Tall Ships Erie will be here in just over three weeks and community leaders and organizations are eager to welcome people to Erie's bayfront.

As Erie gets ready to welcome a fleet of ships and hundreds of tourists, VisitErie is pulling out all the stops to inform people everything they need to know to make it the best experience possible. The weekend will include the Parade of Sails, fireworks, touring the ships, and merchandise.


August is a busy month as the summer season winds down. In addition to tall ships, Celebrate Erie takes place the weekend before and hundreds of people will be coming to town for the Firefighters Challenge, the same weekend as Tall Ships Erie. According to John Oliver, the CEO and President of VisitErie "I think weather always plays a factor, but with the Tall Ships, the Firefighters Challenge, the ethnic festivals that we seem to have always are a good draw."

Tall Ships Erie is expected to draw crowds which is why VisitErie is trying to be proactive and answer any questions people may have about the event including everything about parking and directions with parts of the Bayfront under construction. According to Oliver, "The Bayfront parkway will remain open in both directions through labor day and then they will implement the closing of the parkway. Meetings we have had with PennDot, they are definitely planning and preparing for signage and any other ways for people coming into Erie will be able to find a way to facilities and attractions along the bayfront.".


Tall Ships Erie begins on August 21 and runs through the weekend.

VisitErie's guide on Tall Ships can be found here.

Erie News Now is a proud sponsor of Tall Ships Erie.