All aboard! Tall Ships sail into Erie: Get connected to all the action at GoErie

Are you ready for the Tall Ships festival? If you're looking for stories, videos and photos focused on the Tall Ships festival, you're in the right place.

We'll be on-scene with live coverage from Thursday's Parade of Sail throughout the weekend activities.

Check out the preview stories that our team has written, and be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and check back frequently at GoErie.com.

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It's the last day! What you can't miss on the fourth and final day of Tall Ships Erie 2022.

Tall Ships Erie 2022 concludes Sunday, giving festival attendees one last chance to check out the festival before the ships depart early in the week.

Click above to get a round-up of what to do before the event concludes at 6 p.m.

Catch up on what you missed from Saturday with Baylee DeMuth's live coverage, found below.

It's the weekend! What you need to know for Day 3 of Tall Ships Erie 2022

Tall Ships Erie 2022 is open for perhaps its biggest day Saturday, as weekend crowds gear up for day sails and deck tours, or just the assortment of bayfront attractions.

The grounds, at the foot of State Street, at the Erie Maritime Museum and Bayfront Convention Center are open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Click above to get all the info you need.

Tall Ships Erie 2022: Life aboard a tall ship — hard work, little sleep and a stuffed toy octopus

Being a seafarer is not for the faint of heart: It takes guts, stamina and a good deal of physical and mental strength.

But for Matt Gibas, captain of the Appledore IV, a Michigan-based schooner now at Tall Ships Erie 2022, luck also plays a role. And for him and his five-person crew, that luck comes in the form of a stuffed toy octopus.

"It's Fweej the Overseer," Gibas said.

Tall Ships Erie 2022: Festival to offer variety of attractions on land, too

Rest assured, landlubbers! Not every attraction at Tall Ships Erie 2022 will be floating on the water.

The festival grounds, which will open Friday to Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., will offer lots of entertainment — and educational opportunities — to those away from the docks.

"It's kind of like 'Choose Your Own Adventure,' " said William Sabatini, executive director and fleet captain of the Flagship Niagara League. "We have so many different options, so it really depends on what you want to do first."

To that end, here are some ideas.

By land, or sea:Tall Ships Erie 2022: Festival to offer variety of attractions on land, too

The festival begins! What you need to know for Day 2 of Tall Ships Erie 2022

Let the festivities begin.

With the tall ships now docked in Presque Isle Bay, the festival grounds of Tall Ships Erie 2022 are set to open Friday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., at the foot of State Street, at the Erie Maritime Museum and Bayfront Convention Center.

Visitors can enjoy deck tours of the tall ships — or day sails if they reserved a space, all day sails are sold out — or enjoy the variety of attractions at the Erie bayfront.

Tall Ships Day 2:The festival begins! What you need to know for Day 2 of Tall Ships Erie 2022

It's finally here! What you need to know for Day 1 of Tall Ships Erie 2022

Ready to see some tall ships?

Starting at 4 p.m. Thursday, seven tall ships — led by Erie's own U.S. Brig Niagara — will kick off the four-day Tall Ships Erie 2022 maritime festival with the Parade of Sail.

The vessels will travel in formation along Lake Erie, through the lake channel and into Presque Isle Bay before docking along the festival grounds, which include the foot of State Street, the Erie Maritime Museum and Bayfront Convention Center.

The Parade of Sail will be approximately two hours.

Tall Ships arriveIt's finally here! What you need to know for Day 1 of Tall Ships Erie 2022

Tall Ships Erie 2022: Track the fleet as they head to Presque Isle Bay

Seven tall ships from around the Great Lakes — and in one case, from across the Atlantic Ocean — will make their way to Presque Isle Bay this week as part of the Tall Ships Erie 2022 festival.

The vessels, which will include local favorites like the Lettie G. Howard, and an international vessel, the Nao Trinidad from Spain, will formally enter the bay during the festival's Parade of Sail on Thursday at 4 p.m.

