On July 24-30, Visit Duluth will be raising the bar even higher with its biggest tall ships event ever.
Duluth's official convention and visitor's bureau is in the final stages of contract negotiations with 11 different historic vessels as part of Tall Ships Duluth 2013, Visit Duluth President/CEO Terry Mattson said today.
A year of planning and negotiations have already gone into the iconic event.
"We are working with only a handful of other port communities across the Great Lakes along with Tall Ships America and Draw Events for a one-of-a-kind experience," said Mattson.
There will be a Parade of Sail as part of the festival and ships will dock along the waterfront, Bayfront Festival Park and Harbor Drive. With onboard tours, rides and expanded hours for dockside tours, it's a full week of majestic ships from a far off time and place.
In 2010, Visit Duluth brought in nine ships while attracting 250,000 people from 42 states and three provinces to Duluth's gorgeous waterfront.
"The wave of the most successful event in our region's history resonates today," Mattson said. "We encourage everyone to come on board with the celebration — the grandest ever as the farthest inland and only Lake Superior port featuring the Tall Ships Challenge. It's a voyage into an epic past with ships from around the world. Other activities include reenactments, maritime themed vendors, foods, crafts, artisans, educational programs and a variety of entertainment including musicians and bands."
The tall ships are a major event for Duluth, Minnesota Lt. Gov. Yvonne Prettner Solon said.
