Pender Harbour Days

Events > Pender Harbour Days Wooden Boat Festival

Pender Harbour Days
Wooden Boat Festival

August 4 - 6, 2023

A celebration of our marine heritage, with historical boats, land-based heritage displays, presentations, kids activities, and more.

Sponsored by Pender Harbour Living Heritage Society with support from C-Tow, the Harbour Authority of Pender Harbour, and the SCRD

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2023 Photo Gallery

Event Schedule
All activities and events are FREE unless otherwise noted.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 4

5:30 - 6:30 PM: Opening Day Boat Parade
Around Pender Harbour
Classic and modern boats assemble at the Madeira Park Government Dock for the opening boat parade featuring the Pender Harbour Pipe & Drum Band.

All boats are welcome! Dress your boat up in a Canada theme. At least one Canadian flag is a must!

View parade info & map

Boaters & Spectators: view parade info & map

7:30 PM (doors open at 7): Summer's Night Coffee House ($ by donation)
Pender Harbour School of Music (12956 Madeira Park Rd.)
The Pender Harbour Music Society presents a musical coffee house featuring members of the Pender Harbour Choir singing “Songs for a Summer’s Night”. Admission by donation. Doors open at 7:00 PM

Click to enlarge

SATURDAY, AUGUST 5

8:00 - 11:00 AM: Lions Club Community Breakfast ($5)
Millennium Park & Area (12967 Madeira Park Rd.)
Pender Harbour Lions Club hosts a delicious breakfast featuring ham, egg, and cheese breakfast sandwiches.

10:00 AM - 3:00 PM: Heritage Boats on Display
Madeira Park Gov’t Docks & Area (12967 Madeira Park Rd.)
Free public viewing of classic boats at the Madeira Park dock, as well as displays of small wooden boats and historic marine equipment.

10:00 AM - 3:00 PM: Historic Displays, Activities, and More
Millennium Park & Area (12967 Madeira Park Rd.)
View displays, interactive demos, local vendors, heritage talks, music, as well as local community organizations, crafts, food, theatre, musicians, and more.

Raffle tickets for sale & seafood draws throughout the day

Canoe Raffle tickets $10 are available at the Pender Harbour Living Heritage Society table and also online. Draw is August 6, 2 PM.

Raffle tickets $5 for the Ocean Twilight oil painting by artist Ken Walters are available. Draw is August 6, 2 PM.

Five seafood raffle draws run hourly on Saturday 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM.

11:00 AM 3:00 PM: Fun for kids!
Millennium Park & Area (12967 Madeira Park Rd.)
Face painting by Miss Carla’s Fancy Faces, mini wooden boat building, kids’ crafts with the Pender Harbour Girl Guides.

11:00 AM - 3:00 PM: Aqui Es Mexico Food Truck ($)
Millennium Park & Area (12967 Madeira Park Rd.)

11:30 AM and 1:30 PM: Driftwood Theatre presents Story Theatre
Millennium Park & Area (12967 Madeira Park Rd.)
Bring a blanket or chair and settle in for “Story Theatre" presented by the Driftwood Players.

11:30 AM, 1:30 PM, 2:30 PM: Learn Fishing Net Skills
Millennium Park & Area, Pender Harbour Living Heritage Society Tent
Learn something new! Try your hand at various knots, splicing, and net repair from local fishermen.

12:00 PM: Sailboat Races
Around Pender Harbour
Listen for the horn, and look to the Harbour for the colourful sails as the Garden Bay Sailing Club’s weekly race is off!

12:00 - 2:00 PM: Hard Hat Diving Exhibition
Madeira Park Government Dock (12967 Madeira Park Rd.)
Watch a demonstration of hard-hat diving and a televised view of the ocean floor.

2:00: Pender Harbour: A Fishing Family History
Pender Harbour School of Music (12956 Madeira Park Rd. Coming from Millennium Park area, look for the path marked with balloons)
A talk and slide presentation of historic photos by Jim Cameron about his family’s long history in the Harbour and the summer salmon fishery that employed Pender Harbour fishermen.

7:00 - 11:00 PM: BBQ Rib Dinner and Dance ($)
Pender Harbour Legion (12829 Lillies Lake Rd, Madeira Park)

Enjoy a fun-filled evening of dancing to Blue Western. Kids are welcome.

Tickets are $35 available at the Legion (604) 883-2235 or at Ground Waves Gallery in Madeira Park.

Click to enlarge

SUNDAY, AUGUST 6

10:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Marine Tailgate Sale
Parking Area at Madeira Park Gov’t Docks (12967 Madeira Park Rd.)
Bring your nautical knick knacks, surplus marine-related items, and a lawn chair, and clear your basement of sea-worthy items! $10/car. Set up at 9:30 AM.
No reservation needed. Contact Ron Badley
badleybuiltboats@gmail.com for more info.

10:00 AM - 2:00 PM: Heritage Boats on Display
Madeira Park Gov’t Docks & Area (12967 Madeira Park Rd.)
Free public viewing of classic boats at the Madeira Park dock as well as Pender Harbour Living Heritage Society displays of small wooden boats and historic marine equipment. Displays, music, and local vendors.

10:00 AM - 2:00 PM: Aqui Es Mexico Food Truck ($)
Millennium Park & Area (12967 Madeira Park Rd.)

11:00 AM - 1:00 PM: Vintage Films of our Coast
Pender Harbour School of Music (12956 Madeira Park Rd. Coming from Millennium Park area, look for the path marked with balloons)
Featuring two short films highlighting the role of the forest service on the BC Coast, a newsreel on Pender Harbour and a commercial fishing vignette. Curated by Isaac Vanderhorst. Films are shown on a loop from 11am-1pm. Total running time 50 minutes. Drop in anytime.

1:30 PM: HUGS Concert
Millennium Park & Area (12967 Madeira Park Rd.)
Enjoy a show by Pender Harbour’s finest Uke players

2:00 PM: Closing Ceremonies
Millennium Park & Area (12967 Madeira Park Rd.)
Pender Harbour Living Heritage Society Canoe Raffle draw, and Artist Ken Walters Painting Raffle draw

While you’re in the neighbourhood, check out the Pender Harbour Reading Room and the Harbour Art Gallery on the hill behind the parking lot.

Pender Harbour Days Wooden Boat Festival
is sponsored by Pender Harbour Living Heritage Society.

We appreciate the support of C-Tow, the Harbour Authority of Pender Harbour, and
the SCRD in helping make this year’s festival happen!

Friday evening boat parade

Saturday and Sunday activities

2017 PH Days Photo Gallery

A highlight of the event in 2017 was the return of an Allen Farrell boat to Pender Harbour.
The 18’ dory, Buttercup, originally named Peace and Quiet, arrived at the Madeira Park dock
on Sunday, July 9, sporting her distinctive junk-rigged sail. More about Buttercup

Heritage Boat Parade: Friday Evening
Featuring over 20 heritage boats as well as many other local boats. Decorated for Canada 150.

Saturday Activities
Including Hard Hat Divers and live video under the wharf, heritage boats on display, sailboat races around Pender Harbour, lots of kids activities, oyster shucking contest, log sawing contest, food, vendors and more!

Sunday Activities
Including pancake breakfast, kids fishing derby, heritage displays and stories about making a living on the water, heritage boats on display, HUGS ukulele concert and the raffle and 50/50 draws.

2016 PH Days Photo Gallery

Heritage Boat Parade: Friday Evening
Featuring over 20 heritage boats as well as many other local boats.