Look out for traffic at the end of the month as visitors and local residents fill the streets of downtown Mystic to catch sight of about 50 classic and antique boats floating down the Mystic River for Mystic Seaport’s 33rd annual Antique & Classic Boat Rendezvous.
Rain or shine, spokesperson Mike O’Farrell said antique vessels built before 1965, including cruisers, sailboats, runabouts and launches, will be on display at Mystic Seaport Saturday, July 26, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., as well as the following Sunday morning.
While the boats sit near the dock, O’Farrell said, visitors will have the chance to talk to the owners, learn about the different boats, how they were restored, and their history.
During the weekend, an award competition will recognize excellence in restoration, authenticity, and workmanship.
“Sunday at 12:45 p.m., the vessels leave the museum for a three-mile parade down the historic Mystic River,” O’Farrell said in a prepared statement.
The most traditional element of the event is on Sunday when 2,000 to 3,000 people line the streets by the river. Boat crews in the past, he said, have arrived in costume to fit the period of when their antique boats were made.
“It’s a pretty cool visual thing, and I think it’s probably the one time when people don’t mind the bridge being up for a while,” O’Farrell said, laughing. “It becomes very much a community event because people line both sides of the river to watch this. It’s a Mystic Seaport thing and a community thing wrapped into one.”
As boats float by, a narrator stationed at the Mystic River Park will announce the boats’ names and other tidbits of information, such as their owners, their history, and their age.
“Leading the parade will be the [Maritime] Museum’s own steamboat Sabino, this year’s featured vessel who is celebrating her centennial anniversary,” O’Farrell said in a release. “Built in East Boothbay, Maine, in 1908, Sabino entered service for the Damariscotta Steamboat Company and spent her days delivering passengers to the numerous hotels along the Damariscotta River. In 1975, the steamer arrived at Mystic Seaport and began a new era of passenger service. The significant restoration and meticulous care she received at the museum was recognized in 1992 when Congress designated Sabino a National Historic Landmark. As one of the last wooden, coal-fired steamboats still in operation, Sabino continues to offer Mystic Seaport visitors half-hour and 90-minute cruises mid-May through Columbus Day.”
“The story of the boat is fascinating,” O’Farrell later said, “including the fact that this 100-year-old boat was built in Maine and its original engine was built in Noank. To celebrate some of the history, we’re also doing special down-river cruises. We are doing three programs two times each,” he continued, mentioning dates that are scheduled throughout July and August.
For more information about the Antique & Classic Boat Rendezvous, visit www.mysticseaport.org.
Additional Programs at Mystic Seaport
Every Monday in July, kids age 17 and younger, with a limit of four kids per paying adult, can visit Mystic Seaport for free during their “Kids Free Admission Day” program.
“Mystic Seaport is an unparalleled family destination,” said President and Director of the Maritime Museum Doug Teeson in a recent press release. “In light of rising gas prices and continued economic uncertainty, it is our goal to ensure that all families have the opportunity to experience the richness of Mystic Seaport this season.”
“Mystic Seaport offers numerous family-friendly activities throughout the summer,” O’Farrell added. “In addition to the museum’s historic tall ships and diverse exhibits, kids enjoy playing in the Children’s Museum, discovering stars in the Planetarium, getting out on the water, or enjoying a horse and carriage ride. Additionally, kids can take part in a participatory play about whaling, create their own maritime masterpiece in the Art Spot activity center, and even make their own toy boat as part of the new Hands-On History Program. Other elements of the Hands-On History Program provide opportunities for kids and parents to work together while dipping candles, pressing flowers, or even working over the forge in the Shipsmith Shop.”
“Kids Free Admission Day” is not transferable and is subject to change without notice.
Later this month, the seaport’s annual Moby-Dick Marathon will begin Thursday, July 31 at noon, when participants will read all 135 chapters of Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick in 24 hours at Mystic Seaport aboard the Charles W. Morgan.
“A role-player portraying Melville begins the marathon by reciting the novel’s first chapter on the performance stage next to the Charles W. Morgan, the last wooden whale ship in the world,” O’Farrell stated. “The reading then moves aboard the vessel and visitors can sign up to read a chapter as the marathon continues until its conclusion August 1. The marathon ends with the arrival of a birthday cake at noon on August 1, celebrating Melville’s birthday.”
Several copies of the novel will be available for visitors to peruse. The marathon is free with admission and a limited number of spots are available for those interested in spending the night aboard the Morgan. Advanced registration is required by calling 860-572-5331.
The Mystic Seaport is located one mile south of Exit 90 off I-95 in Mystic and is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $18.50 for adults and $13 for children ages 6 to 17. Children age 5 and younger are admitted for free. For more information, call 888-973-2767 or visit www.mysticseaport.org.