Toronto's waterfront will be overrun with sailboats and pirate ships this month

The Toronto waterfront is going to be completely taken over by pirate ships and sailboats this month, but luckily, there's a very fun reason why.

If you happen to notice that the Toronto waterfront seems abnormally flooded with tall ships and other large sailboats this month, do not be afraid — Blackbeard and his motley crew haven't arisen from their watery graves to squirrel away the city's riches: it's actually the Toronto Waterfront Festival, back for another season.

Taking place at and around Sugar Beach, just off Queens Quay, the festival is a lauded celebration of Toronto's mostly pristine, always breathtaking yet too often underappreciated waterfront with fun activities, live entertainment and festival foods.

The real star of the show, though, is the Parade of Sail, which is set to take place on Friday, June 27, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and will see an impressive fleet of historic tall ships take sail.

Among the vessels you'll see overtaking local waters are the Lettie G. Howard which, being built in 1893, is one of the last-surviving U.S. fishing schooners in the world and the Pride of Baltimore II, a replica of the 1812-era U.S. privateer vessels that threatened British forces during the war.

If simply watching the boats float by isn't thrilling enough for you, you can purchase a ticket to ride aboard the Empire Sandy, Canada's largest tall ship, for the duration of the parade. Ticket numbers are extremely limited, and they're going for just $50, so if you long for the sea (okay, lake,) breeze in your hair, you'll want to act fast.

Of course, the festival will feature more than just a bunch of breathtaking boats to look at.

Appropriately, given the piratey parallels of the event, Captain Finn & Salty Sea Dogs, a self-described "rambunctious group o' pirate musicians," will be on-site singing sea shanties all weekend long, while you get the chance to step on board and tour some of the featured vessels.

If all of this seafaring manages to work up an appetite, you'll be able to find eats from the likes of Grandma's Beach Treats, WuBaEats, Butter & Creme Bakery and Barbecue, and Real Empanada Corporation to keep you satiated and scurvy-free.

The entire festival runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, June 28 and Sunday, June 29, with the Parade of Sail hitting the water the day prior.