A 141-foot replication of a 17th century Swedish tall ship will be docking in Bristol Borough this week and to celebrates its visit the Bristol Lions will also be holding a weekend long food festival to raise funds for its community based efforts.
The Wilmington, Delaware based, Tall Ship Kalmar Nyckel, will sail up the Delaware River and dock at the Bristol Wharf on Thursday, September 9.
River cruises will be offered from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday, September 9, and Friday, September 10 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
On Saturday, the 11th, the ship will offer river sails at 10 a.m. to noon and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. The last sail will be Sunday, September 12 from noon to 2 p.m.
Tickets need to be purchased in advance online at KalmarNyckel.org/sail-and-explore or by calling 302-429-7447. They cost $50 for adults and $35 for kids and teens age 17 and under.
The Kalmar Nyckel, which is operated by the nonprofit Kalmar Nyckel Foundation, was re-constructed to be similar to the ship that brought Swedish settlers on a 1638 trip from Europe to the Delaware Valley.
“The captain and crew will greet you on Bristol Wharf for beautiful fall sails. It’s also the last leg of the only major trip the ship has made this year due to COVID guidelines,” said Cathy Parsells, executive director of the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation.
As part of the sailing festivities, The Bristol Lions,a “Tall Ship Food Festival.”
Due to the pandemic, we have not been able to have Italian Day for two years, which was our major fundraiser, Lions officials said, “so we ask you to please come out Friday , Saturday and Sunday Sept. 10th, 11th and 12th and support the Bristol Lions Club.”
The Kalmar Nyckel has had limited excursions, due to COVID-19, also.
Other destinations, Kalmar Nyckel this summer have been Kingston, New York on the Hudson River, New Castle, Delaware, and the return to its home, at the Copeland Maritime Center in Wilmington.
The Kalmar Nyckel was popular and sold out its tours when it last visited Bristol Borough in 2019.
