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NEW YORK (W) — Dozens of small vessels will sail down the East River on Friday as New York City gets a preview of this weekend’s major maritime celebration honoring America’s 250th anniversary.
The Small Ships Parade serves as the lead-up to Saturday’s “Sail4th 250” event, which is expected to draw large crowds to the city’s waterfront.
Many of the participating vessels, known as Class B tall ships, have been arriving in New York Harbor over the past several days. While smaller than the tall ships featured in Saturday’s main event, the vessels will offer spectators an early look at the historic flotilla.
The parade will travel south along the East River on Friday before the larger celebration gets underway Saturday.
Saturday’s Sail4th 250 parade is scheduled to begin at 7 a.m., with ships sailing north on the Hudson River from the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge to the George Washington Bridge.
Military vessels positioned in New York Harbor will review the parade. The Vice President of the United States and the acting Secretary of the Navy are expected to observe the procession aboard the USS Kearsarge (LHD-3).
The event is expected to attract thousands of spectators as New York joins the nationwide celebration of the nation’s semi-quincentennial.
Anyone planning to watch Friday’s Small Ships Parade along the East River will not need to pass through security screenings. However, officials say security checkpoints and screenings will be in place for designated viewing areas during Saturday’s Sail4th 250 festivities along the Hudson River.
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