Be in the Know
What is Tall Ships® Tacoma?
Where and when is the festival?
What are the hours the festival is open?
When are the ships available for tours?
Is the festival free?
How big is the festival? Do I have to walk everywhere?
Will food be available? Can I bring my own?
Will there be a beer garden?
Are there bathrooms available?
What should I wear? What should I bring?
Are animals allowed at the festival?
Is the event accessible to all people?
What is Tall Ships® Tacoma?
The Tall Ships® Tacoma 2008 Festival is a free international sailing event and festival that is part of the American Sail Training Association’s Tall Ships CHALLENGE®. More than 32 sailing vessels will visit Tacoma during the festival and will be available for tours and sailing adventures. On land, three themed villages will be available for guests to enjoy entertainment, food, beer gardens, arts-and-crafts, hands-on activities, children’s activities, and the sights and sounds of being on board a sailing vessel.
Where and when is the festival?
The festival will be held along Tacoma’s Foss Waterway from July 3-7, 2008. The festival grounds extend from Thea’s Park south along Dock Street to the 21st Street Bridge.
What are the hours the festival is open?
The festival is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day except July 3 when the festival opens at noon and on July 7 when it closes at 6 p.m.
- July 3 Noon – 8 p.m. (ships not open for tours)
- July 4 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. (ships close at 6 p.m.)
- July 5 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. (ships close at 6 p.m.)
- July 6 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. (ships close at 6 p.m.)
- July 7 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
When are the ships available for tours?
The ships are only available for boarding from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on July 4 - 7.
Lines for boarding close each day at 5 p.m.
Is the festival free?
The festival is free but you will need to purchase a ticket to board a vessel or take a sailing adventure.
How big is the festival? Do I have to walk everywhere?
The festival grounds are about one-and-a-half miles along Dock Street. Pedestrians can enjoy a leisurely walk along the waterway from one village to the next and frequent shuttles will be available along Dock Street.
Shuttles will run in one direction from the south end of Dock Street to the north.
Will food be available? Can I bring my own?
Plenty of food and drink will be available for all tastes. Visitors may also bring their own food into the festival if desired. Please note that no food or beverages are allowed on the ships unless purchased as part of a sailing adventure.
Will there be a beer garden?
Three beer gardens will be open until 8 p.m. every day. Only adults 21 and older will be allowed into the beer gardens.
Are there bathrooms available?
Yes, there will be portable facilities, including ADA-accessible facilities, available throughout the festival.
What should I wear? What should I bring?
We recommend dressing for a day in the Northwest. You’ll want to wear comfortable shoes, bring sunscreen, a hat to shield you from the sun, and a rain coat (just in case). If you plan on touring a ship or going on a sailing adventure you must wear proper footwear such as rubber-soled shoes; spike heels are not allowed on vessels.
Are animals allowed at the festival?
Only service animals are allowed at the festival.
Is the event accessible to all people?
Yes, the festival is accessible to everyone and is ADA-compliant.
Most of the vessels are historic sailing ships and present some challenges for people with limited mobility. While vessels are not wheelchair-accessible, there will be designated ADA viewing areas within the festival.
Virtual tours of a number of the ships will be available as well. Many of the on-shore activities and educational exhibits will be accessible to people with disabilities.