The Spirit, the Mystic and the Roseway Salisbury welcomes tall ships for launch of its first Merrimack River Maritime Festival

The era of sailing ships and fishing schooners is revived this weekend as three tall-masted ships sail into the local waters for Salisbury's first Merrimack River Maritime Festival.

The Spirit of Carolina, a 140-foot replica of an 1879 two-masted schooner, arrived yesterday and anchored off the mouth of the Merrimack River at Salisbury Beach State Reservation. It is expected to be joined later today and tomorrow by Tall Ship Mystic, a 170-foot, three-masted schooner from Mystic, Conn., and the Roseway, a 137-foot National Historical Landmark fishing schooner built in Essex in 1925 that is one of only six original Grand Banks schooners still in existence.

With sails reaching heights of more than 110 feet, the ships will be open to sea, sailing and history lovers all day Saturday and Sunday for guided tours. The ships' captains and crews will be on hand to share their knowledge and insight as well.

Sponsored by the Salisbury Beach Partnership, this will be the first visit by tall ships to Salisbury, and is part of an initiative by the nonprofit Sail Boston to bring historic vessels to ports throughout the state. Salisbury is the inaugural venue in the group's new Sail Massachusetts initiative.

A variety of interactive educational demonstrations and other maritime activities are also planned both days under a tent adjacent to the river at the reservation. The tent will be adorned with nautical art drawn by local children, and there will be pirate shows and the re-enactment of "David's Story," illustrating what life was like on Old Ironsides, the USS Constitution, during the War of 1812.

A Chowdah and Beer Fest featuring tasty samples from area restaurants and live music is planned for Saturday from 4 to 10 p.m. in the parking lot at Driftway in Salisbury Beach Center. And Saturday night culminates with a fireworks show over the beach.

In addition, Newburyport's Custom House Maritime Museum will showcase an exhibit and Lowell's Boat Shop in Amesbury, the oldest active boat-builidng shop in the country, will offer a boat-building display.

Organizers are hoping the festival provides not only an economic boost for Salisbury, but the first of what is hoped to be periodic tall ship visits to its waters.

"I'm not a sailor per se, but who doesn't get the lump in their throat when they see the tall ships" said Wayne Capolupo, president of the Salisbury Beach Partnership when plans for the festival were first announced last fall. "From the very first time I saw the tall ships in Boston, it had a profound effect on me. When we were presented with this opportunity, we just jumped at it."

r What: Merrimack River Maritime Festival, two-day summer maritime festival with tall ship tours, hands-on activities, fireworks and more

r When: Saturday and Sunday. Tours and activities from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fireworks Saturday at 10 p.m.

r How: Tickets for tours of all three ships $5; toddlers free. Ticket tent adjacent to pathway that leads to the docks; no prior purchase available. Visit www.beachfests.org.

r Captains Moonlight Gala, 7 to 10 p.m., featuring private viewing of ships, hors d'oeuvres, meet the captains reception music, dancing and more, under the tent at Salisbury Beach State Reservation; tickets $50. Proceeds support Salisbury Beach Partnership.

r Maritime Chowdah Challenge and Beer Fest, 4 to 10 p.m., featuring chowders from area restaurants, beer sampling and music by Ernie and the Automatics and Wicked Acoustics, behind The Pavilion on Driftway and Oceanfront; tickets $5.

r Parking is available for $7 in the Salisbury municipal parking lot outside Salisbury State Beach Reservation and within the reservation itself at any of its large parking areas. Metered parking spaces are available in Salisbury Beach Center. All parking and meter regulations will be enforced.

r Free shuttle bus service will run in a continuous loop during the Maritime Festival bringing visitors from centralized areas to the ships. Shuttle bus stops, marked by white canopies and "Festival Shuttle" signs, will be located at:

Photos

Spirit of South Carolina Courtesy photo

Mystic Courtesy photo

Roseway Courtesy photo