Tall Ships® Pensacola is set to take over Downtown Pensacola April 12 – 15. The event marks the first time Tall Ships America® will bring its TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE® Series and port festivals to the Gulf of Mexico. Below is necessary information to assist fans as they plan for the weekend’s event.
Ticket Information
Tall Ship fans will need to purchase tickets to enter the festival and to tour the ships. Tall Ships® Pensacola is a rain or shine event. All ticket sales are final, no refunds. Tall Ships® Pensacola tickets may be purchased at tallshipspensacola.com or in the Visitor Information Center, 1401 E Gregory St.
Additionally, tickets will be sold at the Tall Ships® Pensacola Box Office located on Gimble Street at the south entrance of the New World Conference Center, 600 S Palafox St. Box office hours are 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. on Sunday. A cash-only ticket booth will be located at the festival entrance gate on South Jefferson and East Pine streets.
Tall Ship fans are encouraged to purchase tickets before arriving to avoid waiting in line. Tall Ships® Pensacola tickets can be purchased online and at the Visitor Information Center at any time during the duration of the event. Children five and under are free of charge with adult ticket purchase.
Parade of Sails
To kick off the Tall Ships® Pensacola Festival, Visit Pensacola is pleased to invite Tall Ship fans to participate in the Tall Ships® Pensacola Parade of Sails boat parade by land and sea. Before the vessels dock, the ships will proceed from the Pensacola Pass to Plaza De Luna and Commendencia Slip at full sail.
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Parade of Sail Schedule
When: 3-5 p.m. Thursday, April 12, 2018
Where:Â Â Â Pensacola Pass to Plaza De Luna
Note:Â Â Parade times are subject to change with little to no notice. Follow Visit Pensacola on social media for parade updates.
Boaters are invited to watch the Parade of Sails procession. The Tall Ships will have a 300-foot safety zone that will be maintained by the United States Coast Guard. At no point are boaters allowed to boat within the safety zone or pass between the vessels.
Tall Ship fans wanting to view the parade by land will have many vantage points to do so. The official Tall Ships Pensacola Parade of Sails watch party will take place at Jaco’s Bayfront Bar & Grill. Public areas include Fort Pickens and the Gulf Islands National Seashore, Vince J. Whibbs Sr. Community Maritime Park, and any waterfront businesses along Pensacola Bay. The festival site will not be open for Parade of Sails viewing.
 Festival Location, Gates & Parking
The Tall Ships® Pensacola Festival will span from Plaza De Luna to Commendencia Slip. The parking lot at East Pine and S Palafox streets will have limited ADA parking available on a first come first serve basis. The lot will also serve as an ADA festival drop-off location. Real-time ridesharing and taxi drop-off is located at East Cedar and South Jefferson streets. Otherwise, parking will not be regulated by the festival. Click here for a Pensacola Parking Guide.
The festival will have two entry points. Plaza Du Luna located at the south end of Palafox Street, and the intersection of South Jefferson and East Pine streets.
Tall Ships® Pensacola Festival gates will open to all ticket holders at 10 a.m. Due to security reasons, all festival goers will be subject to search upon entry. All fans are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance to decrease gate wait time to enter the festival.
Tall Ship Tours
Due to the number of expected festival guests, Visit Pensacola would like to remind guests that ship tours operate on a first come first serve basis. For fans interested in minimizing ship tour wait times, Fast Passes can be purchased here. Ship tours will be from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
 Tall Ships® Pensacola Festival Information
The Tall Ships® Pensacola Festival boasts a schedule full of entertainment, vendors, food and beverages, and so much more. Beverage bars will be cash only. ATMs, table and seating will be placed throughout the festival site. Guests are not permitted to bring chairs into the festival grounds. For a complete festival schedule, click here.
 Tall Ships® Pensacola VIP Events
Visit Pensacola will host two VIP events for Tall Ships® Pensacola. Friday, April 13, 2018, celebrate Pensacola’s maritime history at Salute to Sunset. Enjoy samplings from local chefs, live music from the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra and Jamalle Richardson, and so much more. To learn more and to purchase tickets, click here.
Saturday, April 14, the Ship to Shore VIP Pairing Experience will feature culinary and beverage tastings from each ships origin curated by local chefs. The event will begin with a welcome reception in the VIP Hospitality Tent at Plaza de Luna from 6:30-7:30 p.m. with tasting to follow from 7:30- 9 p.m. aboard the Tall Ships. To learn more and to purchase tickets, click here.
Festival Updates
For up to the minute festival notifications, follow @VisitPensacola on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. For a chance to be featured, hashtag #TallShipsPcola. For more information on Tall Ships® Pensacola, visit www.tallshipspensacola.com.
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