Welcome to an action-packed weekend on the Inner Harbour waterfront with the Maritime Museum of BC‘s 46th annual Victoria Classic Boat Festival. The festival runs from September 4 – 6.
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Weekend Schedule
Friday, 4 September 2026
9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Classic Boat Festival docks open to the public
12:00 PM
Classic Boat Festival Kick-Off on Inner Harbour docks
12:30 PM
Michael Wilford & Friends on Gikumi (Dock D)
2:00 PM
Rainbow Row in the harbour–see the Rainbow skiff-gig in action!
2:30 PM
Donny B on Gikumi (Dock D)
8:00 PM
Docks closed to the public
Saturday, 5 September 2026
9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Classic Boat Festival docks open to the public
10:00 AM
Victoria Harbour Ferry Ballet by the Steamship Building
11:00 AM
Salty Singers on Gikumi (Dock D)
12:30 PM
Hounds of Cuchulain on Gikumi (Dock D)
2:30 PM
Salty Singers on Gikumi (Dock D)
8:00 PM
Docks closed to the public
Sunday, 6 September 2026
9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Classic Boat Festival docks open to the public
10:00 AM
Victoria Harbour Ferry Ballet by the Steamship Building
11:00 AM
Sail Past begins for the Classic Boat Festival
12:30 PM
Hounds of Cuchulain on Gikumi (Dock D)
6:00 PM
Docks closed to the public
More to Do and See
Yacht Dogs
on the barge beside the Causeway entrance to the docks
Serving up hot dogs all weekend long, along with ice cream and snacks. Gluten-friendly buns and veggie dogs also available.
Accepts cash and cards 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM all festival long!
Activities for All Ages
At the main causeway entrance
The Maritime Museum of BC is bringing out our handling collection of marine objects and navigation equipment. Don’t miss pop-up maritime artefact interpretation with our volunteers and staff!
MMBC’s Heritage Vessels
SV Dorothy (1897) and Rainbow SKiff-Gig
Dorothy is registered to join the sail past and sail races–this 1897 gaff-rigged sloop built in Victoria underwent a mid-life refit and actively sails between festivals and youth sailing programs all summer long.
The Rainbow skiff-gig is a circa 1890s vessel that was sold at auction with all of HMCS Rainbow‘s ship’s boats when the warship was scrapped in 1920. Rainbow was the first vessel in the Royal Canadian Navy’s Pacific Command–the skiff-gig plied the harbour waters.
The refitting of both vessels is part of an ongoing partnership with Ladysmith Maritime Society; a volunteer team led by boatwright and historian Robert Lawson has spent 1000s of hours bringing these vessels back to their resplendently sailing states. Find Robert aboard Dorothy throughout the festival.
