2008 Festival of Sail San Francisco Set for July

With over one million people expected to attend, San Francisco Bay will welcome Tall Ships® from all over the world as they sail under the Golden Gate Bridge for the 2008 Festival of Sail San Francisco July 23-27. The awe-inspiring vessels will be docked along the waterfront, offering the unique opportunity for the public to tour, sail and learn.

In addition to the ships' arrival, the entire waterfront will be transformed into an international nautical attraction, celebrating maritime past, present and future, with an abundance of family activities, including cultural and musical entertainment, educational programs and events, as follows:

- Parade of Sail: On July 23, 15-20 vessels will participate in the Parade of Sail starting under the Golden Gate Bridge. Spectators will enjoy the magical procession of the Tall Ships® as they sail around the bay with their sails unfurled.

- Ship Boarding: Each ship has a unique story to tell and will be open daily for ship tours. Visitors are encouraged to allow plenty of time to tour several ships and interact with the crews.

- Cruises: A limited number of day and evening cruises will be available, including mock cannon battles and sunset sails.

Festival of Sail’s footprint goes from AT&T Park to Aquatic Park and is broken up into three Villages including Educational, International and Environmental themes, each featuring entertainment, food and beverage and a host of amusements.

Marine Educational Village

The beautiful setting at Aquatic Park and Hyde Street Pier provide the backdrop for this Village dedicated to all types of educational activities focused on families, youth, maritime history, the significance of the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park as a community asset and the integral role the Bay itself plays in our quality of life.

International Sail Village

Justin Herman Plaza and the Ferry Building will showcase the sounds and flavors of the many cultures that make San Francisco home. The Village will honor the diverse cultural fabric through an exploration of the oceanic voyages generations of immigrants experienced on their quest for a better life.

Environmental Village

Located at Port of San Francisco’s Pier 30/32, Festival of Sail will present pro-gramming around a multitude of environmental issues, including marine and Bay preservation, wind power and best practices for green business and living.

For more information on the festival, visit www.festivalofsail.org.