Erie will be the final stop for the tall ships as part of the 2022 Tall Ships Challenge, an event organized every three years by Tall Ships America, a nonprofit dedicated to tall ships and sail training. Previous stops were Brockville, Ontario; Cleveland, Ohio; Midland, Ontario; and Two Harbors, Minnesota.

So where are the tall ships now? Track them here.

Follow along:Tall Ships Erie 2022: Track the fleet as they head to Presque Isle Bay

Tall Ships Erie 2022: What you need to know about the festival along the lake

Tall Ships Erie returns Aug. 25-28 with seven sailing ships and the World's Largest Rubber Duck scheduled to appear in Presque Isle Bay.

It's the first time the festival has been held since 2019, but the delay was not due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is scheduled every three years.

If you plan on going, here is the information you need to know to enjoy the family-friendly event.

Tall Ships Erie 2022:What you need to know about the festival along the lake

Food, music, polkas and pirates: 5 (more) things to do during Tall Ships Erie weekend

Coming downtown for Tall Ships Erie?

There's a lot more to do in the city ― on land and on water ― during the Aug. 25-28 event.

Here are suggestions for other downtown events that weekend. For even more events in and around Erie, check out GoErie.com, VisitErie.com and ErieDowntown.com.

Tall Ships happenings:Food, music, polkas and pirates: 5 (more) things to do during Tall Ships Erie weekend

🔒 Want to tour the U.S. Brig Niagara at Tall Ships Erie? Here's what you'd see

For William Sabatini, the chance to board one of the most historically authentic tall ships in the United States is a unique experience.

"We’re showing them something that’s incredibly new and different," Sabatini, executive director and fleet captain of the Flagship Niagara League, said. "I love watching people’s eyes light up and think, 'Wow, if this is possible, what else is possible?'"

At the Tall Ships Erie 2022 Festival, visitors have the opportunity to take deck tours on the various vessels docked at the foot of State Street, at the Erie Maritime Museum and Bayfront Convention Center, including the U.S. Brig Niagara.

"You get a sense that this is a living, breathing thing," Sabatini said. "This is a real ship that’s actually sailing."

A sea tour:Want to tour the U.S. Brig Niagara at Tall Ships Erie? Here's what you'd see

Tall Ships Erie 2022: Explore the tall ships coming to this year's festival

Seven majestic tall ships, led by Erie's own U.S. Brig Niagara, will participate in Tall Ships Erie 2022.

The ships, which will include local favorites like the Lettie G. Howard, as well as international vessels like the Nao Trinidad from Spain, will make their way into Presque Isle during the festival's Parade of Sail on Aug 25 at 4 p.m.

"Any place on Presque Isle Bay where you can see the bay is a good place to watch the Parade of Sail," said William Sabatini, executive director and fleet captain of the Flagship Niagara League.

Tall Ships Erie 2022: Explore the tall ships coming to this year's festival

World's Largest Rubber Duck returning to Tall Ships Erie for 2022 festival

Mama Duck is returning to Erie’s waterfront, and her baby duckling is coming to town as well.

The 60-foot-high attraction, billed as “The World’s Largest Rubber Duck,” and her inflatable baby duck will be featured at the Tall Ships Erie 2022 festival, which begins Aug. 25 and runs through Aug. 28.

Mama and Baby Duck, originally from Duluth, Minn., will be on display in the harbor area located directly behind the Erie Maritime Museum, according to event organizers.

Floating through the Erie:World's Largest Rubber Duck returning to Tall Ships Erie for 2022 festival

🔒 What is the financial impact of the Tall Ships Erie festival on local businesses?

Have you dreamed of watching the Tall Ships Erie Parade of Sail on Aug. 25 from your window at the Sheraton Erie Bayfront Hotel?

Forgot about it.

There was no room at the inn when we checked availability a full month before the opening date of Tall Ships Erie.

Same goes for Hampton Inn & Suites Erie Bayfront, and rooms were going fast at the Courtyard by Marriott Erie Bayfront.

Tall Ships Erie:What is the financial impact of the festival on local businesses?

