The great and historic day is here!  We will commemorate the great voyage of 400 years ago when Henry Hudson first saw this beautiful valley.  We are also celebrating the river, boats and all of our valley communities with the Great River Day Flotilla.

Please see the two latest schedule details below.  The dated schedule includes land events, the other has flotilla underway timing and docking sites.   We will also be posting other useful information that boaters may need such as fueling sites, boat access and anchoring areas-so keep checking this site!

HARBOR NIGHT IS ON RAIN OR SHINE!!!

HARBOR NIGHT-JUNE 5, 2009

Blessing of the Fleet and the Medal of Discovery

The Launch Event of River Day-a New York State

Legacy Event Celebrating 400 years of History

6:00 PM

Boats muster in the harbor between Battery Park and the Statue of Liberty for photo-op. 

This includes 10 or more New York Heritage Ships that will parade in the Great River Day Flotilla from June 6th to the 13th commemorating the voyage of Henry Hudson 400 years ago.

*Captain Kenneth R. Force and the United States Merchant Marine Regimental Band*

Blessing and event will take place at The Battery between the Statue of Liberty Ferry Landing and Battery Gardens Restaurant (ramp 3 and 4).  RAIN OR SHINE.

6:30 PM Government Officials introduced by Commodore Michael Fortenbaugh of North Cove Marina and Manhattan Yacht Club.

·         Governor Paterson***announcement of the Blessing of the Fleet for New York’s 400th and River Day, and awarding of the first Medal of Discovery to Pete Seeger-accepted by Tao Rodriquez Seeger.  *Medal by New York City Sculptor, Friedrike Merck*

·         Joan K. Davidson, Chair, NYS Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Quadricentennial Commission.

·         Pete Grannis, Commissioner, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation.

·         Hugo Gajus Scheltema, Consul General of the Netherlands.

·         Capt. Robert R. O'Brien, Captain of the Port/USCG.

7:00 PM – Religious and Spiritual Leaders

·         Reverend Canon Thomas P. Miller, The Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine.

·         Michael Pace (Xingweleno), former Assistant Chief of the Delaware Tribe of Indians.

·         Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, Exec. VP, New York Board of Rabbis, FDNY Chaplain.

·         Donna Henes, urban Shaman and "Unofficial Commissioner of Public Spirit of New York City."

7:20 PM Poet David Gonzalez to read his famous “Oh Hudson”.

7:30 PM Blessing

Commodore of North Cove, Michael Fortenbaugh will announce the boats and their history as they cross the line for their blessing with the spiritual leaders lined up by the shore.

8:00

Picnic and Music in the park.

~RIVER DAY IS HERE!!!~

RIVER DAY SCHEDULE UPDATE 6/5/09

JUNE 5 (Friday)-evening River Day “launch” celebration in New York Harbor. 

“Harbor Night" with the Blessing of the Fleet, the awarding of the “Medal of Discovery”, and festivities at Battery Park.

6pm-Ship assembly in front of Liberty Island and muster for photo op in the harbor against the Manhattan skyline.
6:30pm Blessing of the Fleet at Battery Park with Governor Paterson and special guests.

JUNE 6 (Saturday)-early morning with 7:15am pick-up of dignitaries and press at various overnight docking locations and Circle Line at 42nd Street.
9am start of flotilla at Statue of Liberty joined by some of our River Day sponsors: Circle Line, Water Taxi, Classic Harbor Line, SeaTow, Discover Boating, North Cove Yacht Club, NYS Canal Corporation and River Day Safety Vessel-Launch Five.
Parade by Harlem, Cloisters, Yonkers, and Hudson River Museum.

Arrival in Tarrytown and Nyack area around 5-6pm for cannon welcome and ringing of church bells, festivities and fireworks.  Fireworks Program – Adjacent to Kingsland Point Park, Sleepy Hollow, 9 pm.  For info: www.westchestertourism.com and www.rockland.org

Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome antique plane fly-overs (www.oldrhinebeck.org).  Captain and the crew of the Half Moon for special program at Cornetta's Seafood Restaurant and Marina in Piermont. Overnight for flagships-Onrust and Woody at Nyack Boat Club, all others in vicinity of Tarrytown and Piermont Pier.

