Whatever your age and whatever your individual taste, this summer’s Tall Ships has something for you!
The 2005 Tall Ships event is hotter than ever before, as well as the attraction of the Tall Ships themselves, there’s a spectacular four-day festival of free, shore-based entertainment, including live music and street entertainment until 10pm each night - not to mention a whole host of other activities including an international food market, inflatable sports arena and the BBC News and Sport’s interactive studio, to name but a few of the exciting activities happening every day throughout the festival.
Highlights of the week -
Sunday 24th July
The fleet will start to arrive and make their way up river to NewcastleGateshead.
A breathtaking photo opportunity as the famed River Tyne welcomes the return of the coveted Tall Ships' Races for an impressive third time.
Monday 25 July
Official event begins
Tuesday 26th July
Crew Parade – 5pm
The carnival atmosphere will be in full swing as over 3000 crew from more than 100 ships join together in a celebratory procession around the Quayside. Get ready to salute the sailors and cheer the crew who will be singing, dancing and dressed to impress.
Wednesday 27th July
Don't miss Cresting The Waves– 10.15pm
The evening before the Parade of Sail, the Tyne will be brought alive with a cutting-edge spectacular. Featuring choreographed intelligent lighting, projections and a powerful and evocative music score brought together with fireworks to create a truly world-class event.
Thursday 28th July
Parade of Sail – 8am onwards
On Thursday 28th from 8am up until lunchtime, there will be a medley of choral performances – a dawn chorus of bitter-sweet songs – all along the Quayside as Newcastle and Gateshead bid farewell and bon voyage to the ships as they head out of the port of the Tyne and embark upon the last leg of the Race to their final destination in the port of Fredrikstad in Norway.
The best place to see the ships in full sail will be North and South Tyneside, for more information on parade of sail vantage points please click here.
