New Orleans will host one of the biggest gatherings of tall ships
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The BAP Unión, a four-masted sailing vessel from Peru, will be in New Orleans for Sail 250. Photo: Jane Barlow/PA Images via Getty Images
New Orleans hosts a flotilla of international tall ships next week for the kickoff of Sail 250, which is part of the country's 250th birthday celebrations.
Why it matters: The 12 ships will be open for free public tours along the Mississippi Riverfront.
The big picture: The vessels start arriving May 27. They'll be open to the public Thursday, May 28, through Sunday, May 31.
- The official welcome ceremony is at 1pm May 27 and includes a 21-gun salute and a military flyover, according to New Orleans & Co., the city's tourism arm and one of the sponsors.
- There's also a fireworks show at 9pm May 30 and a seafood cook-off Sunday at Delacroix restaurant.
Zoom in: The vessels will be docked along the riverfront from the Bywater to the Crescent City Connection.
- Sail 250 is one of the largest gatherings of tall ships in the world, organizers say.
- The ships are from the U.S., Chile, Peru, Colombia, Uruguay, Sweden, the Netherlands, Argentina and the U.K.
- See photos and details about the vessels.
If you go: Expect airport-style security screenings. IDs are required to board the U.S. Navy ships.
- Guests must wear closed-toe shoes, organizers say.
- The event is family-friendly, but children need to be at least 5 years old to tour U.S. Navy ships.
What's next: The ships leave Monday, June 1, for Norfolk, Virginia; Baltimore; New York and then Boston.
Other events
Louisiana is hosting several other America 250 celebrations and exhibits.
✍️ A rare Louisiana Purchase agreement is in Baton Rouge. The document bears Napoleon Bonaparte's signature.
- The exhibit is on display until July 11 at the old Louisiana State Capitol. Admission is free.
🌭 Jefferson Parish hosts a patriotic celebration June 14 in downtown Gretna. It includes a parade, music, relay races and a nighttime drone show. (Facebook)
🇺🇸 The Cabildo has a new America 250 exhibit that highlights Louisiana's decisive yet often-overlooked role in winning American independence.
- It includes two rare portraits of Bernardo de Gálvez that were transported from Mexico. The exhibit is here through May 2027.
🧠 The Historic New Orleans Collection has a new augmented reality exhibition called "American Revolution." It's here until January.
- Guests can step into 20 defining moments of the nation's founding through 360-degree reconstructions, a press release says. Admission is free.