If you’re looking for something fun to do as the summer winds down, you might take a drive up north into the past and visit Tall Ships Erie 2022 between Thursday and Sunday.

The four-day maritime celebration takes place at the Port of Erie from Thursday, August 25, 2022, through Sunday, August 28, 2022.

Climb aboard and explore a fleet of tall ships, sail the day away on select ships, or enjoy other festival highlights, including live music and entertainment, children’s activities, a festival marketplace, food vendors, and more.

Ships sailing in for the festivities include Nao Trinidad, Empire Sandy, Pride of Baltimore II, St. Lawrence II, Appledore IV, Brig Niagara, and Lettie G. Howard.

Also docked to give the kids a thrill will be the Big Yellow Duck.

Event Highlights and Basic Schedule:

Parade of Sails

Thursday, August 25, 4 p.m.

Festival Grounds Open

Friday, August 26 through Sunday, August 28, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. (foot of State Street, Erie Maritime Museum, Bayfront Convention Center)

If you plan to go, here are some answers to frequently asked questions:

Q: Where can I buy tickets?

A: Tickets are available for purchase online here or in person at the Erie Maritime Museum Gift Shop, open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 9:30 a.m. - 4: 30 p.m.

Admission Tickets

Admission to the Tall Ships Erie Festival 2022 requires one of the ticket options below.

All tickets are priced per person, per day (except Weekend Pass & VIP Pass). Children under two are admitted free. Tall Ships Erie is a rain or shine event. All ticket sales are final.

To skip the online convenience fees, buy tickets in person at the Erie Maritime Museum Store during normal operating hours Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM.

Erie Maritime Museum Address: 150 East Front St., Suite 100, Erie, PA 16507

Single Day Pass - $10

Access to festival highlights for a single day of the festival:

All-day access to festival sites.

*DOES NOT include access onto ships for deck tours. Purchase Deck Tour Add-On for access to available ships for deck tours.

Dockside viewing of tall ships fleet.

*DOES NOT include access onto ships for deck tours. Purchase Deck Tour Add-On for access to available ships for deck tours.

Live music & entertainment, educational seminars, family activities, food vendors, and vendor marketplace.

Sailing tickets are sold separately.

Deck Tour Add-On - $5

Must be purchased with a corresponding Single Day Pass. Enhance your festival experience by experiencing deck tours on available vessels - see real tall ships up close and meet crew members.

Weekend Pass - Friday, Saturday, Sunday - $39

Come through the entire festival weekend! Includes festival highlights and deck tours on available ships for the entire festival weekend, August 25 - August 28, 2022. Weekend Passes are non-transferable. Sailing tickets are sold separately.

VIP Pass - $199

Includes festival highlights AND deck tours on available ships for the entire festival weekend, August 25 - August 28, 2022, as well as access to all VIP-only hospitality areas. VIP areas include complimentary refreshments and hors d’oeuvres. VIPs also receive VIP Line access and VIP Parking. VIP Passes are non-transferable. Day Sail tickets are sold separately.

Q: Where can I park? Will shuttle service be offered?

A: Traffic patterns and parking near the festival grounds will be extremely limited. Portions of Holland Street, State Street, and Sassafras Street Extension north of the Bayfront Parkway will not be open to general public vehicle traffic. Festival attendees are highly encouraged to park in downtown Erie and take a parking shuttle to the Tall Ships Festival.

There will be no parking available on the festival grounds.

Directions

Tall Ships Erie 2022 will take place in downtown Erie at Erie’s Bayfront between the Bayfront Convention Center and the Holland Street Pier. The following directions are to downtown Erie; see below for available parking lots and garages.

From I-90 West: Follow I-90 West to PA-290 W/PA-430 West in Harborcreek Township. Take exit 32 from I-90 West. Follow PA-290 West. After driving about 6 miles, take a left on East 12th Street. You can follow this road into downtown Erie to find available city parking.

From I-90 East: Follow I-90 East to Erie. Take exit 22B to merge onto I-79 North toward Erie. Continue onto the Bayfront at the end of I-79. Stay in the right lane and take a right onto Lincoln Avenue at the first traffic light.  To your left will be one parking option. Take a left at the traffic light at the end of Lincoln Avenue to turn onto 12th Street. Take 12th Street into downtown Erie to find available city parking.

From I-79: Follow I-79 North toward Erie. After Exit 183A/183B, take the Bayfront Parkway Exit – it is the last exit on I-79. Stay in the right lane and turn right onto Lincoln Avenue at the first traffic light.  To your left will be one parking option. Take a left at the traffic light at the end of Lincoln Ave. to turn onto 12th Street. Take 12th Street into downtown Erie to find available city parking.

Parking & Shuttle Routes

Traffic patterns and parking near festival grounds will be extremely limited for those who do not have a VIP Ticket or Handicapped Parking Pass. 

Portions of Holland Street, State Street, and Sassafras Street extension north of the Bayfront Parkway will not be open to general public vehicle traffic. Festival attendees are highly encouraged to park in the city, then take a parking shuttle down to the festival.

All shuttle routes run from 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Festival Grounds are open from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Shuttles are free to the public; no festival pass is required to ride

Below is a list of publicly available garages along the shuttle route

 

 Garage B - 24 E. 8th Street

  • Cash Only | Friday - Sunday

Garage E - 25 E. 10th Street

  • Cash Only | Friday - Sunday

Lot M-2 - 140 E. 3rd Street

  • Cash Only | Saturday - Sunday

Garage Q - 712 Peach Street

  • Credit Card on Friday, Cash Only Saturday - Sunday

Garage D - 130 W. 9th Street

  • Credit Card Only | Friday - Sunday

Bayfront Park & Ride - North, W 7th St

  • Friday - Sunday

Lincoln Park & Ride - 1000 Lincoln Ave

  • Friday - Sunday

Shuttle Map

Shuttle stops will be indicated by a sign on the sidewalk.

 

 Q: Where will the ships be docked?

A: The U.S. Brig Niagara and the Lettie G. Howard will be docked at the foot of State Street. Four ships will be docked at the Bayfront Convention Center, and the rest will be docked near the Erie Maritime Museum.

Q: Will the giant rubber ducks be at Tall Ships Erie this year?

A: Both mama and baby duck will be back at Tall Ships Erie in 2022. They will be displayed in the protected harbor area directly behind the Erie Maritime Museum.

Q: Will other bayfront attractions be open during Tall Ships Erie?

A: Yes. Both the Victorian Princess and Scallywags Pirate Adventures will operate as usual.

Q: Will vendors be selling any goods at Tall Ships Erie?

A: The Maritime Marketplace will be set up inside the Bayfront Convention Center.

Q: Where can I purchase food?

A: In addition to onsite local food trucks, Erie features many local restaurants near the festival grounds. For a meal, check out The Cove, Rum Runners, The Bayfront Grille, The Shoreline Bar and Grille, Oliver's Rooftop and Oliver's Beer Garden, Woody's Backwater BARge and Grill, Smugglers Wharf, Pier 6, and Bay House Oyster Bar.

Q: Where will the Kids' Zone be located?

A: The east end of State Street, closest to the Maritime Museum, will feature a kids' zone, various activities, and food trucks.

Q: Are dogs allowed at the festival?

A: Pets are not permitted on the festival grounds. Service animals are permitted.

Q: Are the ships handicap accessible?

A: While the festival grounds are handicap accessible, the ships are not due to their historic nature. Handicapped parking tickets are available here; spots are limited and are strictly limited to vehicles with handicapped parking tags.