Waterfront Program

Riverdale RiverFest will offer an expanded waterfront program this year, with three vessels that will provide two sails each on Saturday, June 11, and three boat rides each on Sunday, June 12, the day of the RiverFest.  In addition, the Waterfront Museum Barge will be available for boarding between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturday and between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Sunday.  Also, during the Festival on Sunday afternoon, the John J. Harvey, an antique fireboat, will demonstrate its water cannons within view of Festival participants.

The schedule is:

Mystic Whaler – holds 50 passengers, and each sail is about 2 hours long, with the following departures:

Saturday, June 11 - Sold Out!

Sunday, June 12 - Sold Out!
Additional spaces may be available in case of no-shows;
First-come first-served at the dock.

Mystic Whaler Schooner, Hudson River
Tug Cornell – holds 40 passengers, and each sail
is about one hour and fifteen minutes long,
with the following departures:

Saturday, June 11 - Sold Out!

Sunday, June 12 – Sold Out!
Additional spaces may be available in case of no-shows;
First-come first-served at the dock.

Tug Cornell

Tug Pegasus – holds 49 passengers, and
each sail is about one hour and fifteen minutes long, with the following departures:

Saturday, June 11 – (12:15 p.m.- Sold Out!) and 2:00 p.m.

Sunday, June 12 – 12:15 p.m., (2:15 p.m - Sold Out!)
and 4:00 p.m.
Click on your desired time to register.

Tug Pegasus
Museum Barge

The Waterfront Museum Barge holds about 140 people
at a time, and will remain tied to the dock and be available
for boarding from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday
and from 11a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

 

At last year’s RiverFest, there were many more individuals who wanted to go out on the Hudson River for a ride than there was capacity; places for the rides were awarded on a first-come-first-served basis, and all slots were taken within 45 minutes. 
This year, to avoid a dangerous crush at the waterfront, we are going to take reservations for all boat rides.  The reservation system will be available starting at 10AM on Wednesday, June 1, and will remain open until all slots are taken. 

While the boat rides and admission to the Festival are free, there is a fee of $10 per adult and $5 per child (9 years old and under) for each reservation, and the reservation will not be final unless the payment is made and a confirmation is received.  Payment has to be by major credit card. Only one reservation per person will be allowed.  If an individual makes more than one reservation, the additional reservations will be cancelled and no refunds will be made.

Individuals with reservations must be lined up at the College Point dock at least 15 minutes before their scheduled departure.  No-shows will not receive refunds of their reservation fee.  If for any reason a scheduled sail is cancelled, individuals with a reservation on that sail will have a choice of receiving a refund of their reservation fee or they will be offered a slot on a subsequent sail if space is available. Any slots that are unclaimed after all individuals with reservations have boarded a vessel will be made available on first-come-first-served basis.  There will be a sign-up sheet at the site.  Individuals offered a slot must pay the reservation fee in cash before they will be allowed to board.  If no slots are available, you can still enjoy the exhibits on the Museum Barge.


The following rules will apply on all vessels: 

  • Children 12 and under must wear a life jacket.
  • Children 9 years old and under must be carried or held by the hand of an adult at all times while aboard the vessel. 
  • Children 9 years old and under are not permitted to move around the vessel without an adult escort. 
  • Children under 9 years old require 1-to-1 adult supervision.
  • The engine rooms of the tug boats will be closed to visitors while the tugs are underway.
  • The wheelhouses of the tugs will be accessible only with permission.
  • The captain of the vessel reserves the right to terminate the sail for any reason.

On Saturday only, there will be limited on-campus parking for individuals with reservations one half hour before their scheduled boat ride.  Enter at 261st Street and Palisades Ave. and drive to College Point (see map below) and park on River Road adjacent to College Point.  Otherwise, park on local streets and use the main entrance to the college on Riverdale Ave. at 263rd St.   A shuttle bus service will bring people from the main entrance to College Point.