Tall Ships Festival Features Onboard Entertainment

The second annual Tall Ships At Cape Charles Festival June 14-16 presents a rare opportunity to get up close and personal as you explore the decks and meet the crews of magnificent tall ships and encounter roving pirates, costumed Elizabethan re-enactors, musicians, arts and crafts vendors and all kinds of family fun throughout our picturesque small town and harbor.

Haul a yard-arm!

Haul a yard-arm! Sing a rollicking sea chanty! Eastern Shore Virginia Festivals has organized three days of exciting events for visitors of all ages.  A complete roster of events is online at www.tallshipscapecharles.com.

In addition to touring the decks and taking two-hour tall ship day sails on the Chesapeake Bay, there will be non-stop music and entertainment featuring a variety of performers headlined by renowned troubadour Bob Zentz.

Sing a sea chanty!

Zentz will be entertaining aboard each tall ship for day sails throughout the festival, and will also be a featured entertainer on the main stage.

Other performers include Gus the Bardic Troubador and Carol and Malcolm,Three Sheetz, Champagne, Don Fogle, Bob Rankin, Chip Blackwell and the Shoreliners, Loaded Goat and Mike Hawker.

A colorful troupe of Elizabethan re-enactors from Historic Interpretations, Inc., Raleigh, NC, will again recreate life of the 16th Century.

Our Festival Marketplace will offer arts and crafts for sale including folk art by Mama Girl; wearable art by Katherine Kiss; garden art by Mytnik; dog treats by Old Town Petnerez; jewelry and painting from Creations by Chris; and wares from The Doll House, Trinees Trinkets, Treats and Things; Ye Olde Oar House and Eastern Shore Photos.

A town-wide pirate festival sponsored by Citizens For Central Park on Saturday, June 15, features cannons, carts and costumes, plus a treasure hunt and, from 6-10 p.m., a Pirate & Wenches Ball.

No festival is complete without delectable food:  ribs, soul food, Greek food, pizza, ice cream and ices.

Children may make and sail a model boat, take pony rides, make their own candy and meet friendly critters at a petting zoo.

This year’s festival delivers three tall ships, the schooners Alliance, Sultana and Virginia, plus the Buy Boat F.D. Crockett and the sailboat Apostle, over three days of fun for all ages, with deck tours and day sails.

Last year’s day sails sold out, so visitors are encouraged to book early at www.tallshipscapecharles.com.

Cape Charles, the Eastern Shore’s deep water Harbor To Hospitality, is being presented to out-of-towners as small town America the way it used to be, with charming, tree-lined avenues, restaurants, galleries and boutiques.

Tall Ships At Cape Charles festival hours are Friday, June 14 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. followed by a Welcome Ceremony at7 p.m; Saturday, June 15 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, June 16 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.