Tourism Sarnia-Lambton is working on a proposal to bring tall ships back to the area in two years.
Executive Director Mark Perrin said they have until September 1 to place a bid to participate in the 2025 Tall Ships Celebration on the Great Lakes.
"We're always looking at what we can bring to the community," said Perrin. "Tall Ships is an event we had last in 2019. It's a great economic booster. We're just trying to gauge, right now, what the RFP (Request for Proposal) needs to be submitted and see if we can be successful in bringing another event to Sarnia-Lambton."
Over 20,000 people attended the event in 2019 and over $2 million was generated in economic impact.
"Before making the actual bid submission we want to hopefully partner with the City of Sarnia on it so that we can work together to bring an event like this back," Perrin said.
He said a lot of planning goes into landing this type of large scale attraction.
"Getting the budget ready, getting the marketing package, making sure all of the ship requirements are in place at Sarnia Harbour," he said.
Perrin said the 2019 event yielded a surplus of over $75,000, which was allocated to the city's waterfront reserve fund for future waterfront events and development.
The Bluenose II, Empire Sandy, Picton Castle, Appledore IV, Fair Jeanne and the Christopher Columbus replica Santa Maria were moored at Sarnia Harbour along with a Canadian Coast Guard ship.
Sarnia was featured as one of five Canadian ports on the 11 port tour.