The village of Merrickville is celebrating its connection to the Rideau Canal with the growing popularity of the Merrickville Wooden Boat Show.
Happening this year on May 30th and 31st, the event features antique and restored wooden boats from across Ontario and Quebec, drawing collectors, restorers and boating enthusiasts to the historic waterfront community. Visitors can explore vintage runabouts, classic cruisers and handcrafted vessels both on land and in the water.
Ashley Brash of the host, Sirens Boatworks, tells us what visitors can expect.
The festival celebrates both boating history and the craftsmanship behind traditional wooden boats. Andrew Lee of Sirens say it’s a real team effort to pull off this amazing celebration.
There will be live entertainment, food vendors, family activities and a kids zone. A complimentary shuttle service from various parking lots in Merrickville to the show’s site takes away the hassle of finding a parking spot. Brash reports there are plenty of reasons to mark these dates on your can’t-miss events calendar.
The show runs from 10 am to 4 pm both days with no admission fee for attendees. An added and new feature this year will be the Andrew James collection, antique wooden craft that can be rented with operators for special events like send-offs, engagements, and even the perfect transport for wedding couples. For more details check out sirensboatworks.com or their Facebook page.
Story by Brian Turner
