The Greatest Show on Water: Why Huntsville’s Dockfest is the Ultimate Test of Community Spirit

The famous Bathtub Derby on the Muskoka River returns on July 111

If you happen to stroll down Main Street in Huntsville on the morning of Saturday, July 11th, do not be alarmed if you see a parade of fully motorized, heavily decorated porcelain and fiberglass bathtubs rolling past the shops.

No, it isn’t a collective plumbing emergency. It is the official kickoff to the Rotary NyDock Dockfest, an event that has firmly cemented itself as one of the most eccentric, beloved, and high-stakes summer traditions in the Muskoka region.

At the center of this waterfront spectacle is a unique partnership between the Huntsville Rotary Club and local manufacturing powerhouse Pipefusion Services Inc., creators of NyDock. Together, they turn Huntsville’s downtown waterfront into a high-octane obstacle course where local businesses race modified bathtubs for ultimate community bragging rights.

Holding the microphone and guiding the thousands of expected spectators through the madness is a familiar local voice: Hunters Bay Radio’s own Grant Nickalls. As the official host, Nickalls will be stationed right on the water, bringing his signature energy, sharp wit, and play-by-play commentary to every splash, spin-out, and unexpected sinking.

While the bathtubs provide the comedy, the infrastructure making it all possible is a serious engineering feat. To create a racetrack on the water, you need a stable platform that can withstand the wake of dozens of motorized tubs, professional water stunt shows, and a massive crowd of onlookers.

That is where NyDock comes in. As the title sponsor and a joint venture partner, Jan Nyquist, owner of Pipefusion and NyDock, doesn’t just write a check—his team literally builds the event. NyDock constructs and deploys the floating docks, custom course obstacles, and the master announcer’s platform where Nickalls will stand safely above the spray.

For Nyquist and his team, the festival is a labor of love that showcases their heavy-duty, industrial-grade floating dock systems, which are built right here in Muskoka to withstand everything from shifting winter ice to the chaotic waves of a bathtub derby.

The core of Dockfest is the legendary Bathtub Derby. Over the years, the race has grown fiercely competitive. Local teams spend weeks leading up to July 11th tuning small outboard motors, balancing weight distribution in their hulls, and adding custom modifications to ensure their tub doesn't capsize at the first sharp turn.

The day begins at 10:00 AM with the traditional parade down Main Street, where teams show off their decorated vessels and compete for the $500 "Best Tub" prize. Accompanied by the Huntsville Legion Colour Guard and the roaring bagpipes of the Cameron of Lochiel Pipe Band, the procession moves down to the water, where the real chaos begins at 11:00 AM.

Drivers must navigate a complex course of tight turns and floating hoops, all while dodging the wake of their competitors and the mischievous antics of Dotty the Clown, who is known to prowl the boundaries with a high-powered water gun. In previous years, crowds have been treated to photo-finishes, dramatic mid-pool stalls, and drivers making unexpected swims into the river.

When the racing heats wrap up, the excitement stays on the water. This year’s event promises a spectacular professional ski and stunt show, featuring flyboards, stand-up jet skis, hydrofoils, and elite barefoot skiing lines. Meanwhile, River Mill Park will transform into a festival hub with live music at the Ross Kirwin Bandshell, children’s activities, and local food and drink vendors.

Beyond the flying spray and the roar of the engines, the true heart of Dockfest is its impact on local healthcare. Organizing a massive, single-day festival on the water requires a monumental effort from the Rotary Club of Huntsville, an organization that has been serving the town since 1934.

Every dollar raised through team registrations, sponsorships, and community raffles goes directly back into local initiatives. This year, the primary beneficiary of the festival’s proceeds is the Huntsville Hospital Foundation, helping to fund critical equipment and healthcare upgrades for residents across North Muskoka.

With Grant Nickalls on the mic, the engineering strength of NyDock keeping everyone afloat, and dozens of brave tub drivers ready to test their mechanical mettle, July 11th is shaping up to be the highlight of the Muskoka summer. Tune your engines, Huntsville—the tubs are back.