Tall Ships Erie 2022 visitors have a boatload of new and improved restaurant choices

In 2019, the last year the Tall Ships visited Erie, the bayfront had four restaurants, not counting the snack shop at the Bicentennial Tower: Smuggler's Wharf, Rum Runners, Shoreline Bar & Grille (part of Courtyard by Marriott Erie Bayfront) and the Sloppy Duck.

Visitors to the 2022 Tall Ships festival will find much more on the menu, with the addition of four new restaurants overlooking the water. Meanwhile, existing restaurateurs have spruced up and added more outdoor seating in response to the demands of the COVID pandemic.

Where to dine:Tall Ships Erie 2022 visitors have a boatload of new and improved restaurant choices

How to beat the long lines at the Tall Ships Erie 2022 festival

Tens of thousands of people are expected to flood Dobbins Landing and other areas along Erie's bayfront for the Tall Ships Erie 2022 festival Aug. 25-28, which could make finding a parking spot or getting an up-close view of the seven participating ships from around the world a time-consuming affair.

Here are a few ways to beat the crowds.

Avoid the crowds:How to beat the long lines at the Tall Ships Erie 2022 festival

The Tall Ships Erie Parade of Sail: Where are the best spots to watch?

There are plenty of great waterfront vantage points where the public can catch a glimpse of the vessels taking part in Tall Ships Erie’s Parade of Sail.

The Parade of Sail will kick off Tall Ships Erie 2022 at 4 p.m. on Aug. 25. VisitErie, the region’s tourism promotion agency, has suggested a number of locations along Lake Erie and Presque Isle bay where the public can view the procession of vessels.

Perfect viewsThe Tall Ships Erie Parade of Sail: Where are the best spots to watch?

Tall Ships Erie 2022 festival to feature returning ships, Bayfront attractions for families

Get your sea legs ready: the tall ships are coming back.

On Aug. 25-28, the Tall Ships Erie 2022 festival will showcase Erie's maritime heritage, with opportunities to sail and tour majestic tall ships from around the world and enjoy family-friendly attractions at Erie's waterfront.

The festival opens with the Parade of Sail, in which visitors can witness the tall ships enter Presque Isle, on Aug. 25 at 4 p.m.

The festival grounds will be open Aug. 26-28, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., at the foot of State Street, at the Erie Maritime Museum and Bayfront Convention Center.

This year's festival:Tall Ships Erie 2022 festival to feature returning ships, Bayfront attractions for families

Erie Maritime Museum exhibits include African-American participation in Battle of Lake Erie

When Oliver Hazard Perry's squadron left Erie in the summer of 1813, an estimated 12% to 15% of the men aboard his ships were African-American sailors.

"These are free men of color," said Linda Bolla, curatorial assistant at the Erie Maritime Museum.

An exhibit that opened earlier this year at the museum on Erie's bayfront features a fife made of walnut and brass that was believed to have been played by Cyrus Tiffany on Perry's original flagship, the U.S. Brig Lawrence. Tiffany is among the African-American mariners featured in the museum.

Since opening in 1998, the Maritime Museum has tried to recognize the diverse demographics among Perry's crew, Bolla said. That hasn't always been easy, she said, as the U.S. Navy in the early 1800s didn't record the race of seamen.

Attraction by the lake:Erie Maritime Museum exhibits include African-American participation in Battle of Lake Erie

2019 editorial: Tall Ships Erie sets sail again on the bayfront

Erie teems with public events every summer. But the arrival of Tall Ships Erie every three years takes things to another level.

This is one of those summers. And Tall Ships Erie 2019 kicks off this evening with the always-stirring Parade of Sail from 4 to 6 p.m., with fireworks at 9 p.m. The festival continues through Sunday.

Erie's waterfront and maritime history are integral to the city's character and allure. But there's nothing like the presence of an assortment of tall ships to evoke a bygone era that lives on in their majesty and grace.

Tall Ships Erie is the largest of 11 Tall Ships America festivals this summer. Flagship Niagara League Executive Director Billy Sabatini and his team have taken the lead on the local preparations, which are an enormous undertaking.

