The Gloucester Tall Ships Festival 2011 will take place this August Bank Holiday (Friday 26 - Sunday 28). The ships sail into the stunning setting of Gloucester's historic docks for what promises to be an unforgettable weekend. In addition to the ships and boats, there will be an exciting array of events and entertainment taking place around the docks including...
Cirque Bijou 
The mesmerising Cirque Bijou will be performing all manner of gravity-defying acts and daring feats such as the Trapeze and the Dance of the Seven Sabres (whilst handstanding on a 7m pole!) Cirque Bijou are so in demand that they are the ‘go-to’ troupe to bring a touch of the big top, acrobatic extravaganza to live shows. Just ask Take That, Muse and The X Factor to name but a few.
Living History
The festival also hosts a rum bunch of unsavoury characters including Captain Jack Sparrow and his buccaneering brethren swashbuckling aboard the tall ships. Meet sailors and Red Coats from the Royal Navy that Admiral Nelson made famous and find out why Britannia ruled the waves. You'll also find dockside denizens from the Victorian era including gin-soaked 'ladies' of questionable virtue, Dickensian street urchins and the upstanding 'Peelers' (Britain's first bobbies) attempting to keep the peace.
Kids Stuff
There’s plenty on offer to keep the kids entertained at the festival. Young visitors (13 and under) go free on board the ships and into both the Gloucester Waterways Museum and Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum when accompanied by a Tall Ships official wristband-wearing adult! The whole family will love the circus and cabaret performances on the Circus Stage, the Pirate Ship Children’s Show (Saturday 27th at Gloucester Quays Outlet Shopping Centre) and roving pirates!
There are also plenty of activities, including a funfair, inflatable pirate ship adventure and water balls, paintballing experience, football challenge, activities on the water and Heart FM alfresco area, where parents can relax while the kids enjoy giant games, face painting, free goodies and Interactive Pirate Radio Adventure! Shiver me timbers!
Other acitivities
There's the adjacent Gloucester Quays centre if you want to add shopping to your day out, the nearby National Waterways or Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museums, and the Folk Museum and Gloucester Cathedral (both approximately 10 minutes walk away).
Make sure you keep up to date with the latest news by signing up for the Tall Ships Newsletter, or following the Gloucester Facebook page and VisitGloucester on Twitter
In the meantime, take a look at the ships that will be sailing into Gloucesters historic docks this August Bank Holiday.
Information for Boaters
You can find important information for visitors travelling by boat here.
