To mark the 150^th anniversary of Canadian Confederation, a fleet of tall ships will be calling at several Canadian ports this summer, including in Québec City and Lévis.

From July 18 to 23, to celebrate along with all the ships converging on Québec City, the only city to welcome them all simultaneously, the Port of Québec and the Quai Paquet in Lévis will be transformed for the week into a perfect place for meeting, exploring and, most of all, having fun!

Spectacular, extensive programming

From the smallest to the tallest, the ships will be open for the public to tour, including vessels like the Alexander Von Humboldt II from Germany, the Europa from the Netherlands, the Lord Nelson from England, and the Picton Castle and the Bluenose II from Canada. The Amerigo Vespucci will also make a visit before the fleet’s arrival, between July 4 and July 8.

Québec City schedule

Four main events will commemorate the tall ships’ passage to Québec City:

• Vele e Vents, a magical and explosive show produced by Catalan theatre company Xarxa Teatre, July 19 and 21 at 9 p.m. at the Agora in the Port of Québec
• Parade of the crews through the streets of Québec City, July 20 at 2 p.m. 3,000 sailors will follow a 1.5-kilometre route through the city, accompanied by musicians, characters, and other entertainers
• Grand fireworks display over the St. Lawrence, July 22 at 10 p.m.
• Parade of the tall ships to Ile d’Orléans, departing July 23 at 8 a.m. from the Quebec Bridge

Throughout the event, mobile shows and entertainers will rove the docks, keeping visitors amused and delighted as they wait to explore the ships.

At nightfall from July 19 to 22, around 8:30 p.m., the Cabaret des Chants Marins will come to life in the vaulted basement of Chevalier House.

Lévis schedule

Across the river, the festivities will take place at the Quai Paquet, where one tall ship will be moored and open to visitors.

• Light, water and sound show
• Mana, an extraordinary show combining circus and illusion, tells a tale of the discovery of the different people of a fantasy world on July 20 and 21
• Performance by Rosheen, July 20
• Performance by the Road Blues Band, July 21

Don’t forget that the tall ships will set sail from Halifax on August 1 to complete the last leg of the transatlantic race organized by Sail Training International that they began on April 13 in Greenwich, England. They are expected in Le Havre, France between August 31 and September 3.