Pictured is San Diego's Sail Festival held on Labor Day Weekend. Right photo shows the replica ship, San Salvador. It was built in San Diego in honor of explorer Juan Cabrillo's flagship galleon.

California Sea, Song, Ship and Sail Festivals

DANA POINT: Tall Ships Festival September 8-10, 2017
Parade of Sail on September 8, 2017, 4-7:30 p.m.
Held in Dana Point Harbor, this annual event is hosted by the Ocean Institute. Hours: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Tall Ships Festival
24200 Dana Point Harbor Dr.
Dana Point, CA 92629
ocean-institute.org/tall-ships-festival
$fee
Historically significant sailing vessels join ships at Dana Point. 

LOS ANGELES: LA Fleet Week (formerly Navy Days) September 1-4, 2017
The primary attraction is the free, ticketed event, touring military ships. Tickets go extremely fast, but if you want to visit and listen to bands or just admire the ships from land, then that's about it.

Lady Washington and Hawaiian Chieftain tall ships California Schedule: historicalseaport.org
OAKLAND: October 5-16, 2017
Lady Washington Only (Blue Angels)
HALF MOON BAY: October 17-30, 2017
MOSS LANDING: November 2-20, 2017
(Whale Watching)
MORRO BAY:  November 22 -December 5, 2017
SACRAMENTO:  October 4 -December 4, 2017
(Hawaiian Chieftain Only)

SAN DIEGO: Festival of Sail September 1-4, 2017
Produced by the Maritime Museum as a major fundraiser. Admission is affordable (under $10) but the real action is booking a ride on one of the ships. Prices range from $40-up, approx.

SAN DIEGO: Cabrillo Festival September 29-30, 2017
This annual festival celebrates the historic figure, Juan Cabrillo, with a landing ceremony, dancing, food vendors and costumed actors.

SAN FRANCISCO: San Francisco Fleet Week October 2-9, 2017
The best show in California involves both military and historic vessels the public can tour, a parade and aerial shows of Blue Angels and other aircraft. Some events are free and there are many ticketed opportunities for best seating and views.

SAN FRANCISCO: Festival of Sea Music Festival August 19, 2017
National Park Service produces this event held at San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park. With a history of music events such as Sea Shanty sing-alongs, the music at the sea festival tends toward historic and old-time, nautical themed or related songs.

The sea festivals in California may change their names and dates or even not repeat for another year depending on a variety of issues. If you check for updates regularly you'll have the inside edge on getting tickets to events such as LA Fleet Week, which offers free ship tours but only on a ticketed basis.

Events are not guaranteed. It is your responsibility to confirm before going.