Festival Hospitality Parties Almost Sold Out
Early sales for Sailaways also very popular

Early interest in the Baylake Bank Tall Ship Festival from businesses and individuals has exceeded expectations and slots are filling up fast. The festival will be in downtown Green Bay July 27-31 and organizers are advising anyone interested in purchasing a hospitality party or sailaway not to wait.

The ships are available in the evenings for corporations, weddings and groups to charter a sailaway, or hold a deck side/dockside reception. Of the 31 evening hospitality functions and charters made available to companies during the festival, only three spots are left. One sunset charter for Sunday, July 30 at 9:00 p.m. aboard the Windy II remains available for up to 150 people. Windy II is 148 feet long, and based at Chicago’s Navy Pier. Friends Good Will, which is 101 feet long and from South Haven, Michigan, is available for a hospitality sailaway Sunday, July 30 at 7:30 p.m. and Monday, July 31 at 7:30 p.m.

Providence, the ship featured in the upcoming movie “Pirates of the Caribbean II: Dead Man’s Chest,” has only two sailaway tickets left out of 240 made available to the general public.

“We knew she’d be popular, with the movie scheduled to be released in July,” said Kari Sliva, President and CEO of the Packer Country Visitor and Convention Bureau (VCB) and member of the Baylake Bank Tall Ship Festival Executive Committee. “We have about 2,200 sailaway (90 minute excursions out to the Bay) tickets left for the general public. They could sell out in the next 30-days or so, as we begin our multi-state advertising and public relations campaign this month.”

The VCB received a $39,000 Joint Effort Marketing (JEM) Grant from the Wisconsin Department of Tourism to promote the event to outside markets. “In exchange, we also promote the state’s ‘Wisconsin—Life’s So Good’ slogan. It’s a fantastic marketing partnership that is a win-win for both the state and the festival,” according to Sliva.

Visitors who wish to buy an overnight Tall Ship hotel package may book their stay at www.tallshipgreenbay.com. Sailaway and general admission festival tickets can be purchased as part of these special overnight packages.

Anyone interested in purchasing a corporate hospitality event should call Kelly Schadrie at 920.405.1114. Sailaway tickets for the general public (festival admission included) can be purchased at all Oneida Casino Ticket Star locations, including the Resch Center box office, by phone at 494.3401 or toll free 800.895.0071, and online at www.tallshipgreenbay.com.

Green Bay is the first and only city in the state to host a Tall Ships® event of this size and scope. It is expected to draw 50,000 people from a five-state region, and more than 700 volunteers will be needed. Volunteer and festival information can also be found at www.tallshipgreenbay.com.

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, Wisconsin Public Service Corporation and Wis. Dept. of Tourism – “Life’s So Good.”