In 1979, the communities along the Welland Canal joined together in celebration to mark the 150th Anniversary of the opening of the first Welland Canal in 1829.  This peninsula-wide event was called “Canal Days” and was the beginning of Port Colborne’s annual “Canal Days” event, held on the Civic Long Weekend each summer, to entice visitors to our community to join in the celebration of our marine heritage.

The all-Canadian Welland Canal connects Lake Erie and Ontario and is an integral part of the International St. Lawrence Seaway.  The unique role the Welland Canal has played in the historic and economic development of the Niagara Region was the focus of the first Canal Days.

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The Port Colborne Museum, as a Marine Museum, was the host for that first Canal Days in Port Colborne.  The event was held on the grounds with an actor portraying William Hamilton Merritt untying the knot to open the ceremony.  A nautical theme was established, with marine music, displays and demonstrations, photography and lots of food and entertainment.

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After the success of this first Canal Days, a Port Colborne Committee for the Celebration of the Welland Canal was established with the intent to stage an annual festival known as Canal Days.  For several years, the festival was held on the museum grounds, with increasing participation by various community and marine organizations, individuals, and the City of Port Colborne.

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Canal days has been held continuously each year since 1979, and with each celebration the event has grown.  In the early 1990s, it became the City of Port Colborne’s signature event and was expanded from just the Museum grounds to include West St along the Canal, Lock 8, and Sugarloaf Harbour, the Lake Erie entrance to the Welland Canal.

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Canal Days has been enticing visitors to Port Colborne to participate in the celebration of our marine heritage. Through a wide range of events and activities over 60,000 people now sail into Port Colborne during the Civic Long weekend.