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Nine tall ships will make their way under the Aerial Lift Bridge this afternoon to kick off the 2016 Tall Ships Duluth festival.

The nine ships are scheduled to enter the canal beginning at about 1 p.m. today, when the ships will enter three at a time during the Parade of Sail. The opening ceremony is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. today.

In addition to the tall ships, the World's Largest Rubber Duck, a 61-foot-tall inflatable creation, will be a part of the festival.

Gates are open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. today and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday. Organizers say they expect about 300,000 people to attend the tall ships festival over the four days.

Single-day and multi-day tickets to view the ships remain available, in addition to options for on-ship tours or a combination ticket with other Duluth attractions. Tickets can be purchased at the gate or in advance online at tallshipsduluth.com, although ticket prices will be more expensive at the gate.

The nine ships scheduled to take part in this year's Tall Ships Duluth are:

Pride of Baltimore II, a 19th-century Baltimore clipper replica

El Galeón Andalucía, a replica of a Spanish galleon

U.S. Brig Niagara, a replica of a War of 1812 vessel

Mist of Avalon, a replica of a 19th-century Grand Banks schooner

When and If, Gen. George S. Patton's personal schooner

S/V Denis Sullivan, a replica of a 19th-century Great Lakes schooner

Appledore V, a gaff-rigged topsail schooner

Zeeto, a replica of an 1850s fishing schooner

Abbey Road, a modern-day schooner used to teach sailing to kids.

For more information about Tall Ships Duluth, go to tallshipsduluth.com. Look for tall ships coverage online today at duluthnewstribune.com and in Friday's print edition of the News Tribune.

Tall ships photos on social media