Tickets go on sale for Tall Ship Festival

Green Bay (May 5, 2006) – Tickets for the Baylake Bank Tall Ship Festival, July 27-31, in downtown Green Bay, go on sale Saturday, May 6 at 10 a.m. Tickets are available at all Oneida Casino Ticket Star outlets including the Resch Center box office, by phone at 494.3401 or toll free 800.895.0071 and online at www.ticketstaronline.com.

General festival tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children ages 3-11, free for children 2 and under. A 2-day adult pass is $18 (limited time offer). With a general festival ticket, visitors can enjoy ship tours, free entertainment, have access to food and beverages and shopping for one-of-a-kind maritime items from festival exhibitors. (July 28-31)

Parade of Sail tickets are $5. The Parade of Sail ticket allows entrance to Leicht Memorial Park (AT & T Village) – the best vantage point to watch the magnificent and graceful fleet of ships arrive and dock in downtown Green Bay on Thursday, July 27, starting at 4 p.m. The parade of ships is followed by the opening ceremony and entertainment at Leicht Memorial Park. Green Bay Bishop David A. Zubik will bless the fleet and kick off the festival with Green Bay Mayor Jim Schmitt and many other public officials. There will be no ship boarding/access during this event.

Parade of Sail Sailaway tickets are $55 and give you a once in a lifetime opportunity to be aboard and sail on one of the Tall Shipsâ during the Parade of Sail to kick off the festival (July 27 only). Bring your cameras because this spectacular, 2-3 hour afternoon event offers the best photo opportunities as all the ships jockey for position in the bay to prepare to enter the Fox River. It’s your only chance to see all of the ships under sail in the bay. You can also be part of the crew if you want! (children under 5 not permitted)

Sailaway tickets are $30 for adults, $15 for children ages 5-11 (children under the age of 5 are not permitted on sailaways) and include festival admission as well as a unique 90 minute cruise on a tall ship from the Fox River out to the Bay. It’s an opportunity to get up close to the captain and crew of these historic vessels and learn the story of the particular tall ship you’re on.

While 2006 is the fifth year that Tall Shipsâ have graced the riverfront in Green Bay, this is the first time for an event of this magnitude with an entire fleet of at least 14 ships. The festival will stretch along the waterfront, concentrated in three areas on the west and east banks of the Fox River. These “Villages” include the Wisconsin Public Service Corporation headquarters (WPS Village), Admiral Flatley Park boardwalk and Leicht Memorial Park (AT & T Village).

The festival is expected to draw 50,000 people from a five-state region, and an estimated 700 volunteers will be needed. Volunteer and festival information can be found at www.tallshipgreenbay.com.

The ships, listed largest to smallest (sparred length), are U.S. Brig Niagara, Barque Picton Castle, Pride of Baltimore II, Highlander Sea, Windy II, Unicorn, Providence, Friends Good Will, Madeline, Nina, Appledore IV, Pathfinder, Royaliste and St. Paul.

The Baylake Bank Tall Ship Festival is a cooperative effort of Downtown Green Bay, Inc., Packer Country Visitor and Convention Bureau, Port of Green Bay and City of Green Bay. Special thanks to major event supporters Baylake Bank, AT&T and Wisconsin Public Service Corporation.