Tall Ships® Tacoma Opens With Excited Crowds
July 04, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Media Center (253) 272-5647
media@tallshipstacoma.com
www.tallshipstacoma.com
TACOMA, July 4, 2008 – Excited crowds were on hand today for the formal start of the Tall Ships® Tacoma Festival. More events are planned tomorrow including a wedding; a Camp Patriot visit; and a summer reading program kickoff aboard the USCG Eagle.
“Many people are excited about the chance to board the vessels,” said Matthew Erlich, event spokesman. “We look forward to having as many people as possible board ships and take part in sail adventures.”
While the sail adventures are nearly sold out, boarding passes are still available by going online to www.tallshipstacoma.com.
An estimated 1,200 volunteers were on hand to support the festival on the Fourth of July. Other activities that took place included the American Veterans’ (AMVETS) post in Tacoma hosting crews to a holiday barbecue.
Attendance seems to be increasing, Erlich noted. The line for Premium Boarding Passes, used to get aboard the Bounty, Niña and other vessels, closed an hour early today. The Foss Waterway Seaport Museum reported that since the start of the festival there have been 14,000 visitors – more than came than during the 2005 event.
Erlich urged people coming to the festival come early. Paid parking is available at the Tacoma Dome, the official parking lot for the festival, with free shuttle service to the event.
While there were no serious incidents on the Fourth of July, one vessel, the North Star of Herschel Island, will likely cancel its Tacoma visit. Propeller problems have kept the vessel in Victoria, British Columbia, Erlich said, making it unlikely it will be able to make the visit to Tacoma.
Events taking place July 5 include:
A wedding. Candice Ramos and James Tuttle will wed aboard the Royal Argosy cruise ship. Boarding takes place at 11 a.m. at the Excursion Dock, located in the Trade Winds Village. Media should contact (206) 396-0262 for more information.
Camp Patriot visit. Camp Patriot, a nonprofit organization providing outdoor recreational experiences for disabled veterans, will sponsor a “Quest for the Summit” on Mount Rainier. There will be a kick-off party aboard the USCG Eagle starting at 6 p.m. Media will have an opportunity to talk with the climbers at approximately 8 p.m. The group’s ascent of the mountain will begin July 7.
Summer Reading. The USCG Eagle will welcome children aboard as part of a First Book event, the “Summer Reading Handshake Tour.” The event will take place at 9 a.m. July 5 and include children shaking hands with “Coasties,” that will help generate a brand new book for a child in need. More information about the event is available online at www.firstbook.org.
Canoe builder. Tairi Rangi, a Maori, is making an 18-foot sailing canoe out of cedar at the Foss Waterway Seaport Museum. He is planning to complete the boat by the end of the festival Monday. The project is a kickoff for a 2011 museum exhibit to display canoes from across the Pacific Rim, according to Tom Cashman, museum executive director.
State Farm Presents Tall Ships® Tacoma 2008 runs through July 7 on the Foss Waterway. Tickets and information is available at www.tallshipstacoma.com.