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Majestic ships sailing into Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, the Blue Angels soaring overhead, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra performing the world premiere of “Overture of 2012”— these are just a few highlights from the Star-Spangled Sailabration, which sets sail today through June 19.
Sailabration is an annual international maritime festival but, this year, the event also serves as the launch of Maryland’s three-year bicentennial commemoration of the War of 1812 and the writing of the Star-Spangled Banner.
“We are the only state that can lay claim to the birth of these important icons—both the flag and the anthem,” says Jill Feinberg, the event’s director of marketing and communications. “[We] expect to see hundreds of thousands of visitors and residents in town enjoying the festivities.”
And those visitors will certainly have plenty to enjoy.
More than 40 tall ships and naval vessels from all over the world will be available for free public tours.
Children’s activities, live entertainment, food, and much more can also be enjoyed at the Sailabration Festival Villages, located throughout the Baltimore area.
On June 16 and 17, from 1-4 p.m., the U.S. Navy Blue Angels will wow crowds with a high-precision air show.
Visitors can also:
Join Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and the Navy Ceremonial Band as they welcome more than forty ships' captains to Baltimore on June 14 at the Harborplace Amphitheatre
Watch the Star-Spangled Symphony perform the “Overture of 2012” composed by Philip Glass on June 17 at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall
Join the Secretary of the U.S. Navy, the Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy and many other dignitaries as they celebrate the bicentennial at “From Enemies to Allies” on June 18 at Ft. McHenry. The event will feature special recorded messages from President Obama and British Prime Ministers Cameron and Harper.
The Star-Spangled Sailabration is a festival the whole family can enjoy. Don’t miss out on this special occasion!
Follow the event on Facebook and Twitter. Or, for more information, call 800-266-5699 or visit starspangled200.com. You can also find event details on our website by typing ‘Star Spangled Sailabration” in the search box above.
This post was written by Karolina Gajdeczka and edited by Christopher Milazzo, 2012 summer interns at Maryland Life.
