Music, Culture, Food to be Showcased During Rendez-Vous 2017 Tall Ships Regatta

Free concerts and ship tours and Nova Scotia’s best culinary and entertainment experiences are on deck during Rendez-Vous 2017 (RDV 2017) Tall Ships Regatta’s stay in Halifax, July 29 to August 1.

Waterfront Development today, April 12, announced some of the event highlights along the Halifax and Dartmouth waterfronts. Programming in other Nova Scotia ports will be announced later this month.

The CBC is presenting several free concerts throughout the event including an appearance by Natalie MacMaster and Symphony Nova Scotia on July 29, featuring jigs, reels and slow dances. The symphony will follow with a symphonic tribute to Canada 150, topped off by a grand finale with cannons and fireworks.

Tall ships from around the world will visit Halifax and 10 other ports in Nova Scotia as part of RDV 2017 to honour the 150th anniversary of Confederation.

“This summer the world is coming to Nova Scotia and we will showcase our province,” said Mark Furey, Minister responsible for Tourism, on behalf of Tony Ince, Minister of Communities, Culture and Heritage. “Our artists, our musicians, our boat builders, our seafood producers and many others will join forces to celebrate our maritime culture and show the world what makes our province so special.”

“This year’s tall ships event represents partnerships with people, businesses big and small, the public and private sector from every corner of our province working together toward a common goal,” said Jennifer Angel, acting president and CEO of Waterfront Development. “Through unique, high-quality local experiences in each port around Nova Scotia, together we will showcase a spectacular, diverse, and proud province for the world to discover.”

Scheduled activities include:

• a family-friendly pirates landing in Dartmouth
• a Nova Scotia shipbuilding program
• Taste of Nova Scotia Food Fare by the Sea
• a dinner series on Georges Island
• Parks Canada and Museum heritage programming at Citadel Hill, and on the boardwalk and on Georges Island
• a McNabs Island picnic
• downtown fish cake breakfast with the Business Improvement Districts
• Atlantic Film Festival film experience
• pirates
• buskers
• pop-up concerts on both sides of the harbor
• the Parade of Sail.

Waterfront roamers will also enjoy free access to the approximately 30 ships visiting Nova Scotia from around the world.

Halifax is the start of the official final leg of this 7,000 nautical mile international race. Led by Sail Training International the race starts in Royal Greenwich, UK, this month. Stops are scheduled at host ports in Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia. The province and the Government of Canada are providing support to the tall ships event in Nova Scotia.

For details, go to: discoverthewonder.ca/