It Doesn't Get Any Bigger Than Tall Ships® 2003

The State of Ohio has budgeted $600,000.00 for the Bicentennial signature celebration called “Ohio’s Lake Erie Challenge,” which represents the regional portion of the 2003 Great Lakes Tall Ships Challenge® series organized by the American Sail Training Association (ASTA).

The cities of Toledo and Cleveland will serve as Fleet Ports for the event, which is expected to draw the largest collection of tall ships ever to Lake Erie. Toledo will receive 17 or more of these beautiful sailing vessels July 17 through July 20, 2003. The Parade of Sails will take place July 16, 2003, the only day the vessels won't be open to the public.

The majority of the event is being coordinated by the International Park Board of Greater Toledo, Inc. in cooperation with the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority. Gary Wyse, International Park board member and Vice-President and General Manager of the Toledo Sports Arena, will serve as co-chair, along with Port Authority President, Jim Hartung. The four day celebration is expected to attract more than 150,000 spectators to International Park, with an estimated economic impact of $15 million to the City of Toledo.

For more information, or a sponsorship package, contact the event coordinator, Kelly Rivera, Trade and Development Manager for the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority and International Park board member, at (419) 243-8251.