EXTRA: What's Up for SailFest!

SailFest Sidewalk Sale with live music,

Lighthouse Tours, &

Fireworks on the NL HarborCam

New London Maritime Society events for this weekend

It's SailFest Weekend and the New London Maritime Society (NLMS) has something special for everyone: a sidewalk sale, live music, lighthouse boat tours & a livestream of New London's famous fireworks!

Coming downtown on Saturday? We've having a Sidewalk Sale, with choice items from our museum gift shop, vintage maritime books, and fantastic discounts. The booth will be right in front of the Custom House Maritime Museum, 150 Bank Street, New London, Saturday from 11AM to 4PM. While we won't be giving museum tours that day, the Custom House Gift Shop will be open, with plenty of new items. Musician Alan J. Short will be on-hand to provide live entertainment at our booth.

Bored waiting around for the fireworks to start? Our Lighthouse Tours provide a chance to visit Inside New London Ledge Light. There are 90-minute tours on Saturday at 1PM and Sunday at 2:30. Tickets may be purchased online or -- assuming we have tickets left -- may be purchased at the boat 20 minutes in advance (cash, only). For ages 7 and above; everyone must wear sneakers or deck shoes: no sandals or flip-flops. The boat leaves from the floating dock behind the New London railroad station (at the foot of State Street).

Don't want to fight the crowds? We're livestreaming the fireworks on the NL HarborCam! Tune in Saturday evening at approximately 9PM to nlmaritimesociety.org/nlHarborcam.html. Fireworks will be choreographed to music on K-Hits 100.9 FM.

Don't want the weekend to end? On Sunday at 11:45 AM we offer an opportunity to Visit Inside New London Harbor Lighthouse. This onshore light is located about three miles from downtown New London; we meet on the street at the lighthouse. Ascend 116 steps to the lantern room while learning about the 261-year history of Harbor Light, one of the oldest lighthouses in the country and at 91' the tallest on Long Island Sound. You must purchase your tickets online 12 hours in advance.

To ensure your place on these extraordinary tours, we recommend purchasing tickets in advance online. Links to all Lighthouse tours and NLMS Summer events can be found on our maritime society website: nlmaritimesociety.org. Thanks to a grant from Veolia - the NL Water Authority, we are delighted to offer special $5 tickets to visit inside both Lighthouses for New London public school children and their family members!

Harbor Lighthouse tickets https://2023harborlight.bpt.me

Ledge Lighthouse tickets https://2003ledgelight.bpt.me

New London HarborCam nlmaritimesociety.org/nlHarborcam.html

Custom House Museum Shop facebook.com/CustomHouseMUSEUMSHOP

High- resolution photos are available upon request.

Photo, top: 2022 SailFest fireworks.

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In 1983 the New London Maritime Society was formed by citizens who stopped an impending federal sale to keep NL's US Custom House intact and accessible. Today, we run a local maritime history museum, provide a free education program in NL Public Schools, and preserve the custom house and three area lighthouses.

The Custom House Maritime Museum / New London Maritime Society is a 501(c)3 charitable organization.

The Mission of the New London Maritime Society (NLMS) is to protect and preserve New London's U.S. Custom House, three area lighthouses, and Long Island Sound, and to promote, interpret, and celebrate the maritime life & deep history of the port of New London and the surrounding region through museum exhibitions, educational programs, and preservation initiatives.

New London Maritime Society - local friendly authentic

Telling the stories of New London's waterfront

& preserving four historic maritime sites

Custom House Maritime Museum

150 Bank Street, New London, CT 06320 | 860-447-2501

nl maritime society.org

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