THE TALL SHIPS ARE COMING!®
July 4 – 7, 2019
As a new host port of the TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE® Great Lakes 2019 race series, the City of Buffalo is honored to welcome a majestic fleet of historic tall ships from harbors throughout the United States, Canada and Europe. Port of Call…Buffalo! is a marquee event to celebrate our city’s maritime heritage, offering a unique opportunity for adults and children alike to view, board and explore these extraordinary “square rigger” vessels along Buffalo’s revitalized Erie Canal Harbor and Canalside district. The weekend festivities will feature an exciting array of family activities, entertainment, historic exhibits, artisan foods and beverages, music, fireworks, and Buffalo’s first ever Parade of Sail for a Tall Ship fleet! Port of Call...Buffalo! is free and open to the public, with paid “passport” ticketing for tall ship boarding and visitation. The spectacular vision of a tall ship under sail evokes a romantic era of adventure and national maritime heritage. There are currently over 500 active tall ships around the world, including the giant 131-foot-plus “Class A” square-rigged vessels, with barque, barquentine, brig or brigantine sail plans. “Class B” ships are traditionally-rigged vessels with waterlines less than 131 feet. is expecting five “Class A” and “Class B” vessels in 2019, the most tall ships to simultaneously grace Buffalo’s waterfront in the modern era. TALL SHIPS AMERICA®, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1973, is focused on youth education, leadership development and the preservation of the maritime heritage of North America. The TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE® is an annual series of tall ships races and maritime port festivals on the Great Lakes and the Atlantic and Pacific coasts that informs the general public about tall ships, our maritime heritage and the incredible power of sail training to change lives. The TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE® Series promotes awareness of America’s diverse maritime heritage, fosters goodwill between maritime nations, stimulates tourism and provides significant economic impact. Port of Call: Buffalo! is presented in cooperation with Buffalo Lighthouse Association, Buffalo Maritime Center, Canalside Buffalo, Spirit of Buffalo, Visit Buffalo Niagara, BR Guest and the City of Buffalo. For more information visit www.tallshipsamerica.org
