Located in the heart of downtown New London, the public Waterfront Park Docking and City Moorings offer convenient rest rooms, shower and laundry facilities to registered boaters, as well as ice within easy walking distance. There is also a rack for canoes. To reserve Waterfront Park Docking or one for the 41 New London City Moorings at the south end of Waterfront Park (launch service provided seasonally), contact Barbara J. Neff, New London Waterfront Coordinator, 2 State St., (860) 443-3786; New London Harbormaster, David Crocker, (860)443-6304; or use VHF 9 or 12.
New London Currah Regatta – August 11
Call 860-447-2501 for information.
Caribbean Night with Fireworks - August 25th
This Caribbean-style festival is designed to experience the Caribbean culture. The City of New London invites you to join them for an evening of colorful sites and live entertainment for the 2nd Annual Caribbean Night. Dance all night to nonstop island music and fest on Caribbean cuisine.
A stilt walker and dancers will join the festivities, kids will enjoy getting their faces painted or the limbo contests that is for young and old. With the array of musical talent playing for four hours, you will feel like you are in the islands. Steel Dreams will provide steel drums and vocals, Drumworxs will provide Afro Caribbean drums, while bands will contribute different Caribbean sounds. We will end a great night of Caribbean sounds with Fireworks.Come out and enjoy the sounds of the islands.
3rd Annual BikeFest- Sept 1
Activities include free bicycle repairs/tune ups, bike decorating, children's bike rodeo, safety demo, custom bike show, an intro to New London's bike share program and a bike tour of historic New London sites.
Sentinels on the Sound Lighthouse Weekend - September 1-2
Lighthouse boat trips September 1
We have 3 different trips on Saturday. September 1, all boats leaving from the Custom House Pier. Check-in is at the Custom House 15 minutes prior to leaving time:
1. Boat Tour to New London Harbor Light. Saturday at 11:30 AM, 1:30 and 3 PM. Six passengers per trip. $35 adult, $30 senior and children ages 12 to 6, no one under age 6 allowed. This tour involved getting out of a boat into the water then scrambling up the rocks to the lighthouse -- prepare to get your feet wet! Call 860-447-2501 for reservations.
2. Three Sisters Lighthouse Boat tours round the harbor. Saturday at 2 and 4 PM. Six passengers per trip. $35 adult, $30 senior and children ages 12 to 6, no one under age 6 allowed. Call 860-447-2501 for reservations.
3.Boat tours with Project 'O' to visit the new Ledge Light Visitors Center Saturday at 10 AM, 1, and 4 PM. Forty passengers per trip. Book your seat in advance by calling Project 'O' at 860-445-9007. Tickets are $25 adults, $20 children, no one under age 6 allowed.
The Grinder is King Festival- September 15
Whatever you call it: Hero, Submarine, Hoagie, Torpedo or Poor Boy here in New London it is “The GRINDER”. A celebration of New London as the originator of the term “Grinder”. Come out and try many styles of Grinders and Italian foods. This event we will be working with the Hygienic Art gallery. On September 15, 2012 Hygienic Art Galleries presents "Italians Visions/Visioni Italiano" The exhibition will feature American artists who live in Italy and are inspired by the Italian culture in producing their artwork. The artists in this exhibition include Alan Feltus, Lani Irwin, Alexander Shundi, Martha Wakeman and Marlene McLoughlin.
Alan Feltus and Lani Irwin live in the countryside outside of Assisi They both exhibit their work in New York City and around the country. Marlene McLoughlin is a well known illustrator based in Rome. Her illustrations have appeared in many Williams-Sonoma cookbooks and for this exhibition will focus on a paintings of Rome. Alexander Shundi was born in Italy studied in Milan, Yale University and Paris and has exhibited though out the world. Martha Wakeman the curator of this exhibition and painter who lives in New London with her husband, professor of Italian history at Connecticut College. They live part time in Perugia where Martha leads bi yearly art expeditions and classes.
In coordination of this exhibition Hygienic Art is planning an Italian cultural event in the Art Park the night of the opening. The mini festival will include participation of New London's Italian community and will celebrate the food, music and art of our collective Italian heritage.
Welcome the Eagle Home- September 22th (tentative date subject to change)
What better way to celebrate the US Coast Guard Academy, then a free welcome home concert for The Barque Eagle on New London Waterfront Park.
Two new films about the USCG by David WIttkower will be shown on the Custom House pier after dark: The Eagle: America's Tall Ship and Guardians at the Gate.
& Custom House Annual TagSale - September 22th
(tentative date subject to change)
This annual event takes place on Saturday, 9 AM--4 PM
beneath the tent behind the museum, 150 Bank Street.
Good-quality objects and fantastic maritime & other books.
The 3rd Annual Best BBQ Chef Competition- September 29- 30
The City of New London and the Downtown New London Assoc. are proud to announce The 3nd Annual Best BBQ Chef Competition where barbecue and grilling enthusiasts throughout the country will compete for top recognition in the State. Enjoy a BBQ competition where you can interact with the chefs while taking in the aromas of their grills, watch food demos from local restaurants and absorb the sounds of live entertainment.
Halloween Town- October 26
Dare to face the haunted history of New London? Enjoy this safe and family-friendly fall event to get into the spirit of Halloween.
***Please feel free to contact [email protected] or 860-443-3786 with any questions or comments. Follow New London Waterfront on Facebook.
New London, Connecticut - Eastern Long Island Sound's Lighthouse Hub
The waters leading into New London Harbor contain a variety of lighthouses, from the oldest and tallest on Long Island Sound, to some of the newest, most-beautiful and more-unusual designs. Some of the lighthouses are still active Aids to Navigation, a few are privately owned, and several can be visited both by land and by sea. These days, lighthouse keepers are a thing of the past. Active lighthouses are managed by the United States Coast Guard.
The New London Maritime Society’s Custom House Maritime Museum, 150 Bank Street, contains a permanent exhibition about area lighthouses and also owns New London Harbor Light. Tours can be scheduled to visit the lighthouse by land, and several times this summer, on Sentinels on the Sound: Lighthouse Weekends one can visit the New London Harbor Light or tour lighthouses in the harbor by boat: July 14-15, August 4-5, and September 1-2, 2012.
The United States Coast Guard Museum, in Waesche Hall at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, contains exhibitions about the US Lifesaving and Lighthouse Services. Admission to the museum is free but you will need a government-issued photo identification to enter the campus. Call 860-444-8511 or visit the website at USCG Museum.
New London Ledge Light, located in the Thames River, contains a new information center and can be visited by boat through Project Oceanology on Avery Point in Groton. Project ‘O’ runs public tours of Ledge Lighthouse Tuesdays, Thursdays & Saturdays in July & August, and just on Saturdays in September. Call 860-445-9007 or 800-364-8472 to reserve tickets. www.ledgelighthouse.org.
