The annual Rotary NyDock Dockfest is returning to Huntsville, bringing a full day of entertainment, activities, and one of the community’s most unique yearly traditions.
Festivities begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday (July 11) with a parade through downtown Huntsville featuring a pipe band and floats from local event sponsors. Councillor Helena Renwick and local actor Grant Nickalls will announce the floats as they come down Main Street, with a cash prize awarded for the best float.
The opening ceremony will follow at 11 a.m., featuring the national anthem and remarks from local dignitaries.
The signature bathtub races will then take to the Muskoka River, with 38 motorized bathtubs representing local businesses and organizations navigating an obstacle course in front of spectators on the town docks.
Event organizer and NyDock owner Jan Nyquist said the bathtub races continue to be the highlight of the annual celebration.
“Everyone has always loved being involved, even when it was a smaller event,” Nyquist said. “The community just loves it.”
Between race heats, spectators can watch stand-up jet ski stunts by the Muskoka Madmen, led by Captain Nick Musters.
At 2 p.m., Charlie Newlands of Summer Water Sports and members of the Canadian National Water Ski Team will perform a professional waterski show with flyboards, e-foils, barefoot waterskiing, and more.
A family-friendly outdoor market will take place in River Mill Park from 12 to 4 p.m. featuring games, face painting, live music, and food vendors.
The event is a result of months of hard work and planning by Nyquist, Jamie Thompson of the Huntsville Rotary Club, and dozens of community volunteers.
“Everybody is a part of this event, whether it’s the sponsors, the spectators, the volunteers, the town itself – it involves the entire community,” he said. “And they’re all doing it for the right reasons.”
All proceeds from Dockfest will support Raise Muskoka, a joint fundraising campaign led by the Huntsville Hospital Foundation and the South Muskoka Hospital Foundation to support the construction of two new hospitals in Muskoka.
“They have a goal, we need a hospital, it’s good for the community,” Nyquist said. “The people that invest in this are also investing in themselves indirectly because they’re investing in their future.”
Nyquist added that community support remains strong each year, with local businesses and organizations eager to become sponsors.
“We don’t have to work hard to sell any of the sponsorships,” he said.
The Town of Huntsville is advising residents to expect several road closures throughout the day, including sections of Main Street East, Centre Street, Caroline Street, Dara Howell Way, the River Mill Park parking lot, and the Algonquin Outfitters laneway.
Barricades and signage will be in place, and motorists should expect traffic delays near the event.
For a full list of closures, click here.
For more information on Dockfest, click here.
