Fourth Annual North River Historic Ship Festival
Thursday, June 28 – Sunday, July 1
Hudson River Park’s Pier 25
N. Moore St. and the Hudson River in Tribeca
Events include free tours of historic ships, free trips on a tug and a fireboat, a circus on a showboat, and more.
New York, NY, June 12, 2012: Anyone who has ever wanted to ride on a tugboat, feel the spray when a fireboat does a water display or explore vintage ships will have the chance of a lifetime at the Fourth Annual North River Historic Ship Festival on June 28 – July 1.
The festival will bring four historic ships to Hudson River Park’s Pier 25 (at N. Moore St. and the Hudson River in Tribeca) to celebrate New York’s maritime heritage and to give the public, both children and adults, the opportunity go out on the water to learn about New York Harbor and the Hudson River and having fun while doing so. The festival is sponsored by the North River Historic Ship Society and the Friends of Hudson River Park.
Participating vessels are:
– The 105-year-old tugboat Pegasus (www.tugpegasus.org), who spent her long career towing barges and docking ships in New York Harbor.
– The retired NYC fireboat John J. Harvey (www.fireboat.org) built in 1931 and famed for her heroic work at the World Trade Center on 9/11.
– Lehigh Valley Railroad Barge No. 79, a.k.a. the Waterfront Museum and Showboat Barge (www.waterfrontmuseum.org), built in 1914 and the only surviving wooden railroad barge of its
type afloat.
– The 173-foot former Coast Guard Lighthouse Tender Lilac (www.lilacpreservationproject.org), a museum vessel built in 1933 and New York’s only historic steamship
Schedule of Events:
Thursday, June 28
6 to 8:30 p.m. Opening Night Gala aboard the historic railroad barge Lehigh Valley No. 79 honoring “Historic Ship Champions” Norman Brouwer and Lee Gruzen and raising funds for the fuel, crew and other costs to provide free public trips and dockside tours. Tax-deductible tickets, $50 – $250, include wine, beer and refreshments. Order tickets at www.nrhss.org.
Friday, June 29
3 to 6 p.m. Lehigh Valley Railroad Barge No.79, Pegasus and Lilac are open for free dockside tours.
Saturday, June 30
12 to 5 p.m. Lehigh Valley Railroad Barge No. 79 and Lilac are open for free dockside tours.
12 to 3 p.m. Free 45-minute educational trips on the Hudson River. Three trips each aboard fireboat John J. Harvey and tugboat Pegasus. Space is limited. Advance reservations recommended. Make reservations at www.nrhss.org.
8 p.m. Aquarium from Austronesia, Lilac. Illuminated sculptures, video and sound installations, live art programming and musical performances aboard the steamship. Free admission. Refreshments available for purchase. More information at www.austronesian-institute.org.
Sunday, July 1
1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Showboat Circus, Lehigh Valley Railroad Barge No. 79. Family entertainment aboard a 98-year-old covered wooden barge, featuring physical comedienne Hilary Chaplain; juggler extraordinaire Will Shaw (featured on the Letterman and Jon Stewart shows); Sophie Sharps, the captain’s daughter, on trapeze; and showboat captain David Sharps doing Chinese vase manipulation. Buy tickets at www.nrhss.org. Adults $13, children 12 and under $10 in advance; adults $15, children $12 at the door, if space is available. More information at www.waterfrontmuseum.org.
Pier 25 is one of 13 public piers in Hudson River Park, which stretches from the Battery to 59th Street. In addition to providing dockage for historic vessels this new pier boasts a playground, mini-golf, a children’s soccer field, beach volleyball courts and a snack bar, along with breathtaking views of the Hudson.
Founded in 1994, the state-chartered nonprofit North River Historic Ship Society supports and encourages the restoration of historic ships, advocates for free dockage so that these ships can be open to the public, and it sponsors public programs.
Friends of Hudson River Park is the designated fundraising partner for Hudson River Park, (www.hudsonriverpark.org) and has been the Park’s chief advocate since 1999, lobbying for capital funds and spearheading its expansion; and has recently embraced the challenge of raising additional private-sector funds required to support its expanding footprint. Hudson River Park receives no government funds for its programs, maintenance and operations, and is instead supported by limited commercial revenues from within the Park and private donations.