Mystic Seaport is pleased to welcome the Connecticut Schooner Festival to the Museum on Wednesday and Thursday, September 11-12. More than 20 vessels, including the Museum’s schooner Brilliant, will be joining together to celebrate the state’s maritime heritage, history and spirit of innovation. A dockside education program will be hosted for Connecticut school children on September 12, and all Museum visitors are invited to see the entire fleet docked along the waterfront before the vessels depart for New London on September 13 for the remainder of the festival.

Participating Vessels and Home Ports

Adventure -Gloucester, MA
Adventurer – Annapolis, MD
Alabama – Vineyard Haven, MA
Amistad - New Haven, CT
Brilliant - Mystic, CT
Equinox - Mystic, CT
Irena - Newport, RI
Lelanta - Sag Harbor, NY
Malabar II - Vineyard Haven, MA
Mary E - Essex, CT
Mystic - Mystic, CT
Mystic Whaler - New London, CT
Niamh - Thimble Islands, CT
Perception - Martha’s Vineyard, MA
Quinnipiack - New Haven, CT
Roseway - Boston, MA
Sophia Christina - Weekapaug, RI
SoundWaters - Stamford, CT
Spirit - Essex, CT
Tree of Life - Newport, RI
Tyrone - Hyannis, MA
Virginia - Norfolk, VA

Sailing into New London

After leaving Mystic Seaport, the schooner festival will sail to New London on Friday, September 13, for the weekend’s festivities. Special family fun activities will include a schooner race along Fishers Island Sound on Saturday, Sept. 14, ship visits, a lighted boat parade, schooner sailing trips, two dockside music concerts, a juried plein air painting competition, a giant sand sculpture, and the Great New London Chowder Challenge among New London-area restaurants. Visitors will be able to vote for their favorite chowders.

Then will also be a Made in Connecticut Expo as well as street pageant called “The Burning in Effigy of Benedict Arnold” by the Flock Theatre. The festival will conclude Sunday, September 15, with a parade of sail down the Thames River. A complete list of activities can be found at http://schoonerfest.com/.