Sail4th 250 Celebration

Immerse yourself in the grandest maritime spectacle in United States history at the Sail4th 250 Celebration in Manhattan. Running as a spectacular six-day event from July 3 through July 8, 2026, this once-in-a-generation gathering serves as the official nautical centerpiece for America’s Semiquincentennial 250th birthday. The massive international festival brings the world's largest flotilla of historic tall ships, majestic square-riggers, and modern naval vessels directly into New York Harbor and up the city's rivers, offering unforgettable experiences across land, sea, and air.

The Parade of Sail and Pier 17 Viewing Party

The maritime festivities officially launch on Friday, July 3, 2026, with the Parade of Sail for Class B Tall Ships. These majestic vessels will navigate down the East River from the Hell Gate Bridge down to Gravesend Bay in Brooklyn. The Heineken Riverdeck on the north side of Pier 17, located at 89 South Street, serves as a primary public viewing hub. The Pier 17 celebration kicks off with food trucks operated by the veteran-led business GeneXX at 12:00 PM, followed by the main parade progression from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM, while the Riverdeck Bar remains open until 9:00 PM to serve refreshing drinks right by the water. On the main holiday of Saturday, July 4th, the grand Parade of Tall Ships and the International Aerial Review take over the harbor, accompanied by military flyovers and historic air shows.

Free Public Ship Tours and Historic Fleet Reunion

Following the holiday weekend, from Sunday, July 5 through Tuesday, July 7, 2026, Class A and Class B Tall Ships will dock along the New York City waterfront and open their decks for completely free public ship tours from 11:30 AM to 4:00 PM daily. Pier 17 is honored to host two world-famous vessels, including the Netherlands' Oosterschelde, a historic 164-foot three-masted topsail schooner, and the United States Coast Guard Cutter Eagle. The USCGC Eagle, known as America's Tall Ship, is a historic 295-foot German-built barque that always leads the parade. This 250th celebration marks a rare historic reunion as the Eagle joins its original sister ships—Germany's Gorch Fock, Portugal's Sagres, and Romania's Mircea—to race from New York to Boston following the event to compete for the coveted, Tiffany-made Five Sisters Cup.