San Francisco Festival of Sail
July 24
Kicking off in late June, the Tall Ships Challenge is a 10-week series of seagoing races for traditionally rigged sailing vessels, starting in Victoria, British Columbia, and running down the Pacific Coast, punctuated by stops at major harbors along the way.
San Francisco's waterfront welcomes the racing fleet of schooners, sloops, brigantines, and other vessels with a week-long Festival of Sail on July 23-27. Free and open to the public, the festival celebrates maritime history and culture with exhibits, entertainment, music, crafts, food, and nautical-themed activities. Come see famous tall ships such as The Californian, the official tall ship of California, and the HMS Bounty, star of the classic film "Mutiny on the Bounty" as well as the more recent "Pirates of the Caribbean."
The festival kicks off on July 23 with the Parade of Sail, when the tall ships sail at full mast from the Golden Gate Bridge and along the waterfront. Find a spot to watch the majestic display at Crissy Field, the Marina Green, Fort Mason, Pier 39, or any of the three festival areas.
The festival is spread across San Francisco's waterfront and divided into three "Villages," each with unique themes and activities, as well as 5-7 tall ships and other vessels offering daily boarding and ship tours. Admission to each Village is free, though additional tickets are required to board the ships (see sidebar).
The Marine Educational Village, located at the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park near Fisherman's Wharf, offers educational activities for youth and families, including a boat-building competition, docent-led dockside tours, sea chantey sing-a-longs, sail and rowboat rides for ticket holders, and an open-water swim race on July 26.
The International Village, at Justin Herman Plaza and the Ferry Building, honors the Bay Area's rich immigrant past with music, food, and exhibits from the Chinese Historical Society of America, the German Consulate General, the Goethe Institute, and other cultural organizations. For the little ones, San Francisco's Velocity Circus presents the Pirate Academy, a theatrical, interactive experience where children learn the ins and outs of being a pirate.
At Piers 30-32, the Green Village exhibit area showcases eco-friendly organizations, products, services, and ideas to help visitors make earth-conscious choices in their daily lives. Learn about environmental issues affecting both land and sea today, and what you can do to help turn the tide.
If you miss the festivities in San Francisco, you can still catch the ships at other stops along the Pacific Coast: Victoria, British Columbia (June 26-30), Tacoma, Washington (July 2-8), Port Alberni, British Columbia (July 10-12), the Channel Islands (August 7-10), Los Angeles (August 13-17), San Diego (August 20-24), and Dana Point (September 6-7).