RDV 2017 Tall Ships Regatta event is rain or shine, although some live performances or fireworks maybe impacted by inclement weather.  Notifications of cancellations will be posted on line and through social media.  Maritime weather can vary greatly so it is important to dress for the weather – rain ponchos, umbrellas, sunscreen, bottled water, comfortable footwear etc. will help you enjoy your RDV2017 Tall Ships Regatta Experience.

The Halifax and Dartmouth waterfronts, shore-side events and transport to McNabs and Georges Island are all fully accessible events however terrain varies so it is important to think about your mobility and/ or standing for long periods of time should you require a wheel chair or assistive aids for moving through crowds, navigating the board walk and boarding ships.

Public washrooms will be available on site at the following locations on the Halifax Waterfront:

• The Halifax Ferry Terminal
• Maritime Museum of the Atlantic
• The Nova Scotia Visitor Information Centre (VIC)
• Foundation Place vendor area
• Bishop’s Landing
• Halifax Seaport Farmers’ Market

Portable washrooms will be available on site at the following locations:

• Purdy’s Wharf
• South driveway of the Maritime Museum
• Salter lot (site of CBC Entertainment Pavilion)

The Tall Ships are free to board however; photo ID is required to board for everyone 16 and over. Similarly, some licensed venues and events will require ID.

A wide variety of free and ticketed programming is available throughout the Halifax RDV 2017 Tall Ships Regatta festival. A complete schedule of entertainment can be found at this link: https://rdv2017ns.com/the-event-schedule/

A broad selection restaurants and dining options available all along the waterfronts in Halifax and Dartmouth during RDV23017 – https://my-waterfront.ca/sea-do/dining/

The Taste of Nova Scotia Food Fare by the Sea, this will feature chefs, local vendors and produce and of course Nova Scotia’s incredible seafood and wines.  Admission is FREE however there will be food and beverages available for purchase – July 29-31 2017, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Salter Lot. Taste of Nova Scotia is also producing 3 unique dining experiences on Georges Island details can be found at this link: http://rdv2017.tickethalifax.com/events/44899951/a-taste-of-nova-scotia-on-georges-island

Similarly, for the Joel Plaskett and Port Cities Rock Georges Island presented by Atlantic Lottery concert there will be concessions available as well as alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.

Food and beverage concessions will be available for purchase on Georges Island for the Joel Plaskett & Port Cities concert presented by Atlantic Lottery on July 29th which will also be a licensed event for ages 19 and over. People are also encouraged to take water (sealed bottles only), sunscreen, sun visors and other items as necessary.  There will be a security bag search before boarding and alcohol is not permitted but available for purchase on-island.

Tickets available for purchase at www.TicketHalifax.com

Cost: General Admission: $35 ($44 with taxes and fees) VIP: $75 ($93 with taxes and fees)

Security Protocols
The Joel Plaskett Emergency & Port Cities Rock Georges Island concert security protocols will include bag checks. Only sealed water bottles will be permitted. (No refillable bottles or unsealed bottles will be permitted.) Food and beverage (non-alcoholic and alcoholic) are available for purchase on site. Lawn chairs and picnic blankets are permitted on the island for this event.

Parks Canada will be providing historical programming on this island fortress during RDV 2017’s Open House program.

Cost $15 departs from Ferry Terminal

Sunday, July 30 Departs hourly: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Monday, July 31 Departs hourly: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Security Protocols
A small selection of items will be available for purchase on the island. However, ticket holders are welcome to bring food items and non-alcoholic beverages. Security protocols will include routine bag checks.

Taste of Nova Scotia in partnership with Waterfront Development and Parks Canada is excited to present a series of locally-inspired dinners on Georges Island. The dinners will be set against the majestic backdrop of the 2017 RDV Tall Ships Regatta. Join us to Discover the Wonder on Georges Island.

Cost $150 per person. Visit www.TicketHalifax.com to book.

July 28:  Nova Scotia Lobster Feast
Experience Nova Scotia lobster like never before! Picture yourself on Georges Island, with views of Tall Ships, savouring fresh, steamed lobster paired with Nova Scotia wines.

July 29: Nova Scotia Good Cheer & BBQ
Cheers! Nova Scotia craft beer paired with local BBQ favourites, set on Georges Island – this will be the ultimate local food and drink celebration.

Security Protocols
Security protocols for A Taste of Nova Scotia on Georges Island events will include routine bag checks. Only sealed water bottles will be permitted. (No refillable bottles or unsealed bottles will be permitted.)

Saturday July 29 – 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. transportation via Murphy’s the Cable Wharf

$15 — To book www.MTCW.ca

Security Protocols
Food, non-alcohol beverage and picnic items are welcomed at this event. Alcohol is not permitted. Security protocols will include routine bag checks.

