As the Tall Ships settle into their slips along the Boston waterfront, the last North American stop before Halifax, Tall Ships Nova Scotia organizers prepare for the fleet’s arrival one week from today. Event Director Leanne Srathdee commented on their impending arrival, “very soon over 40 ships will be under sail and underway for our historic harbour front city and all are expected to be dockside in just seven days.”

The Halifax stop slated for July 16-20^th is the first of seven ports that will welcome over 1500 crew from 14 different countries to communities province-wide. "It will be a memorable time for the entire region, with hundreds of people mobilizing to showcase our world renowned hospitality," added Strathdee. In celebration of their arrival and stay in Halifax a variety of public and feature events have been planned.

Highlights of the Halifax Gathering

Feature Events and Activities

• Crew Parade – 10am-12 noon Saturday July 18^th in Downtown Halifax Business Commission

• Long boat Flotilla and 250th Anniversary of the Founding of Royal Navy Dockyard Commemorative Ceremony – 1-3 pm Saturday July 18^th Bishops Landing

• Fireworks “Night Cap” presented by Atlantic Superstore 9:30 July 16, 17 and 18^th (Sunday July 19^th – Rain Date for fireworks)

• Parade Of Sail – 12 noon – 3 pm Monday July 20^th

• Glow Party Family Fun Pirate Adventure – 9 am – 9 pm July 17-19

• Daily Ship Boarding 10 am – 5pm July 17-19 *Please note that while we have scheduled daily public ship boarding some ship boarding times and access is subject to change as ship capacity is determined by each vessel’s captain.

• Kick off to the Bishops Landing Free Concert Series, July 19, 2-4pm featuring Steve Gates folk artistry with special guest Zac Crouse.

• Public Pancake Breakfasts – Historic Properties Courtyard – 9-11:30 July 17^th-18^th & Alderney Landing July 19^th 9:30-11:30 am.

Pogue on the Wharf

11 am – Midnight (Queens Landing parking lot – North of the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic)

• The Saunders Brothers – Thursday -Sunday (4-8pm)

• Under the Sun – Thursday (8pm – Midnight)

• Kaypr – Friday (8pm- Midnight)

• The Switch – Saturday (8pm – Midnight)

• Red Wine Convict – Sunday (8pm – Midnight)

Keiths’ Festival Plaza

Thursday 4-12 midnight Friday – Sunday 11 am – 12 Midnight -(Block M Parking Lot Next to Waterfront Warehouse)

• The Mellotones – Friday (8pm – Midnight)

• Caledonia – Saturday – (8pm – Midnight)

• Studebaker Pie – Sunday – (4-8pm)

Halifax Seaport Activities & Pavillion 22 – Thursday – Sunday 9am – 9 pm

Visitors can see local handcrafts, enjoy refreshments and shop! There will also be face painting (9am -9pm), balloon animals and Live children’s entertainment with Razzmatazz (daily at 11:00 am; 1:00 pm and 2:00 pm).

Public (paid) parking is available at the Halifax Seaport and there is *LIMITED*, complimentary parking on Monday, July 20th. Washroom facilities will be open from 8:30 am to 9:30 pm daily.

Pirate’s Landing & Pirate’s Cove — Alderney Landing, Dartmouth
Dockside Displays and Activities open Friday to Sunday (9 – 5 pm July 17-19)

Pirate Inflatables’, Interactive exhibits by Ocean’s Wild, Nova Scotia Fisheries and Aquaculture Touch Tank, Art Exhibits and Theatre shows in the World Peace Pavilion, The Captain’s Reading Corner, Treasure Hunts, Temporary tattoos, Treasure bags, jewelry, and nautical knots

And a FREE community Pancake Breakfast on July 19th 9:30-11:30am

TICKET INFORMATION

Single day tickets and three day passes to board the ships are available at the Ticket Atlantic Box Office and online at Ticket Atlantic.com, charge by phone (902) 451-1221, or visit one of 17 participating Atlantic Superstores outlets.

Tickets are to be redeemed on site from July 17th – 19th in exchange for bracelets.

PHOTO ID – People 16 years of age and up may be asked to show a government-issued picture ID.

METRO TRANSIT TALL SHIPS SERVICE

In order to ensure safe and easy access to the downtown core, during Tall Ships four (4) special shuttle routes will provide additional service on Saturday, July 18 and Sunday, July19 from the outskirts of HRM to colour-designated shuttle staging areas, within a 5-10 minute walking distance to the concert site and waterfront boardwalk. Once downtown there will be a free waterfront shuttle service. That will run every 10 minutes. Along the waterfront from Pier 23 to the Casino — Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday will from 9:00 am until 9:00 pm and Monday 10am until 4:00 pm Wednesday, July 15 to Sunday, July 19 — Beginning at 6 am, the Dartmouth & Halifax ferry service will provide 15 minute service until 12 midnight. The Halifax ferry will continue on a ½ hour frequency until 2 am.

Look for the Special GoTimes – Tall Ships edition for more information on all of Metro Transit’s services during the Tall Ships Festival, contact the HRM Call Centre at 490-4000 or visit  www.halifax.ca/metrotransit.

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For more information contact:

Corinne MacLellan 209 3234 – Tall Ships Nova Scotia

media@tallshipsnovascotia.com

Tall Ships Project Office – 405 7700 (Katie Hipson  Katie@wdcl.ca )

or

Kelly Rose

Waterfront Development Corporation Ltd.

902-422-5115 (ext. 111)

E-mail: kelly@wdcl.ca