The Tall Ship Festival in Erie Pennsylvania is the celebration of all things nautical both present and past. This unique event allows visitors to explore and sail on some of the most distinctive and rare ships from around the world in their own backyard. Visitors are given the once in a life time opportunity to meet with the crews and owners of some of the most exquisite and historical ships and learn more not only about the history of the vessels but also about the intricate features that make this type of ship one of the most stunning and unique in the world.

To start with the basics, a tall ship is traditionally defined as a large rigged sailing vessel (think of the ships that you see in pirate movies and old historical films), though this type of ship can vary especially depending upon when and where it was built.Though not the most popular ships still being sailed today, many of them modern incarnations of these traditionally styled ships can be seen in models like topsail schooners, brigantines, briggs, and barques. Though I am not traditionally a boat person myself and in all truth have very limited experiences with nautical travel I was originally drawn to the chance of being able to sail on one of these amazing historic crafts and the opportunity to explore a Spanish style pirate ship that was being docked at the event.

One of the main draws of this festival is the diverse vessels that are showcased to the public. Each of these vessels (some recreations and other older generations of the original craft) have their own backstory and history which have made them a intrical part of the past. The curation of various tall ships from around the world allows visitors to take a walk back in time and experience the past in a whole new and inventive way. Guests are able to have the unique opportunity to explore these vessels, talk to the staff and professionals who work on these ships everyday, and can even take a trip out on Lake Erie on one of these unique vessels.

I was given the opportunity to experience one of these tall ships first hand on a morning journey on Lake Erie. At first I was a little bit hesitant, fearing that this would be a very dry or worse orchestrated voyage, where a stuffy captain would be talking way over my head or worse just say nothing while we sailed on a ship for an hour or so. I am delighted to say that I could have not been more wrong. When we walked up to our ship we were welcomed by our captain, a man who was wearing a kilt and was joking and laughing, I knew that this was definitely going to be a cool experience. Our experienced captain and crew were able to not only explain the history of the ship and series of ships that it came from, but also gave us a one on one education on the different components of the ship, how the ship sailed, and ultimately a basic lesson on sailing and their personal experiences through the last the last few decades that they have worked on the ship and ships like it. Even as a layman who has no experience with ships or sailing in general our guide was highly entertaining, charismatic, and made the whole experience not only highly enjoyable but also very memorable.

While landside one of the most unique experiences that I had at the tall ship Festival in 2022 was the exploration of the Nao Trinidad. This Spanish flagship mirrors the original ship used on the Magellan voyages hundreds of years ago. This highly trained staff of sailors who manage this craft are more than just simple sailors but instead are highly trained individuals who know all of the working of the ship and have a true passion for their makeshift home through their journeys. This educational vessel travels around the world educating the public on this historical ship, its different parts, their journeys, and the diverse roles that it has played throughout history. Though every year’s rotation of vessels vary there is always a large array of ships that offer not only a rich nautical history but also of those who have worked these ships in the past and the present.

Besides these stunning vessels and once in a lifetime experiences upon them there are a variety of other activities that that is can enjoy at the tall ship festival.For those who want to learn more about the maritime history of Erie, visitors can also stop by the Erie Maritime Museum which offers a variety of history on the different vessels, people and events that occurred on the Great lakes. There are also an array of food trucks and vendors, live music, and other surprises like the giant rubber duckies floating in lake Erie which allows this ever evolving and unique event to grow and expand yearly.

If you are looking for a truly unique experience and want to enjoy Lake Erie in a whole new unique way then you have to attend the Tall Ship Festival in Erie Pennsylvania. This annual event usually occurs at the end of August at the Erie Maritime Museum directly on the lake. This popular event does have limited parking, but if you are willing to take a short walk, there are multiple lots a few blocks up past Hamot hospital. Though there are many tickets available for the main event, if you are interested in taking a trip out on one of these stunning vessels you need to order your tickets early because they sell out quickly.