Provincial Park Regulations

• no fires permitted on the island;
• items are not to be sold in the park;
• pets must be on leashes at all times;
• liquor is prohibited within the park;
• no vegetation to be cut or removed;
• camping permitted at designated camping locations and only by reservation (902-861-2560);
• McNabs Island is a Pack In – Pack Out park, no garbage receptacle provided. Please do your part to keep the park clean.

Theodore Rides to and from Halifax (Murphy’s the Cable Wharf) / Dartmouth (Alderney Landing) –  10 a.m. to 5 p.m. July

10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Cunard Lot July 28-1; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Aug. 1 (tickets available on site)

There is no fee to board the tall ships (however you must have present photo ID to board) participating in RDV 2017.

Bluenose II Program – In addition to the international fleet Nova Scotia’s very own sailing ambassador will be hosting tours of the iconic ship from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Maritime Museum of the Atlantic.

The majority of the shore side events and performances are free of charge, including Natalie MacMaster with Symphony Nova Scotia presented on the CBC Mainstage on Saturday July 29 at 7:30 p.m.

A complete schedule of entertainment can be found at https://rdv2017ns.com/the-event-schedule/.  Pop-ups concerts / performances and the Taste of Nova Scotia Food Fare by the Sea is free admission as well.

Picnic in the Parade with the Halifax Convention Centre – Savour a taste of East Coast flavour with a picnic breakfast in Grand Parade Square served up by the Halifax Convention Centre team in support of Feed Nova Scotia. Join in on Monday, July 31 from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. as we host you for a FREE locally-inspired breakfast made from scratch by our in-house culinary experts in celebration of the 2017 International Tall Ships Regatta. The event is first-come, first-served, while supplies last so be sure to drop anchor early. Volunteers from Feed Nova Scotia will be on-site collecting donations.

 Participate in the Parade of Sail like never before by being part of the Blue Wave. Dalhousie University and Waterfront Development are asking people to wear blue as we send off the fleet on their final leg of RDV 2017 Tall Ships Regatta.  Aug. 1 at roughly 11 a.m. people will begin to gather along the waterfronts in Dartmouth and Halifax to send off these majestic ships and their international crews.

Sacred Fire Ceremony – 6 a.m. Sands at Salter

Tee Pee Lights  – 6 a.m. –  Sands at Salter

Canoe/Interpretive – 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. –  Sands at Salter

Mawio’mi – a Mi’kmaq Cultural Gathering and Experience featuring canoe displays by Todd Labrador, Sunrise Ceremonies and storytelling with Sacred Firekeeper Danny Paul, and Mi’kmaq culinary demonstrations by Chef Ray Bear.  10 a.m. to 6 p.m. – Sands at Salter

Friday, July 28 (starting at 12 p.m.), Saturday, July 29 and Tuesday, Aug. 1 (until 12 p.m.)

Parks Canada on the Waterfront: Learn about Canada’s naval and military heritage from the time of Confederation and through the world wars. Chat with costumed interpreters aboard HMCS Acadia and on the pier. Watch cannon and rifle demonstrations, learn about medicine during the First World War, and see if you can resist the temptations of a recruiting sergeant.

Be sure to drop into the Parks Canada Plaza located at the wave and find out what’s new at all of our Atlantic Canada sites this summer!  Pick up your FREE Parks Canada Discovery Pass, get an airbrush tattoo, meet our roving beaver mascot Parka, and more!

In addition to the Halifax Citadel’s every day awesome experiences including the 78^th Highland sentries and the iconic noon gun, visitors will find a fully equipped First World War Casualty Clearing Station, complete with battlefield nurses. Explore our recreated First World War trench and see some larger displays of marching and military tactics from the time of Confederation. Open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

Don’t miss the opportunity to visit Georges Island National Historic Site during Tall Ships 2017! Learn about the early French connection to Halifax harbour as you experience the “Life of a Soldier” with costumed interpreters from Fortress of Louisbourg.  Also, don’t forget to take a tunnel tour and go beneath Fort Charlotte.

Parks Canada on the Waterfront: Learn about Canada’s naval and military heritage from the time of Confederation and through the world wars. Chat with costumed interpreters aboard HMCS Acadia and on the pier. Watch cannon and rifle demonstrations, learn about medicine during the First World War, and see if you can resist the temptations of a recruiting sergeant.

Be sure to drop into the Parks Canada Plaza located at the wave and find out what’s new at all of our Atlantic Canada sites this summer!  Pick up your FREE Parks Canada Discovery Pass, get an airbrush tattoo, meet our roving beaver mascot Parka, and more!  Visitors are invited to drop by starting July 28 in the afternoon to the sail past on Aug. 1.

Please note that due to Rendez-Vous 2017 Tall Ships Regatta event programming, public parking will be unavailable in all parking lots operated by Waterfront Development on the Halifax waterfront.

