Tall Ships at the Ocean Institute

Toshiba Tall Ships Festival

September 12-13, 2009 (Sunset parade September 11)

Members-Only registration for these popular sails and cruises begins June 22nd. Secure your space early!

The Ocean Institute is celebrating its 25th year hosting the Toshiba Tall Ships Festival, the largest annual gathering of tall ships on the West Coast.

The festival will feature a spectacular array of family-fun activities including live music, art & craft shows, exciting living-history demonstrations and a variety of tasty food. Enjoy maritime displays and presentations, Polynesian dancers, sea-chantey concerts, an interactive pirate encampment and dramatic sunset cannon battles.

Additionally, you can explore the historic tall ships and listen to the crew share tales of adventure and life at sea. Last but not least, we invite you to explore the Ocean Institute and explore our local ocean life, participate in live parrot shows, play pirate games and join in on special interactive presentations. So, join us for a weekend of fun and adventure as we celebrate the areas rich maritime history.

The sails appear off the Dana Point Headlands at as the fleet gathers in preparation for entering the harbor. From shore watch the crews of the Tall Ships furl the sails and make preparations for entry to the harbor around sunset. All while defending themselves from the cannon blasts of renegade vessels.