OpSail Connecticut hosts this Festival in the Port of New London annually to “Celebrate the Sea” and give visitors the opportunity to interact with those who work on, under or with the sea. Visit often to see the latest in festivities, unravel the fabric of Connecticut’s maritime history and appreciate how the sea unites our shores.

Festival Schedule:

Friday, September 9, 2022

3:30 p.m: Official Welcoming Ceremony - New London Waterfront Park

7:00 pm – 9:00 p.m: Festival Kick-Off- Live Music by Unanchored – Come meet the Captains and Crews - City Dock Restaurant/Oyster Bar, Customs House Pier

Saturday, September 10, 2022

10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m: New London Maritime Society Custom House Museum - 150 Bank Street, New London

10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m: Ships/Fishing vessels available for tours - NL Waterfront Park and Fort Trumbull State Park

10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m: Vendor Booths - NL Waterfront Park

10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m: Food Trucks - NL Waterfront Park

10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m: Kids Events hosted by New London Youth Affairs, Niantic Children’s Museum and Mystic Seaport’s Education Program. Hands on children’s activities and maritime themed children’s books for free for children to take home. New London Waterfront Park

10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m: Mystic Seaport Sailor Skills Stations – Build a toy boat! – Children and adults alike can try their hand at building their very own toy boat souvenir. Ropemaking – Visitors will have a chance to make rope using a replica of a traditional 19th century ropejack and learn about the importance of rope manufacturing in New England for the maritime world. Knot-tying and lanyards – Visitors will have the opportunity to learn how to tie a variety of common knots used on land and at sea, such as a square knot, bowline, and clove hitch, and make their own lanyards to take home. City Pier

10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m: On-water Sailing Opportunities – New England Science and Sailing - City Pier

10:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m: Project Oceanology Touch Tank - City Pier

11:00 a.m. – 12:00p.m: Steve Elci and Friends- Children Music Performance Saturday, September 10th at 11 am Steve Elci writes and performs world-class music for kids – up there with Raffi, Laurie Berkner, Trout Fishing in America, Dan Zanes and They Might Be Giants. “Imagination Nation.” The lyrics and images are as evocative as they are educational and, as Mom and Dad will quickly learn, the tunes are so buoyantly hooky that they appeal just as much to the older folks as the youngsters.” – Rick Koster The Day Paper, CT - NL Waterfront

2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m: Mermaids and Sea Monsters Parade - Bank Street to City Pier

2:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m: Beer Trucks/Tents - NL Waterfront Park

3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m: Ancient Mariners - NL Waterfront Park

4:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m: Award Prizes for Parade - Entertainment Tent

4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m: Sea Shanties with Marc Bernier - Entertainment Tent

6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m: Burning of Benedict Arnold in Effigy” – Flock Theater Production

7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m: Live Music by the Hoolios - Entertainment Tent

Sunday, September 11, 2022

8:30 a.m.- 9:45 a.m: Memorial 9/11 Commemoration Ceremony Led by U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard - Entertainment Tent

10:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m: Military and Fishing Industry Challenge Events  Knots, line throwing, etc. - NL Waterfront Park

11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m: Ships and Fishing vessels available for tours - City Pier and Fort Trumbull State Park

11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m: Kids Events (hosted by New London Youth Affairs and Niantic Children’s Museum) Hands on children’s activities and maritime themed children’s books for free for children to take home. - NL Waterfront Park

11:00 a.m. – 11:45 p.m: Creative Dance with L’ana Burton- Children’s Interactive creative dance –Sunday, September 11th at 11 am L’Ana is a leading Dance Artist in Residence for The State of Connecticut, offering in-school programs which integrate DANCE into curricula areas. She is a member of The HOTS (Higher Order of Thinking) team of artists that uses ARTS INTEGRATION across the curriculum in public schools throughout the state. She has taught in over 50 public elementary schools over the last ten years. - NL Waterfront

11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m: Booth featuring Sailing Dinghy Optimist Simulator – New England Science and Sailing - NL Waterfront Park

11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m: Project Oceanology Touch Tank - City Pier

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m: Ancient Mariners - NL Waterfront Park

11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m: DEEP Fisheries Division Fishing Clinic - Fort Trumbull State Park

11:30 a.m. – 5:00p.m: Food Trucks/Vendor Booths - NL Waterfront Park

12:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m: Beer truck/tents - NL Waterfront Park

12:30 p.m.- 5:00 p.m - New London Maritime Society Custom House Museum - 150 Bank St

1:00 p.m. -2:00 p.m: Lighthouse Puppet Show by Arm of the Sea Theater - Hygienic Art Park

1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m: Live Music by the Franklin Brothers - Entertainment Tent

2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m: Awards for Fishing Tournament - Entertainment Tent

3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m: Live music with Darik & The Funbags - Entertainment Tent

Fest Date: September 9 - 11, 2022

Location: Various Location in New London, CT

Click here for more information.