Visitors to Philadelphia this month might be surprised by what they see on the Delaware River: the largest rubber duck in the world will be anchored off shore to help celebrate the Tall Ships Philadelphia Camden 2015 festival.

The event will take place from June 25 through June 28, and there’s never been a better time to book one of the fantastic short-term rentals available in the city. The huge rubber duck is 61 feet tall and weighs 11 tons. It is part of an awareness campaign launched by the organizers to draw attention to the conservation of our natural resources, including waterways. They wanted a fun and quirky way to highlight the need to maintain these environments for real ducks and other wildlife.

Beautiful vessels

Alongside the enormous duck, visitors will also be able to admire the various tall ships that will be displayed for the event. The festival will see the arrival on the Delaware River of 12 of the most famous ships in the world. Some of these historic and unique ships include the Portuguese Tall Ship Sagres and Hermione, which is a French frigate.

These vessels can be viewed from the riverside, and a few of them will also be opened up to the public. You can also have the opportunity to sail on one of these classic vessels with sailing pass, which will be priced at $85. General admission to the festival costs $7. Other activities taking place include historic reenactments, dance, music, and the sale of local food and craft beer.