More than 20 tall ships and other vessels from around the world will visit the North Embarcadero from Sept. 2 to 6 for the 2010 Port of San Diego Festival of Sail, hosted by the Maritime Museum of San Diego. The festival kicks off with a majestic parade of tall ships on San Diego Bay at 11 a.m., Sept. 2. Festival visitors will enjoy touring the ships, entertainment at the Festival of Sail main stage, food and drink from dozens of restaurant booths, a family activity area, petting zoo and shopping for one-of-a-kind items among more than 100 festival vendors. Ships at the festival will include the tall ship of California, the Californian, a replica of the original America’s Cup racing yacht America, the Gaff topsail schooner Bill of Rights, the Brigantine from Antigua, the Kaisei and many more. Several ships will engage in cannon battle reenactments on San Diego Bay during the festival. In addition, 12-pound cannons, known as Napoleons, will be fired to salute morning and dusk. The museum’s Shore Battery Artillery Team will also salute the ships with several rounds of fire as they pass by during the parade. The unit will demonstrate how the guns are cleaned and then will fire the three and four pound guns for a “noon salute” each day as well as firing volleys at the ships during the Gun Battles on the Bay. For more information see www.sdmaritime.org.