Collingwood's harbourfront festival returns this weekend with activities that celebrate the joys of being in, on and around the waters of Georgian Bay with a nod to Collingwood's shipbuilding past.
The festival takes its name from the unique way that newly built ships were launched in Collingwood. They were dumped into the water on their side, or "sidelaunched."
You can learn more about those launches at the Collingwood Museum (45 St. Paul St.) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 12, where there's a launch day exhibit featuring shipbuilding heritage and many photos of past side launches.
Throughout the day on Saturday and Sunday visitors and residents can walk the promenade to visit vendors like the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority with Collingwood's climate action specialist, Nicole Yardy, who will be sharing information on the importance of stream health. Vendors will be out between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. both days.
There will also be Ontario stand-up paddle races ongoing throughout the weekend from the side launch basin. Register at ontariosupseries.com, or watch the races from the promenade.
On Saturday evening, the Collingwood Downtown BIA is presenting a drone show, originally booked for earlier this year, but cancelled because of weather. The show features 200 drones creating colourful images in the sky over the harbour. The show will be visible anywhere along the shoreline between Harbourview Park and Heritage Drive, but the best view of the images will be from the Shipyards Amphitheatre (2 North Maple St.) The show starts at 9:30 p.m.
You'll be able to try kayaking and stand-up paddling during the weekend at Harbourview Park, the west-side dock, on Birch Street North. Little Ed's Harbourview Rentals is offering a free try-it-out opportunity for Sidelaunch Days between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
After testing out a kayak, you can take a dockside tour of one of two tall ships, the TS Playfair or the STV Pathfinder, both brigadier ships part of the Brigs Youth Sail Training Program. Tours from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Wrapping up the weekend will be Kites Over Collingwood at Millennium Park featuring professional kite flyers with large-scale kites soaring above the harbour. You can bring a kite or use one of the kites available on-site, or you can come just to enjoy the show.
Each evening features live music with Queen M and Kirk Diamond in concert on Aug. 12 at 7 p.m. at the Shipyards Amphitheatre. On Sunday at the same time and place, Graham Trude and Freedom Trail will perform.
For a full schedule of events, visit www.sidelaunchdays.ca.