More on Tall Ships:Tall Ships showcases Niagara's crew lineage

2019 column: Tall Ships showcases Niagara's crew lineage

A deepening lineage of former U.S. Brig Niagara crew members continues to leave its mark in the tall ships community.

Multiple captains either participating in or who will have their vessels attending the Tall Ships Erie festival this coming week spent part of their careers as crew members on Erie's iconic flagship.

"I suspect our reputation is pretty good because people pretty readily get hired elsewhere if they have been here," Niagara Senior Capt. Walter Rybka said. "We've had a big crew for so many years, and we generally try to keep people for two or three seasons. After somebody has had three or four years here, they say, 'I've learned a lot but I have to go someplace else to keep learning.' That's great. Send them away and let them go. They'll grow and maybe come back as a captain or chief mate some day."

Tall Ships return:Tall Ships showcases Niagara's crew lineage

Tall Ships Erie: Festival generated $8 million in 2016

Appearances by the Spanish vessel El Galeon and "The World's Largest Rubber Duck'' helped Tall Ships Erie festival organizers set an attendance record this month.

The event, which featured nine tall ships spread among three downtown Erie bayfront locations Sept. 8-11, attracted an estimated 90,000 festivalgoers, Flagship Niagara League Executive Director Shawn Waskiewicz said.

Waskiewicz said the festival raised $320,000 for the Flagship Niagara League, exceeding the organization's $250,000 goal, and produced an $8 million impact on Erie's economy.

"The $320,000 is about 30 percent more than what we expected and had budgeted,'' Waskiewicz said. "We're really thankful that we hit our numbers, and this is obviously the biggest fundraiser for the Flagship Niagara League, but we're really proud to be part of the city of Erie and to be able to give back and help so many other local businesses, and to be able to do this again in three years

More:Tall Ships Erie: Festival generated $8 million

At look back at 2016: Tall ship's crew includes seafaring feline

Fiji the cat is one feline who definitely isn't afraid of water.

The 6-year-old female has lived aboard the tall ship Picton Castle, a three-masted, steel-hulled barque homeported in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, since 2013.

On a circumnavigation sail of the globe that year, Picton Castle crew members adopted the then-malnourished 6-week-old kitten from an animal shelter in Suva, Fiji.

Since joining the crew, the cat has made two voyages around the world on the Picton Castle, which is visiting Erie this weekend as part of the Tall Ships Erie festival.

The cat is white with gray and orange spots.

A look back at 2016:Tall ship's crew includes seafaring feline

Back in 2016: World's Largest Rubber Duck bound for Tall Ships Erie

At least 10 tall ships, and as many as 12, will attend the Tall Ships Erie festival Sept. 8-11, Flagship Niagara League officials announced Thursday.

The four-day event will also feature an appearance by "The World's Largest Rubber Duck,'' an inflatable, floating yellow duck that is more than six stories high, 64 feet wide, 74 feet long and weighs 11 tons.

"The duck is based in Duluth, Minnesota, and the guy who owns its runs the Tall Ships Festival in Duluth, and he is a friend of mine,'' Flagship Niagara League Executive Director Shawn Waskiewicz said. "The duck is going to be appearing in Duluth, Chicago and Green Bay, and we're the fourth port festival that has contracted with the duck.''

Waskiewicz said the duck will be tied up near the Bayfront Convention Center, where four tall ships are scheduled to dock.

Back in 2016:World's Largest Rubber Duck bound for Tall Ships Erie

Explore the vessels of the 2016 Tall Ships Erie festival

Ready to sail into your weekend? Are your plans looking ship shape? A boatload of fun awaits at the Tall Ships Erie festival, which gets underway Thursday and continues through Sunday.

Nine majestic tall ships, led by Erie's own U.S. Brig Niagara, will launch the festival Thursday with a 4 p.m. Parade of Sail from Lake Erie into Presque Isle Bay.

The festival flotilla includes brigantines, schooners and the first Erie appearance of El Galeon, a reproduction of a 16th century Spanish galleon, making its first voyage across the Great Lakes this summer.

Set sail:Explore the vessels of Tall Ships Erie

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Explore everything Tall Ships Erie throughout the 2022 festival