NYC celebrates America’s 250th anniversary with the largest-ever flotilla of tall ships from around the world from July 3 to 7. The class B fleet of tall ships will be visible from most of the Brooklyn waterfront on July 3. The class A fleet of tall ships will be visible from Governors Island on July 4. Some of these ships will be docked at Brooklyn Bridge Park with free tours on July 5, 6 and 7.
July 3: Watch the Parade of Sail Class B | 1-3 pm | Visible from Brooklyn waterfront (East River)
View the Sail4th 250 Parade of Sail: Class B Tall Ships, as they sail down the East River to Gravesend Bay, passing the Brooklyn waterfront on July 3 from 1-3 PM. The parade will be visible from the waterfronts of Greenpoint, Williamsburg, Brooklyn Navy Yard, Vinegar Hill, DUMBO, and Brooklyn Heights. View the full schedule.
July 4: Watch the Parade of Sail Class A | 9.30 am – 2 pm | Visible from Southern Brooklyn & Governors Island (Hudson River)
To celebrate America’s 250th birthday on July 4, 2026, the largest fleet of the world’s most magnificent tall ships and gray hull ships will sail into New York Harbor, pass in Presidential review, and salute the Statue of Liberty to the Hudson River. The parade will be visible from the waterfronts of Bay Ridge, Sunset Park, Red Hook, Governors Island, and Brooklyn Heights (though note the ships are sailing behind Governors Island and up the Hudson River so they may be harder to see from Brooklyn Heights). Find out more here.
July 5-7: Tour select ships | Docked at Brooklyn Bridge Park
Sail4th 250 brings several to dock at Brooklyn Bridge Park, open for tours July 5–7, from 12–6pm most days. While tall ship tours are FREE of charge, reservations are strongly recommended due to high demand. Your reservation will guarantee your spot during your selected time frame. Children must be five and older to board the ships and require a ticket. Strollers are permissible on the piers but are not allowed aboard the tall ships. Closed-toe shoes are required to board the ships. This event is rain-or-shine. Visit Sail4th 250 Event Schedule for the most up-to-date information. Separate reservations are required for each pier.
Pier 1: Sagres (Portugal) and Sundarshini (India)
Pier 3: Gorch Fock (Germany) – open July 6-7 only
Pier 5: Mircea (Romania)
Free Deck Tours: 1877 Tall Ship ELISSA at Brooklyn Bridge Marina
Don’t miss your chance to step aboard one of the rarest ships in the world! The 1877 Tall Ship ELISSA — the Official Tall Ship of Texas — is offering free deck tours at Brooklyn Bridge Marina July 5–7 from 12 to 6 PM daily. New Yorkers and visitors from around the world can experience a living piece of maritime heritage up close and explore the ship’s craftsmanship, stories, and enduring legacy. Sailing all the way from Galveston, Texas, the 1877 Tall Ship ELISSA will join the largest-ever flotilla of tall ships from around the world in New York Harbor for America’s 250th anniversary celebration on July 4th. As the oldest ship at the event, The ELISSA will lead the Class A ships in the parade of tall ships making this a truly once-in-a-generation moment for New Yorkers to experience. Free deck tours are walk-up and require no ticket or reservation.
Brooklyn Bridge Marina | Pier 5
July 5, 6 & 7 | Noon – 6 PM
Free and open to the public to attend
www.galvestonhistory.org
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Service on the East River A and East River B routes will be suspended from approximately 1 PM to 4 PM. The East River route will make all stops before 1 PM and after 4 PM.
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Service on the Astoria route will be suspended from approximately 1 PM to 4 PM. The Astoria route will make all stops prior to 1 PM and after 4 PM.
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The Rockaway-Soundview route will only stop at Wall St/Pier 11, Sunset Park/BAT, and Rockaway from 1 PM to 4 PM. The Rockaway-Soundview route will make all stops before 1 PM and after 4 PM. Rockaway Reserve tickets will still be available for purchase from Wall St/Pier 11 and Rockaway in the NYC Ferry app.
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The South Brooklyn route will not stop at East 34th Street from 1 PM to 4 PM. The South Brooklyn route will stop at all other landings, including the South Brookyln Extension to Sunset Park/BAT and Bay Ridge.
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No changes to the St. George route. A weekend schedule will operate all day and make all stops.
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No changes to the Governors Island Shuttle. A weekend schedule will operate all day and make all stops.
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On July 4th, all NYC Ferry service will be suspended by 3 PM in advance of the Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Show.
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The St. George route will be suspended all day to accommodate the Tall Ships Parade in the Hudson River.
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The Governors Island Shuttle will be suspended all day to accommodate holiday events on the island.
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The East River route will not stop at DUMBO on all trips prior to service suspension.
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The Astoria route will make all stops on all trips prior to service suspension.
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The Rockaway-Soundview route will only operate between Ferry Point Park to Wall St/Pier 11 on all trips prior to service suspension. Rockaway Reserve tickets will not be available on July 4th.
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The South Brooklyn route will only stop at Red Hook, Wall St/Pier 11, Corlears Hook, and East 34th Street on all trips prior to service suspension.
