The fleet's coming in to the Toronto waterfront: Royal Canadian Navy, tall ships

   One-Tank Trip for June 25-16

   (c) By Jim Fox

   Two Royal Canadian Navy ships will join an early colonial Spanish vessel and the return of the Vikings on the Toronto waterfront on Canada Day weekend.

   The visits are part of the Redpath Waterfront Festival that will launch the Tall Ships Challenge Great Lakes series.

   Activities from July 1 to 3 will span the waterfront from HTO Park to the Yonge Street slip with ship deck tours, the Parade of Sail, Ultimutts Stunt Dog Show and the Waterfront Artisan Market.

The Viking ship Draken Harald Harfagre has returned, following the route of the discovery of the New World 1,000 years ago.

   “Visitors will also be able to check out live music, dance demos, live art and buskers at the Simcoe and Rees WaveDecks and take in the beauty of the Parade of Sail,” said publicist Peggy Sheffield.

   The big attraction is the sailing vessels with a public grand opening on Thursday featuring two navy ships and other highlights of the weekend.

   “The Redpath Waterfront Festival attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors to Toronto's Waterfront . . . especially this year as we welcome the return of the tall ships,” said Deborah Wilson of PortsToronto.

   Admission is free, with a nominal charge for ship deck tours aside from the navy vessels.

   The fleet is in

   The navy’s first visit will offer free tours of the HMCS Kingston and Goose Bay.

The Royal Canadian Navy will have the HMCS Goose Bay at the waterfront fest in Toronto.

    They will be stationed in Harbour Square Park and the public is invited to join navy personnel on their daily run, test their fitness in a navy-themed obstacle course and watch the Urban Fresh Navy Cook Off.

   Joining them is a crew of sailors from around the world arriving aboard the world’s largest Viking ship, Draken Harald Harfagre, that followed the route of the discovery of the New World 1,000 years ago.

   Visitors can also tour El Galeon, an early colonial Spanish ship and floating museum, with six decks of exhibits to explore.

El Galeon, an early colonial Spanish ship, will be open for tours on the Toronto waterfront.

   There’s also the Pride of Baltimore II, an 1812-era schooner, along with O Canada, an around-the-world, one-person, racing yacht, and three Brigantines: St. Lawrence II (Kingston), TS Playfair (Toronto) and STV Pathfinder (Toronto).

   Deck tours are offered on Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tours cost $15; $10 for ages six to 10; free, five and younger.

   The grand finale Parade of Sail with all participating ships plus “unique” local vessels taking part starts at 4 p.m. on July 3.

The grand finale Parade of Sail takes place July 3 at the Redpath Waterfront Festival.

   The ships will sail along Toronto’s harbour from west to east with thousands of spectators lining the entire stretch of the waterfront.

   For more details: TOwaterfrontfest.com

   The Westin Harbour Castle hotel is offering a special room rate for festival visitors: west.tn/1POYkRl

   Fox trot

   Happening now is the Puslinch Lakeside Living Home Tour today (June 25) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a chance to visit six properties.

Visitors to the Puslinch Lakeside Living Home Tour travel by pontoon boat between properties.

    The small, private kettle lake east of Cambridge, has featured more than 50 homes since the tours began in 2005, said Donna O’Krafka of the Puslinch Lake Conservation Association.

   Visitors are taken by pontoon boat to each of the homes (or they can drive) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with departures from the Old Marina Restaurant and at 28 Lakeside Drive on McCormick’s Point.

   Tickets are $25, with the money supporting the Lake Restoration Fund. myplca.com

   Canada, eh!

   Acclaimed Ontario folk trio Trent Severn, known for “original, contemporary songs described as Canadian history in harmony,” will perform at Stratford’s Revival House (70 Brunswick St.) on June 30 at 9 p.m.

The folk music group Trent Severn (Emm Gryner, Dayna Manning and Lindsay Schindler) will be performing in Stratford.

   The local group showcases Dayna Manning (guitar, banjo, vocals), Emm Gryner (bass guitar, background vocals) and Lindsay Schindler (fiddle, background vocals).

   “The band composes beautifully crafted, evocative songs that continue the deeply poetic legacy of true ‘red-and-white pioneering troubadours, such as Stompin’ Tom Connors, Ian and Sylvia Tyson and Gordon Lightfoot,” said publicist Mary-Lou Schagena.

   “The talented southern Ontario trio planted their Maple Leaf flag deeply in the firmament of the Canadian roots music with a folk version of O Canada and Stealin’ Syrup,” she said.

   Tickets are $20, advance; $25 at the door. stringbonepresents.com

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Jim Fox can be reached at onetanktrips@hotmail.com

For more One-Tank Trips: http://1tanktrips.blogspot.ca