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We love going on boat rides in New York Harbor but when those trips are FREE we enjoy them even more. From Friday, June 20 to Sunday, June 22 you can do just that at the sixth annual North River Historic Ship Festival in Tribeca. Vintage ships will dock at Hudson River Park's Pier 25 and host hands-on activities that celebrate NYC's rich maritime history, including tours of the vessels, live shows and FREE 45-minute cruises on select ships.
Organized by the nonprofit North River Historic Ship Society, the fest features five meticulously restored crafts: the Fireboat John J. Harvey; the Lehigh Valley Barge No.79 (a.k.a. Red Hook, Brooklyn’s floating Waterfront Museum); the 1904 tugboat Pegasus; the schooner Pioneer; and the Coast Guard Lighthouse Tender Lilac, the last steam-powered boat made in the U.S. back in 1933. The North River Historic Ship Festival is a great way to get out on the Hudson River while enjoying an up close look at these amazing antique boats. Plus, except for the Showboat Circus performance, all activities are totally FREE. Of course the boat tours are extremely popular and book up fast. Read on to find out how to snag a spot and everything else you need to know about the fest.