Tall Ship and Great Schooner Parade

The sails appear off the Dana Point Headlands at as the fleet gathers in preparation for entering the harbor. From shore watch the crews of the Tall Ships furl the sails and make preparations for entry to the harbor around sunset. All while defending themselves from the cannon blasts of renegade vessels.

Certainly the highlight of the festival, sailors and participating Tall Ships and Great Schooners will include the Pilgrim, Spirit of Dana Point, Exy Johnson, Irving Johnson, Californian, American Pride, Curlew, and Lynx.

Tall Ship Cannon Battles!

At sunset sail aboard the tall ship of your choice and experience first hand the thrill of a cannon battle at sea. This is an amazing opportunity and space on the vessels will fill fast.

Sea Chantey Concerts

A stage with two full days of sea faring's best music. Sea chanteys, forebitters, ballads and more featuring nationally acclaimed musicians and storytellers.

Annual Richard Henry Dana Charity Regatta

This premier event, sponsored by the Dana Point Yacht Club, will benefit the Ocean Institute. The regatta includes: a Marine Corps Twilight Fishing Tournament; a Sponsor’s and VIP reception/ dinner held at the Ocean Institute; racing for PHRF, non-spinnaker, and junior sabot classes; and a gala dinner and auction at the Dana Point Yacht Club. All events are open to the public. For more info. and pricing, please visit www.dpyc.org.

Aboard the Tall Ship Pilgrim!

Pirate Adventure Pass required
Venture aboard the tall ship Pilgrim for a swashbuckling experience! Enjoy a variety of interactive demonstrations, sail raising, and ship handling while you experience this famous Dana Point icon.

Pirate’s Dinner Adventure

Back this year by popular demand, Pirate’s Dinner Adventure from Buena Park will grace the decks of the Pilgrim to showcase a portion of their dinner show. They will be passing out coupons at this year's Festival to attend their show in Buena Park. Be sure to stop by their booth to get your voucher! If you are looking for an adventurous time, the Pilgrim should be your first stop! Pirate's Dinner Adventure puts you and your family right in the middle of all of the action and shows are sure to delight audiences of all ages. Guests are entertained with an astonishing display of special aerial artistry, swashbuckling swordplay, dynamic duels and daring-do; a classic story of good vs. evil that offers the perfect blend of action, adventure, comedy and romance.

Naval Historical Education Foundation

During the late 1700s and early 1800s, the British Royal Navy conducted a practice known as the Impressment Service. Hired men called ‘gangers’ would seize unsuspecting seamen and “impress” them for service in the British Navy. Fierce fighting often broke out, but the seamen (generally ages 18 to 55 yrs) rarely got away. Impressments were a common and accepted method used by the British Navy to increase the size of their force. The Press Gang living-history group will demonstrate this practice in a dramatic re-enactment during the Toshiba Tall Ships Festival. This exciting living-history demonstration will take place on board the Pilgrim, both Saturday and Sunday of the festival. See schedule of events for times.

Omar's and Zoomars New to the festival this year, Omar’s Exotic Birds and Zoomars Petting Zoo will be open throughout the day! Omar Gonzalez is a well respected aviculturist. His love of birds began as a young boy living in Cuba where he and his father used to catch wild songbirds (known in Cuba as "mariposa"). This experience sparked Omar's interest in birds and after coming to the United States at the age of seven, Omar's parents bought him two canaries. Omar loved his birds and throughout his childhood studied everything he could about them. In his early 20's, Omar purchased two parrots from a local pet shop. However in the 80's, many birds sold in pet shops were either imported or illegally smuggled into the country and many would die from various diseases. Unfortunately this was the case for both of Omar's pets. This was Omar's first real-life lesson of the importance of buying a bird from a clean and reputable store. Dissatisfied with the unsanitary conditions of most bird stores Omar visited, his vision of owning his own bird store entered his mind. Armed with the whereabouts of quarantine stations, Omar began buying more and more birds there. Since parrot-taming techniques were quite inhumane back then, Omar relied on his own experiences with the birds to develop his own methods of taming them. As Omar's passion for exotic birds grew stronger, he sought new ways to improve bird breeding techniques, find better methods of taming and even began developing products for them. He later designed perches that hung from the ceiling of his store which would allow the birds to socialize with customers. In 2001, Omar married Carolyn Franks who is no stranger to the pet business. Carolyn first entered the industry when a line of dog toys she created for a college project won her a Best New Product Award at APPMA. Having owned her own marketing and design firm, Carolyn consulted for a number of leading pet companies and served as the first-ever Director of Marketing for the prestigious American Kennel Club in New York City. Aside from her involvement with the bird stores, Carolyn also runs the couple's petting zoo, Zoomars, in San Juan Capistrano. Combining their talents, Omar and Carolyn continue to take Omar’s Exotic Birds to new levels and are committed to promoting the benefits of companion animals. Omar and Carolyn are members of Parrots International, a conservation group that helps endangered birds in the wild. To learn more about Omar’s Exotic Birds and their playful friends, please visit their web page at www.omarsexoticbirds.com. See event schedule for show times and pricing.

