Lunenburg will be a port of call for the Tall Ships that are returning to Nova Scotia next summer. The ships will arrive in Halifax July 19th to the 23rd and visit outports across the province July 24th to the 30th. Economic and Rural Development and Tourism Minister Percy Paris announced the provincial commitment of 780 thousand dollars for the event. The provincial contribution will fund the cost to bring the ships here and attract more visitors to the province. Along with Lunenburg the ships will also visit Shelburne, Yarmouth, Pictou Pugwash, Port Hawkesbury, Louisbourg and Sydney.
The event is part of the Tall Ships Challenge - Atlantic Coast 2012 Race, organized by Tall Ships America. The ships will start in Savannah, Ga. and sail up the U.S. eastern seaboard, stopping in Charleston, S.C., Greenport, N.Y., and Newport, R.I. The event will also include a special historical piece that will commemorate the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812. Theodore Tugboat is playing a big role in the Tall Ships event. He is headed to the United States for the winter and bringing the Tall Ships back to Nova Scotia next summer.