JUNE 7 (Sunday)-departure at 8am.
Arrival in Haverstraw, Croton and Ossining by 11am for midday celebration, leaving Haverstraw by 2pm sharp.

Parade by Stony Point, Peekskill, and other communities.

Parade by West Point to 16 cannon salute.

Arrival and cannon welcome in Newburgh/Beacon around 6pm.

Newburgh hosting music, Dutch singers and festivities (http://cityofnewburgh-ny.gov/HFC/NewburghBay.htm).

Long Dock Beacon-Scenic Hudson hosting Welcome the Fleet Festival (www.scenichudson.org) with music and cuisine.  Beacon Sloop Club and City of Beacon hosting music and festivities.
Overnight for flagships-Clearwater, Mystic, and Woody in Beacon; Half Moon, Onrust, and Cleveland in Newburgh. 

JUNE 8 (Monday)-flagships stay in Beacon/Newburgh for educational programs all day. 

Jet fly-overs, West Point Band and other festivities.

JUNE 9 (Tuesday)-flagships stay in Beacon/Newburgh for educational programs all day.
Depart Beacon/Newburgh at 4 pm.
Arrival and cannon welcome (6pm) in Poughkeepsie area (www.Dutchess400.com) for festivities including ribbon cutting, music, Quadricentennial Show-Cake created by the Culinary Institute of America, and Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome antique plane fly-overs.
Overnight for flagships-Poughkeepsie area, Rogers Point, and boat clubs.

JUNE 10 (Wednesday)-flagships remain in Poughkeepsie all day for educational activities.
Depart Poughkeepsie at 4pm sharp.

Parade by Hyde Park State Historic Sites.
Arrival and cannon welcome (6:30pm) in Kingston for celebration at the Hudson River Maritime Museum (www.hrmm.org), and Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome antique plane fly-overs.

Overnight for ships at the Hudson River Maritime Museum and Historic Waterfront Museum docks.

JUNE 11 (Thursday)-remain in Kingston for school groups from 8 to 11am.
Parade by Saugerties Light House (around noon) for school groups.

Parade by Clermont State Historic Site.
Arrival and cannon welcome in Catskill/Hudson/Athens by 6pm with Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome antique plane fly-overs.  Catskill hosting celebration, barbeque and reception.  Hudson hosting river-ribbon-cutting, music, and festivities.  Athens hosting riverfront park party.  Hudson-Athens Lighthouse hosting party (www.hudsonathenslighthouse.org). 

Hudson Harbor Cruise featuring narrated dinner cruise (call 518-828-7884).
Overnight for flagships-Half Moon in Catskill, Clearwater in Hudson, and Onrust in Athens.

JUNE 12 (Friday)-remain in Catskill/Hudson/Athens area for school groups until noon.
Arrival and cannon welcome in Castleton at 4 pm for special final night dinner, Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome antique plane fly-overs and fireworks sponsored by Coeymans Marine Terminal.
Overnight for flagships-Clearwater, Launch 5 and Naval Militia at Castleton Boat Club, Half Moon, Harvey, and Cleveland, at Coeymans Marine Terminal/Brick Yard.  Onrust will visit both locations.

JUNE 13 (Saturday)-depart Castleton at 11am.  Parade by Schodack Park (www.schodack.org/quadri/HFCindex.htm) and Town of Bethlehem.
Arrival at 12:30 for Final Cannon Welcome and day-long celebrations including Yankee Doodle Band at the Albany Yacht Club, Crailo State Historic Site (http://nysparks.state.ny.us/sites/info.asp?siteID=7) sponsored Dutch exhibits and cuisine, Blessing of the Fleet at Albany Yacht Club with local clergy including Dutch Reform minister and Native American representative.  Keith Pray Big Band will perform, BBQ style foods, and tours of the Clearwater Sloop all at the Riverfront Park in Rensselaer.  The Half Moon will be in Albany, and Onrust in Rensselaer.