[MR] Sail Virginia event--400th anniversary of Jamestown

[Sharon Gordon]

June 7 - 12, 2007 
Sail Virginia 2007 
Downtown Norfolk, Virginia 
Free and Open to the Public 
Norfolk's celebration of the Jamestown 400th anniversary 

>>>Edited from the press release<<<

For 6 days in early June 2007, the City of Norfolk and Norfolk
Festevents, Ltd. will host Sail Virginia 2007, a keystone 2007 event
of military, maritime and cultural activities, designed in recognition
of the 400th anniversary of the landing at Jamestown, this nation's
first English settlement.

The event places Norfolk on the "world stage" in far-reaching
collaboration with countries, militaries, and cultures from around the
world. To-date 23 countries have been invited by Norfolk Mayor Paul D.
Fraim, United States Senator John W. Warner of Virginia and former
Governor Mark R. Warner to send their tall ships to assemble in the 
Norfolk harbor and jointly participate in this historic celebration. 
"Not since OpSail 2000 have we hosted this large a gathering of
international militaries and tall sailing ships. We have reason to
expect that the presence of the US and international tall ship fleet
in 2007 will match if not exceed that of OpSail 2000." Coordinated
closely with the US Navy and US Coast Guard, Sail Virginia 2007 will
follow the model of OpSail 2000 as a major military and maritime
maneuver. Additionally, special attention will be placed on
commemorating the 100th anniversary of the 1907 Jamestown Exhibition,
one of the area's most ambitious endeavors in Hampton Roads' history
that set the stage for the next generation of military presence in
Norfolk, arts, science, technology, education and large scale public
events.

Sail Virginia 2007 will feature tall ships parading from off the
beaches of Ocean View, past the Norfolk Naval Base, which was the
original site of the 1907 Jamestown Exhibition and into the downtown
Norfolk harbor. 
Ships will open for public visits and tours. Military parades and
ceremonies, historical re-enactments and interpretations, music,
theatre, and special exhibits are planned to capture the spirit of the
times ranging from the colonial days of the 1600s, to life as it was
experienced in 1907. To commemorate the 1607 Jamestown landing, on
shore events will include music, dancing and theatre of the early
Colonial days, as well as a recreated Colonial Tavern with cast
members from Colonial Williamsburg and a special Virginia menu by
Vintage Kitchen of Norfolk.
Skilled artisans will demonstrate early American trades such as
blacksmithing, cooperage, weaving, candle making, tin press, farming
and more. A native American Pow-Wow is being planned with members of
the eight Virginia native American tribes.

A fleet of sailing ships representing the original 13 colonies will
participate as part of the Sail Virginia 2007 fleet, with crewmembers
in period dress and dockside entertainment and activities representing
their homeports.
The 6 days of Sail Virginia 2007 events, combined with the annual
Norfolk Harborfest celebration, is expected to draw roughly one
million visitors and generate $32 million for the region's economy. 
The downtown waterfront from the Berkley Bridge to Freemason Harbor
will be transformed into a series of living history sets representing
different cultures and different time periods offering residents and
visitors alike a truly unique experience.
This event has been purposely timed to coincide with FesteventsT
annual Norfolk Harborfest ® celebration on the Norfolk waterfront. 

Norfolk Festevents also announced today that they have entered a
formal partnership with the American Sail Training Association (ASTA)
to assist in organizing the U.S. fleet to include tall ships
representing the 13 original colonies. Sail Virginia 2007 will be part
of the 2007 ASTA 2007 Tall Ships Challenge that will include the ports
of Charleston, S.C, Newport, R.I and Halifax. ASTA is a non-profit
organization whose mission is to encourage 
character building through sail training, promote sail training to the
North American public and support education under sail. They support a
fleet of over 200 member tall ships - each year ASTA organizes the
TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE® Series of Tall Ships' races which creates the
opportunity for US and Canadian cities to host those participating
Tall Ships during local maritime festivals. "ASTA has been organizing
Tall Ships' events that mark major historical celebrations since the
US Bicentennial in 1976 and it is only fitting to be coming to Norfolk
next summer as part of Sail Virginia 2007," says Peter A. Mello, ASTA
executive director. 

Schedule of events planned for Sail Virginia 2007
Thursday, June 7 - Approximately 50 tall ships from around the world
and the United States, including a fleet representing the 13 original
colonies â?" rendezvous at anchorage off East Ocean View.
Friday, June 8 - The Parade of Sail cruises up the Chesapeake Bay from
Ocean View to Hampton Roads and then proceeds up the Elizabeth River
to the downtown waterfront. Virginia Governor Tim Kaine, United States 
Senator John Warner and Norfolk Mayor Paul D. Fraim are planned to
preside over a dramatic opening ceremony at the new Half Moone Cruise
and Celebration Center at The National Maritime Center.

Friday, June 8 to Sunday, June 10 - Colonial Days- Re-enactors in
period clothing depict life as it was in 1607, when the Jamestown
Colony was first founded. A colonial tavern will welcome visitors, as
musicians, sailors and artisans circulate among the public on land and
aboard ships. In the historic Freemason Harbor District, visitors
will experience the world three centuries later. Costumed re-enactors
will illustrate life in 1907 - through theater, music and dance
performances. Newsies will distribute papers, giving visitors a taste
for the breaking news of 100 years ago, when Norfolk celebrated the
300th anniversary of the landing at Jamestown â?" known as Norfolk's
Jamestown Exhibition. On the downtown waterfront, Harborfest will
feature its annual list of stellar entertainment and family fun, with
expanded offerings to including international performances and
performances from the Colonial and 1907 periods. This year's
Harborfest will also recognize the 25th anniversary of Norfolk's Town
Point Park. An international soccer competition on Saturday will
bring together Hampton Road's best competitors against talented teams
comprised of crewmembers of the visiting tall ships. And on Sunday,
an impressive Parade of Cadets will march down Main Street to the USS
Wisconsin complete with music, ceremony and pageantry. A Governor's
Ball, official Captain's dinners and receptions, Cadet balls, and crew
parties will run throughout the weekend celebration period.

Monday, June 11 - Official closing ceremonies.

Tuesday, June 12 - After the blessing of the fleet, the Parade of Sail
begins making its journey from Norfolk for ports north.