Tall Ships Festival sails into Brockville this June

The Tall Ships Festival is making waves as it prepares to set sail in Brockville from June 20 to 22, 2025.

The South Eastern Ontario city is a Canadian port of call on the 2025 Tall Ships route, and will host the prestigious tour of majestic vessels for the first time in three years. Brockville is one of only three Canadian ports to host the festival this summer, joining Toronto and Midland on the international host port roster.

“The festival occurs every three years and Brockville is perfectly positioned for hosting this authentic waterfront event,” said Jennifer Devlin, Tourism Marketing Officer with the City of Brockville. “We’re very excited to welcome incredible ships from around the world.”

Devlin said it will be the fifth time Brockville has hosted the Tall Ships Festival, but this one is poised to be bigger than ever, welcoming a larger fleet of stunning ships, more interactive experiences and activities for all ages. 

“Tall Ships is a beloved large-scale event in our community, ready to draw thousands of visitors to celebrate maritime heritage, explore the beautiful ships and participate in family-friendly activities,” she said, adding that they are anticipating a big turnout and memorable experience for all.

From hands-on exhibits to immersive ship tours, sail-out experiences and exploring maritime life, visitors will have the opportunity to engage in pirate-themed games, treasure hunts; learn maritime crafts and skills like knot-tying; watch traditional shipbuilding and rigging techniques and enjoy live entertainment.

Some of the ship fleet coming to Brockville for the event includes Empire Sandy, When And If, Liberty Clipper, Playfair, EcoMaris, Fair Jeanne, and more. The vessels are complemented by an Adventure Bay Family Area, located in Hardy and Centennial Park. It will be buzzing with activity, including a lively pirate village, petting zoos, face painting and even deck tours of the coast guard boats.

One of the weekend’s grand events is the Parade of Sail, when all the participating tall ships and other vessels sail past Brockville’s waterfront, giving visitors a chance to see the impressive ships with their sails up. Devlin said that during the remainder of the festival, the ships will be docked for deck tours, so the Parade of Sail is the best time to see the ships in action. 

This year, visitors can book tickets for a unique opportunity to be a part of the Parade of Sail Cruise onboard the Empire Sandy. The unique sail out offers the chance to be on the Empire Sandy during the parade to elevate the experience and get in on the action. If you’re still dreaming of setting sail on the St. Lawrence River, you can also book a sunset sail out evening experience aboard an authentic restored 1940s schooner for a breathtaking ride in the 1000 Islands. 

Plan to attend Centeen Park on Friday evening to see Spencer Scharf, the Bytown Sea Shanty Collective and a drone show. Block off the rest of the weekend, too, to see live performances on the Main Stage Saturday by The Family Name, The Pairs and the Wilderness. On Sunday, Amanda Rheaume is performing, followed by Wannebe, a Spice Girls Tribute.

“We’ve worked hard to make the Brockville Tall Ships Festival unforgettable and can’t wait to share the experience,” Devlin said.

For more information or tickets to the event, please visit www.tallshipsbrockville.com or follow along on Facebook @BrockvilleTallShipsFestival or on Instagram @brockvilletallshipsfest.