The festival is free, but you’ll have to pay to board the ships – except for the Coast Guard Eagle, which is free. You can buy boarding passes at the festival, but to save time, buy them online at tallshipstacoma.com and print them yourself.

General daily pass: $10 (allows you to board all Class B and C ships).

Premium daily pass: $20 (allows you to board all ships, including the Niña, the Kaisei and the HMS Bounty).

Treasure pass: $60 (allows four-day access to all ships).

Children 10 and younger: Free.

Sailing adventures: Excursions on tall ships and other vessels were available as of Friday. Check tallshipstacoma.com for availability. A limited number of standby sailings will be available if reserved passengers don’t show up.

n Argosy Cruises is offering harbor tours and sunset dinner cruises on the Royal Argosy. Information: www.argosycruises.com.

FESTIVAL SCHEDULE

For more details, see the event guide in Tuesday’s paper.

Thursday, July 3

Parade of Sail: 10 a.m. Vessels will sail from Quartermaster Harbor to the Foss Waterway to the cheers of thousands along the Ruston Way waterfront.

Festival hours: Noon-8 p.m. (no ship boarding).

Friday, July 4 through Monday, July 7

Festival hours: 10 a.m.-8 p.m.

Ship boarding: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Lines close at 5 p.m.

Friday, July 4

Tacoma Freedom Fair: The Fourth of July festival opens at 10 a.m. on the Ruston Way waterfront with live entertainment, food and crafts. The Tacoma Air Show starts at 1:30 p.m. Fireworks blast off at 10:10 p.m.

GETTING THERE, GETTING AROUND

Main entrance: Dock Street at 15th and A streets.

Parking: The official parking lot is at the Tacoma Dome. Parking is $10. Parking also will be available at downtown lots.

Shuttle buses: Free buses will run from the Tacoma Dome and between the three festival villages from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. daily (10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on July 3).

Transit: Festivalgoers are encouraged to take the bus and avoid parking hassles and expense. Pierce Transit offers a dozen routes with service to Pacific Avenue near the festival. One-way fare is $1.50; on Saturday and Sunday an all-day pass is $3.

Bicycles: Bike parking will be available at the Northwest Passage Village near the Museum of Glass. No bicycle riding around the festival.

BOATING REGULATIONS

One of the best ways to see the ships is from a boat. But if you’re planning to be on the water during the festival, be advised that the Coast Guard has issued special safety regulations. The rules limit where and when boaters can operate or anchor.

General restriction from June 30 to July 7: A 50-yard moving safety zone around every tall ship while under way in Puget Sound. No unauthorized vessels may enter that safety zone.

Other regulations for particular areas, according to the Coast Guard:

 • Quartermaster Harbor There will be a safety zone in the harbor from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on July 3, the day of the Parade of Sail. No boats will be allowed in Quartermaster Harbor without permission from the captain of the port, Puget Sound.

 • Ruston Way Watercraft will be prohibited in a safety zone 400 yards out from Ruston Way from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on July 3 during the Parade of Sail. The zone extends from the Tacoma Yacht Club to the mouth of the Foss Waterway.

 • Foss Waterway A 50-foot buffer rule will be in effect on the waterway during the festival. Festival security boats may stop traffic in the waterway when a tall ship is entering or leaving.

For details, go to tallshipstacoma.com.