Public Tours of the Tall Ships

Explore the majesty and wonder of tall ships and speak with the men and women who sail them. Seven spectacular historic vessels will sail into Dana Point harbor Friday evening as part of the Toshiba Tall Ships Festival Sunset Parade. All seven tall ships will be open for above deck tours from 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The brig Pilgrim will remain open until 5:00 p.m. both days and will offer continuous activities and interactive demonstrations. We invite you to take advantage of this extraordinary opportunity and experience a taste of our rich maritime history.
Pirate Adventure Pass required

Laurena G. Chambers Gallery

The Laurena G. Chambers Gallery offers a variety of distinctive products including books, puzzles, wind chimes, jewelry, home decor, apparel, and more! With new pirate loot arrival for the Festival, you're sure to find that perfect gift!

Live Music, Interactive Encampments, and Arts & Craft Show
at Baby Beach Grass Park

With a spectacular view of the tall ships, the grass park hosts a fun-filled variety of festival activities. On stage, audiences can enjoy live seafaring music (presented by nationally acclaimed musicians)... Other performances include storytellers and traditional hula dancers. Throughout the park, visitors can explore and experience interactive living-history encampments including blacksmiths, schrimshanders, medieval sword fighters and, the infamous Port Royal Privateers who are sure to entertain and amaze guests of all ages. Additionally, visitors can participate in knot tying races or witness the spectacular art of traditional rope work. Don’'t forget to check out the unique fine arts & craft show that has continued to grow each year offering a fabulous array of creative works. Last but not least, all can enjoy the delicious variety of foods & tasty treats offered in the food court. See event schedule for individual activity times.

Live On Stage at Baby Beach Park

Enjoy Live Sea-Faring Music and Special Performances

Holdstock & MacLeod
The music stage features the outstanding musical talent of Dick Holdstock and Allan MacLeod.
Still enthusiastically performing together after twenty-five years, Holdstock and MacLeod continue to perform authentic renditions of the songs of their homelands. Whether performing shanties and other traditional music of the sea or nineteenth century ballads, they are still captivating audiences from coast to coast. Audiences always join in by singing and laughing along to their outrageous songs and stories.

Dick and Allan trade off on mandolin and guitar accompaniments to some of their songs and frequently use a cappella arrangements. They have mastered the art of traditional harmonies which often are described as descants. Their strong melodic tones resonate with all who have the pleasure of hearing them.

Needless to say, the music of Holdstock and MacLeod is always a memorable event and an extraordinary glimpse into a not so distant past.

Geof Agisim
Geof Agisim of "Tarry Breeks" is interested in the practice and preservation of the vanishing skill of the “Sea Shanty”. Singing for over 40 years, Geof has been working with folk songs since the 1960’s and has entertained aboard ships and in nautical settings steadily since 1974. Geof is always eager for opportunities to perform and to share this treasured nautical heritage.

Bill Dempsey
Bill Dempsey is a fulltime public school music teacher and a part time professional singer, guitarist, shanty man and multi-instrumentalist. Bill began his association with the Ocean Institute in 1988 working on the tall ship Pilgrim. He has been a part of the Tall Ships Festival since 1990 singing sea chanteys from days gone by and works to organize the entertainers. Bill will celebrate the release of his third CD of shanties and sea songs at this year’s festival.

Halau Hula Lani Ola
Beautifully costumed dancers bring to us the mystery and beauty of Polynesia in a variety of hulas using traditional Hawai’ian implements such as the ‘uli’uli, pu’ili, coconut, and ipu. This spectacular performance is one not to be missed!

John Kraus
John Andrew Kraus drove a Bigwheel. John Andrew Kraus drove a Huffy. John Andrew Kraus drove a 1984 Dodge Pick-up. John Andrew Kraus drove a bus. John Andrew Kraus drives a tall ship. John Andrew Kraus would drive a Boeing 747 if he had the time or the inclination. Does John Andrew Kraus move about the earth, or does the earth move about him? Whether parallel parking the Spirit of Dana Point in the most dire of circumstances, or hustling Englishmen at dice while on tour playing banjo and guitar in a bluegrass punk band, John Andrew Kraus parallel parks his way into our heart, and bumps our adjacent organs ever so slightly.

The Hula Connection
From Dana Point, this local dance school will feature Keike (children) and Wahine (lady) performers gracefully demonstrating the traditional dances of Hawaii.

Friday, September 10th

Tall Ships Sunset Parade from South Laguna to Dana Point Harbor
The setting sun creates a colorful backdrop as a flotilla of tall ships – truly a vision from the past – makes its way to Dana Point Harbor. Sign aboard for this extraordinary event and help us celebrate the opening of the 25th Annual Toshiba Tall Ships Festival.

Viewing available from Dana Point headlands, above Dana Point Harbor, and Old Cove Native Plant Preserve, located behind the Ocean Institute

Sunset Tall Ships Parade Tickets
Members: $35 / adults, $26 / children (4-12yrs.)
Non-members: $45 / adults, $34 / children (4-12yrs.)

Parade Escort Cruise Tickets (aboard the R/V Sea Explorer)
Members: $25 / adults, $20 / children (4-12)
Non-members: $30 / adults, $25 / children (4-12yrs.)

Saturday, September 11th

General

Baby Beach Grass Park
(On Stage)

Inside the Ocean Institute

On Board the Brig Pilgrim

Sunday, September 12th

General

Baby Beach Grass Park
(On Stage)

Inside the Ocean Institute

On Board the Brig Pilgrim