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Tall Ships: 40 vessels to dock in Belfast as 400,000 flock to city

Wednesday, 12 August 2009

Three of the Tall Ships leave Ballycastle harbour past Fair Head as they set sail for Belfast

Excitement is building, as the final countdown is on until the majestic Tall Ships sail into Belfast.

The massive four-day festival officially begins with around 40 vessels docking in the city in the next 24 hours.

It promises to be the biggest event ever staged in Northern Ireland and 2009's largest international event in Ireland, with around 400,000 people expected to attend. The arrival of the Tall Ships is part of the Belfast Maritime Festival, which runs from August 13-16.

The festival, which will feature fireworks on the three nights, will take place at five venues in the port of Belfast — Queen's Quay, Clarendon Dock, Pollock Dock, Albert Quay and Custom House Square.

A carnival atmosphere is expected to spread throughout the city, with planned events including an aerobatic performance, continental markets, music, fun fair, dedicated family activity zones and the finale of the UK Strongest Man competition.

What’s on tomorrow

Queens Quay

Funfair

Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Interactive Zone

Continental Market

BBC ‘Bang goes the Theory’

BBC Headroom

BBC Radio Ulster

BBC Community Bus

NIEA Expo

University of Ulster Coastal and Marine Research Exhibition

Facepainters, Caricaturist and Balloon Modellers

Laserquest for over-8s

Clarendon Dock

Continental Market

RNLI Interactive Zone

Inflatables

Climbing Wall

Sand Sculpture

Softplay area for under-5’s

Live music from the stage

Street Theatre

Model yacht displays

Storytelling

Maritime crafts

Facepainters, Caricaturist and Balloon Modellers

Wii Fun

Albert Quay

Funfair

Continental Market

Quick links

For more information log onto www.gotobelfast.com.

For more Tall Ships news go to belfasttelegraph.co.uk/tallships

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Ben have you actually seen the disgusting prices that translink are charging for their services. I live in Portadown and to get my family of 5 to belfast and back is ging to cost over £40, i could drive there for under a tenners worth of diesel.

Posted by David | 12.08.09, 23:04 GMT

I'm really looking forward to the festival, we have friends coming over from England and up from Dublin for the weekend, should be a cracker!!

Looking forward to the live music, beers and fireworks, just hope the rain holds off at least a few hours!!

Posted by Steven73 | 12.08.09, 22:48 GMT

This comes up once in a lifetime for people in Belfast and Ireland as a whole, so stop moaning get a bus or train have a great day and enjoy.

Posted by sam | 12.08.09, 20:51 GMT

New Lodge Terry, there will be half a million going - so quite a few give a monkeys. You can stay in New Lodge though. You've probably never ventured outside it.

Posted by Dave Corsa | 12.08.09, 20:34 GMT

This is a fabulous event for Belfast and the people of both communities to be proud of their wonderful City.

Posted by bluestarlady | 12.08.09, 19:20 GMT

New Lodge Terry - I'm not surprised. How could 40 tall ships crossing the Atlantic to party in Belfast possibly compare with the excitement and razzamatazz of everyday life in the New Lodge??

Posted by Bongo | 12.08.09, 17:49 GMT

I went to see the tall ships when they where here in 1991 and it was great and all the signs are that it will be even bigger and better this time so i am really looking foreward to going this weekend and would really recomend everyone to go and see it and enjoy this wonderful occasion there seems to be plenty of things laid on for all ages and to the organisers thank you .

Posted by Desy | 12.08.09, 14:53 GMT