Lake Ontario Waterfront Festival

The Lake Ontario Waterfront Festival will take place Saturday, May 17, 2025, hosted by the H. Lee White Maritime Museum and New York Sea Grant at the Oswego Port Authority West Pier at 1 West First Street in Oswego, New York. The event will showcase Oswego and its historic waterfront as Part of National Safe Boating Week, and welcomes visitors to explore the museum and its collection of watercraft, and has fun events highlighting boater safety with displays and demonstrations from The U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Oswego City Fire Department and the New York Sea Grant.

The event is free to attend, and this year will include live birds from the Braddock Bay Raptor Research program. Visitors will also be able to explore boats, e-bikes, historic maritime vessels, boat tours, water rescue emergency services, Great Lakes conservation and science exhibits, and will enjoy free admission to the museum. Children’s activities include entertainment from The Happy Pirates entertainment troupe of Rochester, and weather permitting the historic Oswego Lighthouse will be open for tours. Visitors will also have the opportunity to explore the new “Enterprising Waters: New York’s Erie Canal” exhibit presented in partnership with the New York State Museum, as well as tour a replica of the traditional 1850s-era topsail schooner Ontario.

To learn more, visit hlwmm.org.