May 2 & 3, 2026 What’s happening at Britannia Shipyards NHS during Ships to Shore
Thousands of visitors are expected to flock to Garry Point Park in Steveston during Richmond’s Ship to Shore Festival on May 2 & 3, 2026 to celebrate the arrival of the tall ship Kaiwo Maru from Japan.
On the same weekend, we invite you to visit Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site to make an origami samurai hat (kabuto) or sailboat, in commemoration of the Kaiwo Maru visit and the Japanese Children’s Day holiday on May 5th.
May is also Asian Heritage Month, the perfect time to invite visitors to learn about the Japanese holiday traditions, including Children’s Day and the art of origami. These are just a few examples of cultural traditions that may have been passed down the generations of Japanese Canadian families who first came to Steveston to work in the fishing, canning and boat building industries in the late 1800s.
Look for these activities in the Murakami Boatworks building, which will be open from 10am to 5pm on Saturday and Sunday, May 2 and 3, 2026. Admission is free.
