5. Canal Days Marine Heritage Festival

The Buzz -- Port Colborne has always played an important role in the shipping heritage of both Lake Erie and the Niagara Region. Today, folks gather each August to celebrate this nautical tradition during the four days given to the Canal Days Marine Heritage Festival. Concerts and family-friendly entertainment abound at Lakeview Park and along the Wells Canal, and there are also plenty of chances to hop aboard ships of shapes and sizes, from Canadian Coast Guard vessels to the Empire Sandy, a tall ship based out of Toronto.