Tall Ships Festival returns to Brockville this month

The Tall Ships Festival is set to return to Brockville this month. CTV’s Jack Richardson has more on the major tourist attraction.

The Tall Ships Festival is returning to Brockville, Ont. on June 20-22.

The event is a major tourist attraction in the City of 1,000 Islands, giving festival goers a look at some of the most historic ships in the world.

“Brockville is very excited to bring back our signature waterfront festival,” says chairman Jeremy Newman. “We’re really excited for what we’ve got on offer this year.”

Nine ships will be docked along the city’s waterfront for people to tour, providing an interactive experience on boats that sail all over the world.

“I’ve attended before,” said Ottawa-area resident Francois Theoret.

He makes an annual jaunt to Brockville to soak in the view of the St. Lawrence River from Blockhouse Island.

“Every summer for about three days just to enjoy, enjoy the river, enjoy the big boats going across.”

Brockville is hosting the event for the fifth time. The event was held in 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2022.

Ships every few years is no exception.

“We have festivals running on an annual basis, throughout the summer we have lots of events, but Tall Ships is something special,” says Lyndsay Bigley, the digital marketing officer with Brockville Tourism.

According to Bigley, thousands of people will visit Brockville later this month for the festival. For a city with a population of roughly 22,000, it’s a significant boost.

“It’s huge. It’s huge for our city. Everyone gets to experience the waterfront, but also our local restaurants benefit, our local shops benefit, it’s a huge economic driver,” she says.

In past years, the festival only took place at Blockhouse Island, but this year it will expand to Centeen Park and Hardy Park, along with a beer garden and fairground with kid friendly activities, all in an effort to spread the event across the entirety of Brockville’s waterfront.

“Everywhere you are along the waterfront, you’re going to see these gorgeous ships,” Bigley explains.

Tickets range between $7.50 and $30 to visit the festival, and to ride some of the ships in a sail out, tickets range from $45 to $100.