You Can Still Catch the Tall Ships in Newburyport

Tall Ships in Newburyport? You bet. Those in the know have been enjoying it since June. So let's get you involved.

Back on June 29th, Newburyport Maritime Days kicked off in Newburyport. The event is a fundraiser for the Custom House Maritime Museum. The Custom House Maritime Museum, in their words, "was established to protect, preserve, interpret, and celebrate the lower Merrimack River Valley’s maritime heritage and how it relates to American history." Cool museum, historic building.

The Museum serves a number of purposes today. It is, first and foremost, a maritime history museum. But it also serves as an education center (field trip, anyone?) and a cultural center. It also sees use as a research center. And, as is the case with so many other historic buildings in Massachusetts, it hosts its fair share of special events and community gatherings.

As if any of the aforementioned wasn't enough to make you want to pay a visit, you can do something else special at the CHMM. Through the weekend, you'll be able to visit replica tall ship Nao Trinidad. The ship arrived at the waters outside the museum on June 29th, flying the Spanish flag, escorted by a flotilla of local vessels. The original Nao Trinidad sailed around the world between 1519 and 1522. At the time, it was the greatest maritime feat in history.

The 200-ton replica of Magellan's legendary ship is docked at Waterfront Park through July 9. Tour tickets are $15 for adults, $35 for families, and $10 for children 5-12. Children under 5 are free. The bilingual crew is knowledgeable and the vessel is a breathtaking sight to behold in person. For more information or to purchase your tickets, visit the Newburyport Maritime Days website. And don't wait. Again, your chance to see the tall ship sets sail after Sunday.

Levitate Music Festival returns to Marshfield Fairgrounds July 7-9. Below you'll find a few tips to help you get the most out of the weekend.

The Levitate Music and Arts Festival (that's its proper name) is celebrating it's 10th Anniversary this year. But it's roots go back even further. If you're a South Shore head, you probably know the story. If you're not, here it is. In 2003, Bob Pollard (not the one from indie rock band Guided By Voices) founded Levitate as a surf and skate shop in Marshfield. It soon grew into more than that.

Levitate quickly became more than just a shop for surf and skateboard enthusiasts on the South Shore. It became a community, using grassroots methods to organize local contests, beach cleanups, movie nights, and more. Sadly, Pollard passed away in 2006. But his spirit lives on through Levitate, as the scores of people he mentored and impacted continue to carry his good vibes forward.

In 2013, Levitate Music and Arts Festival became the brand's signature event. It's an annual celebration of creativity, community, and connectivity to nature, first and foremost. But it's also a killer event, jam-packed with local artisans, local beer, and local food. And, as the name states, it's a music festival. So it's a golden opportunity to partake in live music, outdoors, at the height of summer.

The 2023 edition is maybe the biggest yet. Levitate is celebrating 10 years of their signature festival, and 20 years as a brand that started small on the South Shore and has now grown to international status. You can see the full 2023 lineup and your ticket options here (while they last, of course). Keep on scrolling and I'll give you a few tips and tricks to ensure that your Levitate experience will be Pollard-approved.

Levitate is more in the vein of Bonnaroo than it is in the vein of, say, Boston Calling. You can camp out! There are two local camping options, both outlined here. If you're only planning on hitting one day, there's parking on-site at the Fairgrounds and 8 minutes with a free shuttle. Get those details here.

Reggae dubstars Stick Figure headline Friday. Jam god Trey Anastasio headlines Saturday. And genre-spanning singer-songwriter Brandi Carlisle headlines Sunday. And you get a little bit of everything on the undercard. Take a look at the lineup for each day.

Pro skater and amazing human, Pembroke's own Nora Vasconcellos will be on hand for the whole weekend. You can skate the ramp, skate the ramp with Nora, or just watch the demos. Keeping that Levitate spirt alive!

Boston Calling pivoted to this model last year, and other festivals are following suit. Card-only means quicker transactions, which means shorter lines, which means quicker wait times. Just be warned: cash is not king at Levitate. So leave yours at home.

Remember a few minutes ago when I showed you the Levitate lineup and talked about how eclectic it is? What I didn't talk about was how there's one artist you absolutely HAVE to see this weekend, above all others. He is the Kingfish, and--pardon my language--the kid can fucking PLAY.