In 2007, we produced a wonderful tall Ships Festival in Shelburne, in association with the Shelburne & Area Chamber of Commerce. Plans are underway for another grand event on the waterfront in July of 2009. You can get more details about the developing plans for the Festival here at any time.

Tall Ships news...

Tall Ships Festival feted as "Top Event in Canada" for 2009...

 the American Bus Association named the 2009 Nova Scotia Tall Ships Festival as their top pick in Canada for events in 2009, according to a release of the groups web site.
     The 10-day Festival begins in Halifax July 16-20 and the Historic Shelburne Tall Ships Festival is slated for July 22-25. Four to six tall ships are expected for the Shelburne Tall Ships Festival.
     Other Nova Scotia ports included in the 2009 Tall Ships Festival are: Sydney, Louisburg, Lunenburg and Yarmouth.

Province Invests $1 million in Tall Ships Festival...

The province of Nova Scotia is investing $1 million into the Tall Ships Nova Scotia Festival 2009. The event will be the largest Tall Ships gathering in North America in a decade. Between 50 to 70 ships from 30 countries and up to one million visitors are expected.


The Tall Ships Nova Scotia Festival 2007 generated $27.5 million in economic benefits for the province. The 2009 gathering is expected to generate an estimated $42 million in incremental economic spending.


"With support from the province, our sponsors and volunteers,
Tall Ships Nova Scotia Festival 2009 is set to be an extraordinary international event," said Waterfront Development Corporation Limited (WDCL) president Colin MacLean. "Recognition from groups like the American Bus Association will only raise the profile and attraction opportunities as we move forward."

Led by the WDCL, the festival takes place in Halifax Harbour from July 16 to 20 and in Outports of Lunenburg, Shelburne, Pictou, Port Hawkesbury, Louisbourg and Sydney from July 21 to July 25. 

The festival is part of an international race series that circles the North Atlantic Ocean and is organized by Sail Training International and American Sail Training Association. It will see some of the world's most majestic Class A Tall Ships including Canada's own Bluenose II, along with Captain Miranda (Uruguay), Europa (The Netherlands), and Mystic (United States) take centre stage in Halifax along with an array of Class B and C ships, each with their own story and experience.

A naval theme is especially significant in Halifax for 2009 marking the 250th anniversary of the founding of the Royal Navy dockyard in Halifax. Five-metre longboats, complete with animators and sailors, will row in formation. They will also transfer naval-significant items from the old world to the new recognizing those historic years. 

The festival will also kick off the 2010 Canadian Naval Centennial, celebrating 100 years of the Canadian Navy.

For more information, visit www.tallshipsnovascotia.com .

Stay tuned for more details!!