More than 40 tall ships from around the world will sail up the Hudson River on July 3 and 4 as part of the Sail4th 250 celebration, commemorating America's 250th anniversary. The event will feature a smaller-scale parade in the East River on July 3 and the official parade on July 4, traveling from the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge past the Statue of Liberty to the George Washington Bridge.
The parade will begin at 7 a.m. on July 4, with an international naval review led by a U.S. Navy vessel. At 9:30 a.m., the tall ships will pass under the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, offering spectators along the New York and New Jersey waterfronts a front-row view of the historic flotilla.
For New Jersey residents, waterfront parks and promenades in Sandy Hook, Bayonne, Jersey City, Hoboken, Weehawken, and Edgewater are among the best viewing spots. Sandy Hook offers unique vantage points as ships approach from the Atlantic rather than the Hudson River.
The Gateway National Recreation Area, a 27,000-acre national park spanning New York and New Jersey, will provide views of ships approaching New York Harbor from the Atlantic. The National Park Service has waived the park entrance fee for the weekend and will limit vehicle access based on parking capacity.
The international fleet includes vessels from 20 nations, including Italy, India, Peru, Poland, Spain, and Sweden. The U.S. Coast Guard cutter Eagle, the only active square-rigged sailing vessel in federal service, will lead the official parade. The event is expected to draw millions of spectators and is seen as a testament to global security alliances.
On July 3, a Small Ships Parade will sail through the East River, offering a preview of the larger celebration. The parade will travel south along the East River before the main event on July 4. Security checkpoints and screenings will be in place for designated viewing areas during the Sail4th 250 festivities.