Make sure all hands are on deck when more than 20 historic ships make a rare visit to Chicago for Pepsi® Tall Ships Chicago 2010 at Navy Pier® August 24-29. Arriving in a majestic one-mile Parade of Sail, these vessels from around the world will anchor a unique festival filled with maritime adventure and family fun.
Cruising in under billowing sail, the ships – from Canada, Germany, The Netherlands, and the U.S. – will make port at Navy Pier. In addition to viewing from dockside, you’ll be able to board most of the ships and walk their decks during crew-guided tours. And several ships plan to offer once-in-a-lifetime sailaways. Click here for information on tickets and special packages.
To celebrate the ships’ stay in Chicago, a family-friendly festival will offer exciting activities including spectacular nightly fireworks shows, daily music and entertainment, and interactive greening initiatives. At Patch’s Children’s Village, kids will enjoy performances by Cap’n Willie, the Great Lakes Pirate, and watch as mom or dad is transformed into a pirate. Kids’ activities include climbing ship rigging or a 100-foot mast, tying knots, hoisting sails, and more.
Add to your Tall Ships Chicago 2010 experience with a sail on Tall Ship Adventures of Chicago’s Tall Ship Windy or the city’s only wooden tall ship, Red Witch. Visit their site to see the schedule of special sails during the festival.
And before you set sail for this memorable festival, make arrangements to stay at one of the city’s comfortable nearby hotels such as Affinia Chicago – Navy Pier’s official hotel – which is offering special Tall Ships Chicago 2010 packages.