Richmond’s iconic Ships to Shore festival returns after nine years

This year the City of Richmond is hosting Ships to Shore: Kaiwo Maru at Garry Point Park in the historic Steveston Village on May 2 and 3, from 10:00 to 17:00. The return of this free family festival invites visitors to view the renowned Kaiwo Maru while celebrating Richmond’s storied maritime past.

“We are thrilled to welcome back the magnificent Kaiwo Maru to Richmond this spring,” says Mayor Malcolm Brodie. “One of the largest tall ships in the world, the Kaiwo Maru will visit our community for the first time since 2017 after making a month-long voyage across the Pacific Ocean. Ships to Shore will celebrate Richmond’s unique coastal history and draw visitors from across the city and beyond to experience this remarkable vessel up close, alongside live entertainment, local artists and vendors.”

Based in Yokohama, Japan, Kaiwo Maru is a sail training vessel operated by the Japan Agency of Maritime Education and Training for Seafarers, which trains future navigators and engineers. The 361-foot-long, 182-foot-high tall ship boasts four masts and 36 sails that total an impressive 30,000 square feet. Her complement comprises 140 people, including cadets and crew. The massive ship was last in Richmond almost a decade ago, drawing about 75,000 visitors from across the region.

A limited number of tickets will be available for nautical enthusiasts to board and explore the vessel on May 2 and 3. Tickets went on sale April 8 at shipstoshore.ca, so get yours while you still can. The ship can also be viewed from the dock and the park alongside interpretive panels about the ship.

In Garry Point Park, visitors of all ages can enjoy live performances across three stages. The Neptune Stage will feature headliners Cookin’ With Brass, which supercharges top 40 pop tunes, and Coco Project, a proud, all-Filipino, seven-piece show band. The Dockside Stage will feature children’s favourites like the award-winning Ginalina and Oh Clementine. The Coracle Stage will host youth and community groups such as the Richmond-based rock band The Buttery Biscuits.

Families can explore Kid’s Cove where a variety of hands-on workshops will run throughout the festival. Highlights include the traditional art of gyotaku, a practice dating back to the mid-1800s that uses real fish to create unique paper prints under the guidance of Paula Nishikawara. Visitors can try their hand at the delicate craft of Japanese origami with Aiko Matsushiba or visit J Peachy’s ArtCart to hand-sand and personalize their very own nautical woodcarving.

The Sails in the Sky field will host both kite professionals and local enthusiasts demonstrating their aerial skills. Children will have the chance to create crafts based on Japanese koinobori—carp streamers that are used to celebrate Children’s Day in Japan on May 5—with representatives from Tonarigumi and the Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre. Beyond the workshops, the festival grounds will be alive with musical instrument experimentation, face painting, puppet theatre and roving performances, in addition to food trucks offering a diverse range of flavors.

To learn more about this year’s festival, visit shipstoshore.ca.