Tall Ships Festival in Galveston

The 2023 Tall Ships Galveston Festival will host tours of participating ships, numerous special events, sail-away excursions, music, food and fun in a family-friendly format, beginning on Thursday, April 13, with the Parade of Sail and moves to a full festival format from Friday, April 14 through Sunday April 16. Festival hours are 10am to 6pm daily, located on Harborside Dr.

Galveston Island serves as one of the three ports of the Tall Ships Challenge Gulf Coast 2023 Series, which features a fleet of ships traveling across the Gulf of Mexico as they visit other participating cities.

Tickets purchased before April 8 are $25 for adults, $15 for youth ages 7-12 and free for children 6 and under. Ticket prices increase by $5 beginning Saturday, April 8 and are available online at www.tallshipsgalveston. com or the day of at any festival entrance.

“Our Tall Ship exhibition is a rare opportunity to experience maritime history firsthand” states GHF Executive Director Dwayne Jones. “Walking aboard these beautiful vessels and seeing them sail on Galveston’s Gulf water is remarkable. It’s a must- see Galveston event.

While in port, the ships will be open to the public for viewing and sail away opportunities, and many will feature dockside exhibits and lively interactions with the crew. Each ship has its own educational program and mission, providing the public with a wide array of ways to participate and sail. Joining Galveston’s 1887 Elissa are the 1896 Ernestina- Morrissey, the Glenn L. Swetman, the Nao Trinidad, the Pride of the Baltimore II and When and if.

From Liberty, Beverly Davis will be the chairman of the information Booth on Friday, April 14th, and helping her are Roberta and Neal Thornton from Liberty, plus Ellen Whaley, Ginger Jones, Debra and Harold McCracken, all from Galveston.

The festival entertainment held on Thursday, April 13th will start at 12:30pm with ships mustering near East Beach, then beginning at 1pm traveling down to 35th and Seawall, turning around at 3pm and heading back down Seawall to set up for festival.

For more information on Tall Ships Galveston, Galveston Historical Foundation or ton purchase tickets, please visit www.galvestonhistory. org or call 409-765-7834 or will.wright@ galvestonhistory. org.