Side Launch Days Are Coming

The industrious Town of Collingwood celebrates 103 years of ship building! In 1883 we saw the opening of the Collingwood Dry Dock Company and by 1986, much of the town would draw it’s strength from the harbours with the Collingwood Shipyards. Family histories are tied to the ships which would slide sideways into the majestic bay as busloads of citizens from near and far would come to watch this spectacle of an event known as the ‘side launch’.

On August 1st and 2nd the harbour will once again come to life with the bustle of crowds as the first annual Side Launch Days Festival takes to the water for a celebration of our history of ship building and Great Lakes transportation. For those who have never ventured out into the bay this will be a fantastic opportunity to hop on board one of the many local tours and enjoy the town from a different vantage point and partake in many different types of water sports and activities. The Ontario Summer Splash SUP Race Series will be making a stop, as well as water sport demonstrations, historical walking tours, strolling entertainment, food and beer vendors and of course merchants to enjoy both in town and on Heritage drive right along the waters’ edge.

On Saturday, the Collingwood Farmers Market will be in full swing with horse drawn wagon rides available to take visitors to and from the waterfront launch basin. At night enjoy the presentation of AT SEA a multimedia presentation by Yasmin Nurming Por a Toronto based independent curator that will be projected on the north side of the terminal buildings. This showcase will feature archival footage from the Collingwood Shipyards as well as contribute to the memory of Collingwood’s industrial past using moving and still images from the Collingwood Museum. This multi venue family event is a celebration of our history and allows us to once again find the joys of spending time together and on the water.

There’s always tons of great events happening in Collingwood, visit collingwooddowntown.com for more info.