Rendez-Vous 2017 Tall Ships Regatta at Pier 8, Discovery Drive, on July 1. This will be a rare opportunity - and the only place in the GTHA - to witness the spectacle of 11 Tall Ships touring Hamilton’s beautiful Waterfront.

• Free deck tours are offered from 11 am to 5 pm (first come, first served – no guarantee of access past 5 pm)
• Ticketed Harbour Cruises available for purchase online at hamilton.ca/tallships. See website for cruise times and pricing, including the evening fireworks cruise that boards at 9 pm
• Family-friendly and nautical-themed activities
• Music on the Waterfront Stage featuring great musicians from Hamilton’s thriving music scene
• Numerous food vendors
• The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum’s Avro Lancaster will conduct multiple fly-overs of the Waterfront between 11 am and 2:30 pm

This event is organized by the City of Hamilton in association with Le Rendez-Vous Naval de Quebec, Sail Training International, the Hamilton Port Authority and the Hamilton Waterfront Trust.

Additional resources

• For more detailed information about the Rendez-vous 2017 Tall Ships Regatta in Hamilton, visit hamilton.ca/TallShips. 
• More than 40 Tall Ships will be sailing Canadian waters to honour the 150th anniversary of the Canadian Confederation in 2017, with stops in Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes
• RDV 2017 guest port program in Canada
• RDV 2017 offers once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to become a crew member on one of the Tall Ships. View more information about sail training.

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Celebrate Canada 150 Day

Also, at Bayfront and Pier 4 Parks, the public are invited to enjoy food trucks, family-friendly fun, and a spectacular live music line-up presented by RBC featuring Canadian artists Jully Black, Steve Strongman and Sarah Slean. The celebration will conclude with a dazzling fireworks finale at 10 pm, set to an orchestral arrangement performed live by Maestro Boris Brott and the National Academy Orchestra of Canada.

• Opening Ceremony on the RBC Stage at 3 pm
• Family friendly programming from 3 to 9 pm at Bayfront Park (200 Harbourfront Dr.) including face painting, Hamilton Aerial Group performances, interactive games and appearances by summer and winter Olympians at the RBC Celebration Zone and interactive multicultural activities at the Canadian Multicultural Exchange Station
• Visit the Family Zone at Pier 4 Park (64 Leander Drive, west of Bay St. N.) featuring special performances by puppeteers and the Trulee Odd Show, the Hamilton Public Library Bookmobile, colour a huge Canada 150 themed mural and meet Leo the Lion, roaming Pier 4
• Live music on the RBC Stage from 4 to 10:15 pm
• Welcome Inn Community Centre’s Food Bank will be on hand to collect cash and non-perishable food donations at the Bayfront and Pier 4 Information Tents.

The City of Hamilton gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage in presenting Celebrate Canada 150 Day

For more information about this and other Canada 150 events, visit hamilton.ca/Canada150Day.

For a full list of Canada 150 celebrations in Hamilton, visit hamilton.ca/Canada150.

“This year, Hamilton joins cities across the country to celebrate Canada’s 150th year as a nation. This important anniversary offers us all a chance to reflect on our city’s contributions to the growth of our nation – from our proud industrial roots to the exciting revitalization transforming our city. It is also a chance to imagine the kind of city we want to build moving forward.” - Fred Eisenberger, Mayor, City of Hamilton