Waterfront taking centre stage for Port Colborne events
Sugarloaf Marina and its nearby amenities will be a hub of activity in Port Colborne this summer.
As the weather continues to improve, boat owners have been launching their vessels into slips at the municipally-operated harbour in preparation for the upcoming season on Lake Erie.
Sugarloaf Marina general manager Mark Minor says about 500 slips are expected to be occupied for most of the summer months. When Port Colborne’s Canal Days festival is held on the civic holiday weekend in August, the facility will likely reach its capacity of 700 boats.
Once the marina is fully open with extended hours starting on the May long weekend, a full schedule of events will continue until closing day.
Fishing tournaments and leagues, a regatta that brings in as many as 70 competitive sailing teams after leaving Point Abino in Crystal Beach on its way to Port Dover and then the U.S., a fishing charter service, a wakeboarding event, and much more will be offered by the marina this year.
“There’s a lot of stuff happening down here. It’s going to be constantly busy,” says Minor.
There are weddings planned at the nearby H.H. Knoll Lakeview park pavilion, as well as several yoga and Zumba classes, and a Sunday church service.
The waterfront area of the city will also be a major factor in this year’s Canal Days,
Port Colborne’s annual celebration that will hit its 40-year milestone in August. In the past, live music has been in the downtown core, but a new tune is being played in 2018 as bands will hit the stage at the park bandshell.
“It’s a different atmosphere that will be in this area during the festival,” says Michelle Cuthbert, the city’s communications officer.
“The marina has always been a hub for our lakefront, but this year, especially during Canal Days, it will be more so than ever.”
Chief administrative officer Scott Luey says the new location for many features of Canal Days is derived from a potential construction project in the Clarence Street area. It has been approved by city council, but a funding source remains undetermined. If the work does move ahead, it will take place over several years and phases, but most likely mean a complete relocation of Canal Days as it unfolds.
“The move to H.H. Knoll is really a trial for that,” says Luey.
He also says it gives the city a chance to host evening activities along the scenic waterfront.
During Canal Days, the city’s nearby boat launch will be closed for insurance purposes, but transient slips can be booked by contacting the marina. City-owned docks on West Street will be open during Canal Days.
If Mother Nature permits,
Luey hopes people can take advantage of what is being offered until fall arrives.
“The season goes well past Thanksgiving — as along as we have nice weather, we always have people down by the lake in Port Colborne,” he says.
Local residents are encouraged to watch for Dock Talk, a web series on the city’s social media channels providing updates on scheduled events at the marina.