Historic ships to arrive in city ahead of major event

The Spirit of Falmouth will dock in Gloucester on Friday

Vessels taking part in the Gloucester Tall Ships Festival are expected to arrive from Friday morning.

The event takes place from 25-27 May at Gloucester Docks.

The first tall ships, such as Irene and the Spirit of Falmouth, are scheduled to arrive in British waters late on Thursday and head to the Sharpness Canal to make their way to early to Gloucester the next day.

The ships will be the star attraction for Spring Bank Holiday weekend event alongside a main stage music line-up, which features Wellerman chart-topper Nathan Evans, and festival favourites such as Brassienda and The Old Time Sailors.

The smaller vessel, Vilma, is scheduled to dock in Gloucester on Thursday, early in the evening, with the ships due to take around four hours to cross through the Sharpness Canal Lock.

The Phoenix will be one of the ships on display

During the festival, there will also be playgrounds, funfairs and a submarine that will be skippered by a DJ, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

A new outdoor performance space, the Mariners Theatre, will host a programme of live street theatre and walkabout performances, including Simple Cypher - a fusion of hip-hop and circus performed by a talented trio combining explosive tricks and playful interactions.

In addition to the festival’s line up of international music on the main stage, audiences can take in the sounds of local talent at the Crane stage.

Set against the backdrop of Gloucester Docks, Radio 2 Folk Award nominee Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne, BBC Introducing favourites Saint Senara and a selection of emerging artists presented by Gloucester’s Music Works will perform.

Robin Kemp, creative director of the festival, said: "Our mix of historic tall ships, performers, experiences, and entertainment has been inspired by the global connectivity and history of the docks."