ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
Founded in the wake of the 2007 floods that affected so much of Gloucester, as a symbol of resilience, celebration and connection, Gloucester Tall Ships Festival is the city’s single biggest cultural event.
It is a bi-annual celebration that takes place in the historic Gloucester Docks and celebrates the city’s rich maritime history and its global connections. The three-day event is a vibrant spectacle that attracts tens of thousands of festival-goers who are treated to an extensive live music line up, immersive entertainment, sail cargo showcases, vintage fairground rides, family activities, and the Smugglers’ Market of local food and drink producers.
The Festival not only welcomes home the majestic Tall Ships that once dominated Gloucester Docks, but also embraces the diverse cultures and global connections fostered by the bustling inland port.
Alongside a new production team who’ve worked on huge events like Glastonbury Festival, this year’s Festival’s Creative Director is Robin Kemp, former Host City Creative Director for Eurovision in Liverpool, who will be producing an outstanding artistic line up with a focus on an incredible live music, and ushering a fresh new look and feel to the Festival.
2024 will be the ninth Gloucester Tall Ships Festival and the biggest one yet. It is also acting as a prelude to an even larger tenth festival in 2027, which will be the centrepiece of Docks200, the bicentenary celebrations of Gloucester Docks.
Gloucester Tall Ships is produced by Gloucester City Council and Gloucester BID, in partnership with Canal & River Trust, Gloucester Quays and Gloucester Docks Estate Company Ltd.
THE PRODUCERS
GLOUCESTER BID
Gloucester Business Improvement District is a business-led, business-funded, non-profit organisation working in partnership to bring you a safe, attractive, supported and promoted city. Together we are achieving more! Find out more here.
GLOUCESTER CITY COUNCIL
Gloucester City Council is the Festival's primary funder, as well as the event producer, having brought production of Tall Ships back in house for 2024. Find out more about Gloucester City Council here.
THE TALL SHIPS TEAM
CREATIVE DIRECTOR - ROBIN KEMP
PRODUCER - POPPY HANDY
MARKETING LEAD - JACK FAYTER
PRODUCTION DESIGN - REBECCA McDONALD
GRAPHIC DESIGN - LAURA STRIPP
PRINTING - WITHPRINT
ANIMATION - SAYEED ISLAM
SITE MANAGER - SCOTTIE McKEAN
EVENT MANAGEMENT - NATALIE SIMPSON & KAREN PEARSON
MARKETING - ZOE LARDER, BECKY MEGSON, GABRIELLE OLSHANSKY
SOCIAL MEDIA - EMMA CARPENTER
PR - ENCORE PR
BOX OFFICE LEAD - ROBYN BLYTHE
BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION - LUCIA DEDEAR & MICHAEL HUNT
A huge thanks to the hundreds of people who make Tall Ships Festival happen, including our volunteers, festival staff, Gloucester City Council and Gloucester BID colleagues, as well as residents, businesses and workers of Gloucester Docks, who have been exceptionally supportive of the festival.