Tall Ships® Draw 59,000 to Green Bay

The final numbers are in and about 59,000 people made their way to downtown Green Bay to look at the 16 Tall Ships® that participated in the Baylake Bank Tall Ship Festival July 27-31.

"On behalf of the Baylake Bank Tall Ship Festival Committee, we are thrilled that 59,000 people visited downtown Green Bay to experience this magnificent event and view the Tall Ships," said Kari Sliva, President and CEO of the Packer Country Visitor and Convention Bureau. "Green Bay really shined and can be very proud to have successfully hosted visitors from coast to coast."

The attendance on the festival grounds for both day and evening events totaled 43,775 people. The overall attendance with non-wrist banded viewers along the Fox River and on the Ray Nitschke Bridge was 58,775.

Waves of positive comments from downtown businesses have been passed on to festival organizers.

"One downtown business told us the Baylake Bank Tall Ship Festival was like having four back-to-back 4th of July celebrations,” said Jeff Mirkes, Executive Director of Downtown Green Bay, Inc. "To have hosted an event of this caliber was an incredible opportunity for Green Bay."

"The ship crews and the American Sail Training Association (ASTA) absolutely loved the city and truly appreciated the warm hospitality and enthusiasm that the community showed. This brought incredible recognition to our waterfront and the Port of Green Bay," said Port Manager Dean Haen. "Our committee extends a huge thank you to each and every sponsor, partner and volunteer for making this event a success."

The Baylake Bank Tall Ship Festival was 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.”