Collingwood, ON [25 July 2023] – Collingwood’s harbourfront festival is back August 12-13 with a weekend full of activities celebrating the joy of being in, on, and around the waters of South Georgian Bay while commemorating the unique shipbuilding heritage of Collingwood. With free activities for all ages, Sidelaunch Days is a great family festival not to be missed.
This year’s event features a mix of new activities and traditional favourites. Be sure to check out these highlights:
Launch Day Exhibit
Saturday, August 12, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Collingwood Museum, 45 St. Paul St.
Learn more about Collingwood’s shipbuilding heritage through the Collingwood Museum’s exhibit entitled “Launch Day”. The exhibit focuses specifically on Collingwood’s most photographed and cherished event – the side launch. Presented by the Collingwood Museum.
Promenade Vendor Walk
Saturday, August 12 & Sunday, August 13, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Stroll the waterfront promenade while exploring vendors featuring treats and treasures for everyone. Be sure to stop by the Town’s booth featuring Collingwood’s Climate Action Specialist Nicole Yardy and staff from Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority, sharing information about the importance of stream health. Plus – enter to win a pair of tickets valid for a Collingwood Charters cruise! The promenade vendor walk is generously sponsored by Devonleigh Homes.
Sidelaunch Days Drone Show
Saturday, August 12, 9:30 p.m., Shipyards Amphitheatre, 2 North Maple Street
Two-hundred drones will create colourful images in the sky over the harbour. The theme of the Sidelaunch Days Drone Show is Collingwood Harbour’s industrial past. The Shipyards Amphitheatre is the recommended viewing location. It will be possible to view the Drone Show from anywhere along the shoreline between Harbourview Park and Heritage Drive however images created by the drones will be impacted the further east or west of the Shipyards Amphitheatre the viewer is located. Sponsored by Collingwood Downtown.
Ontario SUP Series Races
Saturday, August 12 & Sunday, August 13, Various times, Side Launch Basin
The Ontario SUP Race Series is a competitive and fun event series for the sport of stand up paddle boarding (SUP) in Ontario. Register to compete at www.ontariosupseries.com or take in the excitement from the Promenade cheering on your favourite racers! Presented in partnership with Ontario SUP Series and BluWave SUP.
Free Kayaking and SUP Boarding
Saturday, August 12 & Sunday, August 13, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Harbourview Park, Westside Dock, Birch Street North
Give kayaking and stand up paddle boarding (SUP) a try with complimentary rentals from Little Ed’s Harbourview Rentals. Presented in partnership with Little Ed’s Harbourview Rentals.
Tall Ships Dockside Tours
Saturday, August 12 & Sunday, August 13, 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Sidelaunch Basin
Hop aboard the TS Playfair or STV Pathfinder for a tour of the ships’ upper and lower decks, meet crew members, and learn about the Brigs Youth Sail Training Program. Sponsored by Greenland International Consulting Ltd. and Urban Watershed Group Ltd.
Kites Over Collingwood
Sunday, August 13, 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m., Millennium Park
Bring your own kite or pick up and decorate a complimentary one on site and enjoy the winds at Millennium. Or just relax and watch the professionals with their colourful array of large-scale kites soaring high above Collingwood Harbour! Sponsored by Epcor.
Queen M and Kirk Diamond in Concert
Saturday, August 12, 7:00 p.m., Shipyards Amphitheatre, 2 North Maple St.
Queen M, with their Neo soul mixed with vintage Motown and Reggae influences, takes the stage at 7:00 pm, followed by Juno-award-winning reggae musician Kirk Diamond at 8:00 pm. This concert is part of the Collingwood Live & Original Summer Concert Series. Presented in partnership with Side Launch Brewing. Sponsored by: Fram+Slokker, Collingwood Quay Condos, Living Water Resorts, and Streetcar Developments.
Graham Trude and Freedom Train in Concert
Sunday, August 13, 7:00 p.m., Shipyards Amphitheatre, 2 North Maple St.
Country/Folk musician, Graham Trude, performs from his deeply personal and powerful catalog at 7:00 p.m. Freedom Train follows at 8:00 p.m. Back by popular demand, this power-trio performs at over 200 shows annually on stages including Massey Hall and MGM Grand in Las Vegas, winning audiences with their spin on classic rock, R&B, funk, and reggae. Presented in partnership with Side Launch Brewing. Sponsored by: Fram+Slokker, Collingwood Quay Condos, and Living Water Resorts.
For a full schedule of events, visit www.sidelaunchdays.ca.
Sidelaunch Days is presented by the Town of Collingwood with generous support from Collingwood Downtown, Side Launch Brewing Company, Ontario SUP Series, BluWave SUP, Fram+Slokker, Collingwood Quay Condos, Living Water Resorts, Streetcar Developments, Epcor, Greenland International Consulting Ltd. and Urban Watershed Group Ltd., and Devonleigh Homes.
About Sidelaunch Days
Why the name you might ask? The Sidelaunch Days Festival was named in honour of Collingwood’s shipbuilding heritage and the unique method of launching ships at The Collingwood Shipyards. Learn more by visiting the Collingwood Museum at 45 St. Paul Street www.collingwood.ca/museum