The 2025 Lake Ontario Waterfront Festival: A Fun-Filled Day of Adventure and Discovery
April 14, 2025 | Boat tours
The 2025 Lake Ontario Waterfront Festival is set to take place on Saturday, May 17, from noon to 4 p.m. along the Oswego Port Authority West Pier at 1 W. First St., Oswego. This free event promises to be a fun-filled day of adventure and discovery for visitors of all ages. Live Raptors: An Up-Close Encounter with Birds of Prey
One of the highlights of the festival will be the live birds from the Braddock Bay Raptor Research (BBRR) program. These birds will be on display from noon to 3 p.m., providing an up-close encounter with birds of prey. The BBRR program studies raptor migration along Lake Ontario through raptor counts and banding research, and education is a key part of its mission. Children will have the opportunity to learn about migration and conservation issues through non-releasable raptor ambassadors. Children’s Activities: Happy Pirates and More! The festival will also feature children’s activities, including a maritime theme t-shirt art area. The Happy Pirates entertainment troupe of Rochester will share seafaring fun, activities, and laughter with Captain Gully and his ukelele, the prankster Scuttle, and a silly Sharkbait crewmate. Children can also build their own toy boats to race in pairs in a long tank on the pier, a fun activity that is sure to delight kids of all ages. Boating Safety and Water Rescue Demonstrations
The Oswego Fire Department will be on hand to provide boating safety information and conduct mock rescue demonstrations in the water off the pier, weather permitting. The U.S. Coast Guard Station Oswego and U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 2-6 will also have exhibits and boating safety information available. Outdoor Recreation and Great Lakes Science on Display
The festival will feature exhibits and displays from various organizations, including Oswego County Tourism, the City of Oswego, and Oswego’s Historic Maritime District. Adventure at Burritt’s will be showcasing e-bikes and marine recreational vessels, while Fair Haven Kayak will have rental kayak and paddleboard equipment on display. SUNY Oswego’s Great Lakes Institute, Rice Creek Field Station, Oswego County Soil and Water Conservation, St. Lawrence-Eastern Lake Ontario Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management, and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation will also be there with Great Lakes science and conservation exhibits. Tour Historic Vessels and Reserve Tickets for a Lighthouse Boat Tour! Visitors can tour a replica of the traditional 1850s-era topsail schooner “Ontario” being refit on the dock for on-water youth and adult education and sail training. The museum will also offer tours of the steam-powered Derrick Boat 8, built in Syracuse in 1927, and designated by the National Register of Historic Places in 2014. Weather permitting, boat tours to the historic Oswego Lighthouse will be available from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. for $20 per adult and $15 for children ages 5-12. New Exhibit Honors Erie Canal’s 200th Anniversary
The H. Lee White Maritime Museum will be open with free admission during the festival, featuring a new exhibit on the Erie Canal’s 200th anniversary. The exhibit, presented in partnership with the New York State Museum, chronicles the Erie Canal from conception to present day, with interpretive panels and unique artifacts such as a silk ribbon worn by an attendee at the “Wedding of the Waters” in 1825 at New York Harbor.
| Organization | Exhibits/Activities |
|---|---|
| Oswego Fire Department | Boating safety information, mock rescue demonstrations |
| U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 2-6 | Boating safety information, exhibits |
| Adventure at Burritt’s | E-bikes and marine recreational vessels exhibit |
| Fair Haven Kayak | Rental kayak and paddleboard equipment on display |
| SUNY Oswego’s Great Lakes Institute, Rice Creek Field Station, Oswego County Soil and Water Conservation, St. Lawrence-Eastern Lake Ontario Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management, and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation | Great Lakes science and conservation exhibits |
| Time | Event/Activity | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 12:30-3:30 p.m. | Boat tour to the historic Oswego Lighthouse | Wright’s Landing |
New Exhibit Highlights the Importance of the Erie Canal
The H. Lee White Maritime Museum is proud to present a new exhibit on the Erie Canal’s 200th anniversary. The exhibit highlights the importance of the Erie Canal in American history and its impact on the development of the Great Lakes region.
Get Ready for the 2025 Lake Ontario Waterfront Festival
The 2025 Lake Ontario Waterfront Festival is set to take place on Saturday, May 17, from noon to 4 p.m. Don’t miss out on the live raptors, children’s activities, boating safety and water rescue demonstrations, outdoor recreation and Great Lakes science on display, and historic vessel tours. Get ready for the 2025 Lake Ontario Waterfront Festival!
Plan Your Visit
* Location: Oswego Port Authority West Pier at 1 W. First St., Oswego
* Time: Noon-4 p.m. on Saturday, May 17
* Admission: Free
* Contact: H. Lee White Maritime Museum at 315-342-0480 or www.hlwmm.org
* Follow: H. Lee White Maritime Museum on Facebook at www.facebook.com/hlwmm.org or on Twitter at www.twitter.com/hlwmm
“The 2025 Lake Ontario Waterfront Festival is an exciting event that showcases the rich maritime heritage of Oswego and the Lake Ontario region. We are thrilled to partner with the H. Lee White Maritime Museum and New York Sea Grant to bring this event to life.” – John R. Martin, Oswego Mayor
The 2025 Lake Ontario Waterfront Festival is a celebration of the region’s maritime history and culture, and we invite all to join us for a fun-filled day of adventure and discovery.
The 2025 Lake Ontario Waterfront Festival: A Fun-Filled Day of Adventure and Discovery
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