Chicago Hot Blog

The Tall Ships will sail into Chicago again during the summer of 2010. The Tall Ships were one of the most popular Chicago Summer Events of the past several years, and now they are set to make their return.

On Tuesday, August 24th, 2010, the Tall Ships Parade will arrive in Chicago. 25 Tall Ships from around the world will dock along the north side of Navy Pier. The six-day extravaganza kicks off with cannon blasts and foreign national anthems against a waterfront backdrop.

Wednesday, August 25th – Sunday, August 29th, 2010 will feature the Tall Ships docked at Navy Pier and along the Chicago River. Events include international music, ship exhibits, crew challenges, arts and crafts, boat building, maritime displays, nightly fireworks, arts and crafts and much more. In addition to on-deck tours and hospitality, visitors will enjoy dockside historical and maritime lectures, nautical-themed dining and sing-alongs.

Ticket Prices for boarding the ships is said to be $20-$25 per person, to board as many ships as you wish. Check back to Chicago Hot Blog for updates as more details emerge. There will of course be plenty to do and see without purchasing a boarding pass.

Tall Ships Chicago

Tall Ship rigging may include square rigs and gaff rigs, with separate topmasts and topsails. It is generally more complex than modern rigging, which utilizes newer materials such as aluminum and steel to construct taller, lightweight masts with fewer, more versatile sails. Most smaller, modern vessels use Bermuda rig. Though it did not become popular elsewhere until the twentieth century, this rig was developed in Bermuda in the seventeenth century, and had historically been used on its small ships, the Bermuda sloops.