Tall ships on deck as plans are finalized

Eight ships slated to visit Digby as part of Aug. 15-16 event

Are you ready to celebrate the tall ships?

Organizers Mayor Ben Cleveland and Saskia Geerts are busy getting ready for the Digby Rendez-vous 2017 Tall Ships Regatta running Aug. 15 and 16.

With so much on deck, they’re working to finalize plans and get everything ship-shape.

But that doesn’t mean they still don’t have time to be excited for what’s to come.

“We’ve got eight ships sailing in this year – we’ve never had that many before,” says Mayor Cleveland.

The festival will truly be for everyone. One tall ship, the Lord Nelson, is built to be fully accessible.

“This festival won’t exclude anyone. Whether you’re in a wheelchair, use a cane or have limited mobility, you can still board this ship,” the mayor says.

Geerts is most excited for Dave Gunning, one of the event’s musical acts, as well as seeing the Wylde Swan, the Dutch tall ship from close to where she lived in the Netherlands.

“There will be so much talent and so many stages – it’s going to be a challenge to pick where to go,” she says.

The festival won’t have any parking restrictions other than no parking on the wharf area. Still, foot traffic is encouraged.

“We really want to encourage as many people as possible to use the public parking spaces and walk down to the festival,” says Cleveland.

“The only other thing we’re asking is that people do a sun dance – we really need the weather to cooperate.”

A water bottle station on the boardwalk in town will also come in handy for anyone needing water.

All in all, Cleveland is most excited to display the variety of cultures that call Digby home.

“This is why this festival will have a different feel to it. We’re highlighting our cultures, artists, musicians and innovators – all of it,” he says.