Get ready to celebrate Alpena’s rich maritime heritage at the 2026 Thunder Bay Maritime Festival from Friday August 21st to Sunday August 23rd along the Thunder Bay River. This year’s lineup features 2-hour tall ship excursions, deck tours, hands-on family activities, Great Lakes exhibitors, the Battle of the Paddles River Race and rooftop party, and a brand-new community boat parade along the river through the heart of downtown!

On Friday August 21st at 5:30pm, join the Dork Brothers Racing Team for the Battle of the Paddles River Race. You can participate via kayak, single canoe, or SUP board, or spectate from the rooftop deck of the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center! To participate you must register online, and all you need to bring is a paddleboard, kayak or canoe, paddle, and PFD (personal flotation device) type III. Single blade paddles only for SUPs (stand up paddleboards). You can register at ThunderBayFriends.org or the Dork Brothers’ Facebook event page.

Brand new to this year’s Maritime Festival is the Alpena Chamber’s Thunder Bay Maritime Festival Lighted Boat Parade at 8pm Saturday August 22nd! Line up along the Thunder Bay River in downtown Alpena to watch all the creatively decorated and lit up boats go by. Or if you have a boat of your own, you can register to be a part of this brand-new event! Find the application and rules and regulations on the Alpena Chamber’s website.

Go for a sail or take a tour of the Inland Seas tall ship during this three-day event. On Friday August 21st and Sunday, August 23rd you can go for a sail at 10am, 1pm or 4pm, and Saturday you can sail at 10am or 7:15pm. The evening sail on Saturday will take part in the Alpena Chamber’s Thunder Bay Maritime Festival Boat Parade and then sail into the bay for the sunset!

On Saturday from 12-5 pm, exhibitors will also be set up and activities for all ages will take place along the river near the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center, including deck tours of the tall ship, robot and scuba diving demonstrations, and the Imagination Playground from United Way. Further down the river, the Water Street Commons will have live music from 4-8 pm on Saturday.

“Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary works to ensure future generations can enjoy the Great Lakes and appreciate their role in maritime history. Festivals like this enhance our ongoing efforts to foster connections and bring history to life. We are excited to help bring the 2026 Thunder Bay Maritime Festival to the community.” – Erin Pilarski, Events Manager at Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary

This event is in partnership with the Alpena Chamber of Commerce, City of Alpena, Dork Brothers Racing, and Alpena Downtown Development Authority, and the Friends of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. For more information visit Events for July 2026 – Friends of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary or call 989-884-6200. Find the full schedule of events below.

Schedule of events:

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21

• Sails available on INLAND SEAS at 10am, 1pm, 4pm (tickets $55 adults, $35 kids) BOOKING LINK: https://www.simpletix.com/…/inland-seas-sail-away…
• 5 p.m. Racers for check in for Dork Brothers’ annual Battle of the Paddles REGISTRATION LINK: https://www.simpletix.com/…/2026-battle-of-the-paddles…
• 5:30 p.m. Race begins
• 5:30 p.m. Dork Brothers’ Battle of the Paddles viewing party on the roof deck of the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center, cash bar available
• 7 p.m. Dork Brothers’ Battle of the Paddles awards and celebration party

SATURDAY, AUGUST 22

• Sails available on INLAND SEAS at 10am & 7:15PM evening sail* BOOKING LINK: https://www.simpletix.com/…/inland-seas-sail-away… *the evening sail will take part in the Alpena Chamber’s Thunder Bay Maritime Festival Boat Parade and then sail into the bay for the sunset
• 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Riverside Events at the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center
• Deck tours of tall ship Inland Seas
• Story walk with the Alpena County Library
• Underwater robots and scuba diving demonstrations
• Imagination Station hosted by United Way of Northeast Michigan
• Interactive Exhibitors from regional organizations such as: Michigan Sea Grant,
• Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, United States Coast Guard, and more!
• 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Live music at Water Street Commons along the Thunder Bay River sponsored by Alpena’s Downtown Development Authority
• 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Alpena Chamber’s Thunder Bay Maritime Festival Boat Parade REGISTRATION LINK: https://alpenachamber.com/…/06/boat_parade_application.pdf RULES & REGULATIONS: https://alpenachamber.com/…/Rules-and-Regulations…

SUNDAY, AUGUST 23

• Sails available on INLAND SEAS at 10am, 1pm, 4pm BOOKING LINK: https://www.simpletix.com/…/inland-seas-sail-away…