Maitland Launch Festival

Maitland Launch Festival The annual Maitland Launch Festival commemorates the launch of the largest square-rigged wooden vessel built in Canada: the "William D. Lawrence". Come one!

LAUNCHING GREAT SHIPS AND GREAT TRIPS

The Maitland Launch Festival is a commemorative celebration of the launch of the great ship, "William D. Lawrence", the largest square-rigged wooden vessel ever built in Canada! The original launch took place on October 27, 1874 (making 2014 the 140th Anniversary of the original launch) and was attended by over 4000 people drawn from all over Nova Scotia, Can

ada, the US and Europe, many of whom came to witness the ship capsize and sink, believing the ship to be too large to float. But float she did, and the "William D. Lawrence" became Mr. Lawrence's most successful ship ever built. There will be fun for the whole family all weekend long! Come all! The Maitland Launch Festival is brought to you by:
The CHArt Society
( http://www.facebook.com/pages/CHArt-Society/ )

with support from:
Nova Scotia Tourism
( http://www.novascotia.com )

Save the date! Maitland Launch FestivalAug. 29, 2026
02/12/2026

Save the date!
Maitland Launch Festival
Aug. 29, 2026

09/09/2025
09/06/2025

It's Launch Day!! Enjoy the Festivities!!

We'd love if you would share you photos with us in the Comments section to commemorate the day and for those who can't be there in person today.

Today is the day!!!
09/06/2025

Today is the day!!!

Only one day until Launch Day! Tomorrow at Lawrence House Museum 8660 Hwy. 215 from 10-4. Procession gathers at Maitland...
09/05/2025

Only one day until Launch Day! Tomorrow at Lawrence House Museum 8660 Hwy. 215 from 10-4. Procession gathers at Maitland Fire Hall 10:30. Launch at 1 pm at the Maitland shipyard. Enter at 8681 Hwy. 215.

Almost there! Don’t miss it!
09/04/2025

Almost there! Don’t miss it!

Ahh…the whisky peddlers! An essential part of Launch Day celebrations. Apparently on the day of the launch, Oct. 27, 187...
09/04/2025

Ahh…the whisky peddlers! An essential part of Launch Day celebrations. Apparently on the day of the launch, Oct. 27, 1874, some whisky peddlers came over from across the water and began to sell whisky to the thousands of spectators who had gathered to watch the launch. What audacity! They were summarily chased out of town by W. D. Lawrence, Alfred Putnam and other town fathers. Keep your eyes peeled for this years whisky peddlers in the procession at 11 am and later at the Lawrence House. Sat. Sept. 6 from 10-4 at the Lawrence House Museum 8660 Hwy. 215.

Launch Festivities continue well into the evening at High Tides Arts and Community Centre with food available from 4-6pm...
09/03/2025

Launch Festivities continue well into the evening at High Tides Arts and Community Centre with food available from 4-6pm and Paranormal Lecture in the Theatre!!

👻✨ This Saturday kicks off our first event of the fall – High Tide Hauntings!

The ghost hunt is SOLD OUT 🕯️🔦 … but you can still grab your spot for the Lecture on Ghosts & Hauntings!

🎟️ Tickets are going fast – don’t miss your chance to explore the mysteries and history of the paranormal with us.

👉 Reserve your lecture ticket here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/high-tide-hauntings-tickets-1299632418549?aff=oddtdtcreator

This is the piper from Launch Day 2012. This year Roslyn Duffus from Bedford will be piping to call people to the proces...
09/03/2025

This is the piper from Launch Day 2012. This year Roslyn Duffus from Bedford will be piping to call people to the procession. Saturday Sept. 6, 2025 the procession will gather at 10:30 at Maitland Fire Hall and leave at 11 am for the Lawrence House Museum. Demonstrations, displays and music 10-4 at the museum. Launch of the W.D. Lawrence replica at 1 pm.

This lovely parlour is part of the Lawrence House Museum. This Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, the Lawrence House will be open ...
09/02/2025

This lovely parlour is part of the Lawrence House Museum. This Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, the Lawrence House will be open from 10-4, admission by donation. There will be demonstrations and displays on the grounds and music on the verandah and around the grounds.

09/01/2025

This is William Dawson Lawrence, master shipbuilder, who built the W. D Lawrence, launched Oct. 27, 1874, the largest wooden sailing vessel ever launched in Atlantic Canada. On Saturday, Sept. 6 at 1 pm we will reenact this launch with a 16-foot replica in the Lawrence shipyard. Enter at 8681
Hwy. 215.

Address

11 Church Hill
Yarmouth, NS
B0N1T0

Telephone

+19022612001

Website

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