Groton — The Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism has joined the growing list of sponsors to the inaugural Connecticut Schooner Festival that will get underway next month.

The announcement was made during a press conference Monday at The Branford House on the campus of the University of Connecticut at Avery Point.

"Branding is key to any event in Connecticut," said Kevin Cavanagh, vice chairman of the schooner festival. "This gives us a whole area of public relations that we wouldn't otherwise have access to and spreads the word all over Connecticut."

Twenty ships, some more than 100 feet long, have signed on for the five-day event that will be held in Mystic and New London and starts on Sept. 11.

Chairman John Johnson said organizers have made a five-year commitment to bring the festival to the state, and other cities such as Bridgeport have expressed interest in hosting the event.

Johnson said about $235,000 has been budgeted for the event and there is about $30,000 to $50,000 that still needs to be raised.

"We can always use more sponsors," he said. "This event is great for jump-starting tourism."

Randy Fiveash, director of the Connecticut Office of Tourism, said the festival falls in line with the state's "Still Revolutionary" marketing campaign.

"As we move on with the brand, we knew we had to look back into the past and then move forward to what Connecticut is going to be, and our maritime history was going to be a part of that," Fiveash said.

Festival organizers also pointed out Monday that the event will include an educational component.

Johnson said that UConn, Mystic Seaport, Connecticut River Museum, Connecticut River Academy at Goodwin College, Schooner Inc. of New Haven, Sound Water of Stamford and several local school districts are leading the educational efforts.

Joseph Geraci, a retired educator and board member, said the institutions and schooners will share and demonstrate their maritime programs with the community and students will have an opportunity to participate in hands-on activities on the vessels.

"It is a history rich in seamanship, ship building, food sources and defense of the country," Geraci said. "It is important that Connecticut's maritime history not be forgotten, (but) rather emphasized through instruction and experiences to each succeeding generation."

The fleet arrives at Mystic Seaport on Sept. 11. The next day, there will be a dockside education program for students.

On Sept. 13, the fleet will sail to the New London waterfront near City Pier for the weekend festivities. Upon their arrival, the schooners will be honored at the Coast Guard Academy.

There will be a race in Fishers Island Sound on Sept. 14, along with ship visits, a lighted boat parade, sailing trips aboard some of the ships, two concerts, a juried plein-air painting contest, a sand-sculpture contest and the Greater New London Chowder Challenge.

A complete list of activities is available at www.CTSchoonerFest.com. The festival will conclude Sept. 15 with a parade of sail down the Thames River.

i.larraneta@theday.com