Paid public parking will remain available at Casino Nova Scotia, Purdy’s Wharf, the Halifax Seaport and Scotia Square, among other downtown Halifax locations.

While parking is available, it will be very limited during the festival. Public transit is an efficient way to commute to and from the festival.

Halifax Transit offers two ferry services: The Alderney Ferry service crosses from Halifax to Alderney Landing in downtown Dartmouth and the Woodside Ferry service crosses from Halifax to Woodside. Both locations have Park and Ride lots. Ferry service is accessible and integrated with the bus services. You can use a transfer to board ferries and buses. Schedules for both ferries can be found here: https://www.halifax.ca/transportation/halifax-transit/ferry-service.

For transit schedules and route maps, please visit https://www.halifax.ca/transportation/halifax-transit/bus-routes-schedules#Conventional Transit. A complete route map can be found here.

*Please note that all Halifax Transit services will be free of charge to all event volunteers and ship crew.

The King’s Wharf Water taxi services Halifax, Dartmouth, the Bedford Basin, Eastern Passage, the Northwest Arm and McNabs Island. For rates and bookings, visit their website at http://www.harbourtaxi.ca/.

Halifax Transit Park and Ride locations: https://www.halifax.ca/transportation/halifax-transit/park-ride. *Please note the Alderney Ferry Terminal Park and Ride will be closed for Tall Ships programming.

Bike locker information is available by calling 902-490-4275.

Halifax Transit operates its MetroX service from downtown to Halifax Stanfield International Airport. The #320 bus operates every 30 minutes during peak morning (6 a.m. to 9 a.m.) and afternoon (3 p.m. to 6 p.m.) times. The regular schedule departs every 60 minutes. Fares are $3.50 for adults/students and $2.75 for children/seniors. *Exact fare is required. The schedule is available here. 

Maritime Bus offers a full scheduled Airport Shuttle Service to and from the Airport to Downtown Dartmouth and Halifax. The cost of a one-way fare is $22/person and the cost of a return trip is $40/person. Children under 12 ride for free, but still need a ticket prior to travel. Tickets must be pre-purchased prior to travel. Visit https://maritimebus.com/halifax-airport-shuttle/ for details.

More information on ground transportation from Halifax Stanfield International Airport can be found at https://halifaxstanfield.ca/transportation/.  Information on accessible transportation from the airport can be found here: https://halifaxstanfield.ca/at-the-airport/special-needs-services/.

The MacKay and Macdonald bridges are tolled bridges. Users pay for the bridge going in both directions. The toll you pay is based on the number of axles on your vehicle. Most passenger vehicles and light trucks pay $0.80 if using a MACPASS and $1.00 if paying with cash*.

*Please note the cash lanes accept quarters, $1 coins and $2 coins. The coin baskets will not accept dimes, nickels or pennies.

The Macdonald Bridge will remain OPEN this weekend as of Friday, July 28 at 5:30 a.m. It will be subject to standard overnight closures from 7 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. Sunday, Monday and Tuesday (July 30-August 1). For the most up-to-date information closure times, please visit http://www.hdbc.ca/closure-times.

Pedestrians and bicycles are not permitted on the MacKay bridge; they may use dedicated lanes on the Macdonald Bridge. The sidewalk and bicycle lanes are free of charge to use. A free shuttle service is available to pedestrians and cyclists during bridge closures.

The Halifax Community Road Train ‘Hali’ will operate daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in a continuous half-hour loop downtown and on the waterfront. Hali’s is run by donation of a suggested $2 to $5. Visit www.halifaxroadtrain.ca to see Hali’s easy-to-read route map which updates every 30 seconds. Stops are as follows:

Stop 1 – Foundation Lot
Stop 2 – Maritime Museum of the Atlantic
Stop 3 – George Street: Art Gallery of Nova Scotia
Stop 4 – Chebucto Landing
Stop 5 – Hollis Street; Province House
Stop 6 – Hollis Street
Stop 7 – Westin Nova Scotia Hotel
Stop 8 – Cunard Lot

Courtesy of Ambassatours, a free shuttle bus will be available to transport visitors between the Halifax Citadel and the waterfront.

The shuttle will load at the front entrance of the Halifax Citadel National Historic Site and in front of the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. The schedule for the shuttle is as follows:

Friday, July 28: 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
(The shuttle departs from Citadel Hill at 12 p.m. and then departs from the Halifax Waterfront at 12:30 p.m. and so on.)
Saturday, July 29: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday, July 30: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Monday, July 31: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Please note that during the follow times, the portion of Lower Water St. from Prince St. to George St. will be closed to allow Lower Water St. to be used as a pedestrian facility:

Saturday, July 29: 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Sunday, July 30: 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.