Boston to Host Tall Ships for America's 250th Birthday

Can it be that 50 years have passed since we celebrated America's Bicentennial? Now we're planning her 250th birthday celebration.

America, you and I are getting older.

WCVB-TV Channel reports, "The majestic tall ships of Sail Boston will return to the city's waterfront in 2026 to help celebrate the nation's 250th birthday." The station says, "Sail Boston 2026, slated to run from July 11 to 16, will be part of the Sail250 Tall Ships tour and will highlight Boston's celebration of the 250th birthday of the United States."

Organizers say the festival will include tall ships from around the world and could attract as many as five million visitors to Boston.

United States Coast Guard Barque EAGLE Facebook

Channel 5 reports, "Sail Boston 2026 will host the Sail250 fleet representing more than 25 countries in an event similar in size to the United States bicentennial celebration in 1976."

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Dozens of vessels of various sizes and classes, including at least 16 tall ships, sailed into ports such as Newport, Rhode Island, New York and Boston as part of the 1976 Grand Parade of Sailing Ships to celebrate America's 200th birthday.

The tall ships included Eagle (United States), Sagres (Portugal), and Libertad (Argentina).

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Washington, D.C., staged a U.S. Bicentennial Parade to mark the occasion attended by Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.

New Bedford celebrated the Bicentennial with re-enactments of Grey's Raid, a 1778 invasion of New Bedford by the British. The New Bedford Lightship was refurbished for the occasion.

Follow SailBoston 2026 as plans unfold for the 250th birthday bash.

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