The first ever Rideau Canal Festival provided local residents and tourists with four days of fun over the Civic Holiday long weekend. The festival was invented to honour the Rideau Canal being designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007, through a variety of family and eco-friendly activities. Organizers hope that the festival will become an annual event.
From top to bottom:
A festivalgoer takes a moment to look at photographs of UNESCO World Heritage Sites from around the world during the Rideau Canal Festival opening ceremonies on July 31.
Members of the St. Patrick's Battalion Pipes band traveled all the way from Mexico City to participate in the festival's opening ceremonies at Confederation Park.
Ottawa Mayor Larry O'Brien is all smiles as he addresses the crowd at Confederation Park, under the watchful eye of royal soldiers behind him.
One of the boats participating in the Rideau Canal Parade of Lights night flotilla pulls in to dock at Dow's Lake after traveling along the canal from the National Arts Centre.
A boat representing another world heritage site, The Great Barrier Reef in Australia, arrives at Dow's Lake. Boats participating in either the night flotilla on August 2 or the daytime flotilla on August 3 were encourage to not only light up their boats, but decorate them in spirit of other world heritage sites from around the world.
Photos by: Taylor Turner, centretownnewsonline.ca