The Tall Ships Regatta is starting tomorrow at Woolwich pier and will run all through the Easter weekend.

Over 1 million people attended the last regatta in 2014 and there are a large number of events, re-enactments, and performances taking place during the four-day-festival.

The highlights of the festival include:

• The fleet of Tall Ships assembles for the departing Parade of Sail on the River Thames at Deptford Creek and Maritime Greenwich, on Sunday 16 April. The ships depart Greenwich at 5pm, passing Woolwich at around 5.45pm, and will be visible from the whole riverfront of the borough.

• On Saturday, April 15, a stunning farewell fireworks display will be at the Royal Arsenal riverside in Woolwich, scheduled for 9.45pm on Saturday, 15 April, dependent on weather and conditions.

• The opening night in Woolwich, on Thursday April 13, will feature Glenn Tilbrook from Squeeze (7.45pm) and Hydromania, a spectacular performance of light, sound and water at 8.30pm at the Fentimans Festival Stage in Artillery Square.

Visitors will be able to board the ships, of which there will be at least 30 anchored on the river at Greenwich and Woolwich.

Many of these historic sailing ships will then travel to Quebec via Sines in Portugal, in the Rendez-Vous 2017 Tall Ships Regatta organised by Sail Training International.

To get on the ships, you simply join the queues at the pier to walk on board. You can also visit the three largest ships moored in the Thames.

You'll take the paid shuttle service, have around 45 minutes to explore the ship and hear all about Greenwich's maritime history from one of the on-board guides, before returning to the pier on the ferry shuttle.

Tickets can be bought at the ticket booth near the pier. Tickets cost £10 per adult and £8 per child under the age of 15, with family tickets costing £30.

The ferry departs every 20 minutes from 9.30am to 4.45pm, Thursday 13 to Saturday 15 April, and 9.30am to 12 noon, Sunday April 16.

Music and street performances as well as children’s activities will take place each day of the festival in Woolwich and Greenwich, spreading to Eltham on Saturday.