Waterfront Program
On Sunday, there will be sails aboard the sailing ships Clearwater and A.J. Meerwald and the historic fire boat John J. Harvey. Special pre-festival discounted sails will also be held Saturday on the A.J. Meerwald.
Boat rides on the Clearwater, A.J. Meerwald, and the antique fireboat John J. Harvey are by prior reservation only (see below for further information).
Also, during the Festival on Sunday afternoon, the John J. Harvey will provide dramatic demonstrations of its powerful water cannons right off shore of the Festival! Small boats, such as kayaks, are also welcome, on direction of RiverFest waterfront staff.
Riverdale RiverFest Boat Ride Policies
ALL BOAT RIDES WILL REQUIRE PRIOR ON-LINE RESERVATIONS,
INCLUDING CHILDREN AND BABIES.
The reservation system will be available starting at 10AM on June 5th
and will remain open until all tickets are sold out,
or until 8:00 PM the day before the scheduled sail.
While admission to the Festival is free, there is a fee of $25.00 per adult and $15.00 per child (9 years old and under) for each boat ride reservation, and the reservation will not be final unless the payment is made and a confirmation is received. For Sunday (Festival date) sails, and $20 adult and $10 child for pre-festival sails on the A.J. Meerwald on Saturday. Payment has to be by major credit card, and only one boat ride per person will be allowed.
We cannot issue a refund if you miss the boat, so please arrive on time!
Because of Coast Guard requirements, reservation fees for the John J. Harvey will be returned to individuals who show up for their sail. Nevertheless, we will invite these individuals to contribute to RiverFest in order to defray the cost of the John J. Harvey. The cost of bringing this historic vessel to RiverFest is substantial. To enable the Harvey’s participation in future years’ festivals, contributions are needed and much appreciated.
Individuals with reservations must line up at the College Point dock at least 15 minutes before their scheduled departure.. If for any reason a scheduled sail is cancelled, individuals with a reservation on that sail will have a choice of a refund or, space permitting, a slot on a subsequent sail.. Any slots that are unclaimed after all individuals with reservations have boarded a vessel will be made available on a first-come-first-served basis.. at the discretion of RiverFest staff. Individuals offered a slot must make a contribution equal to the reservation fee in cash before they will be allowed to board. If no sailing slots are available, you can still enjoy watching the majestic tall ships and fireboat water canon display, and the opportunity to get down to the river’s edge in your own neighborhood.
- The following rules will apply on all vessels:
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All passengers must check in and receive a bracelet before boarding the boat.
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Children 12 and under must wear a life jacket.
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Children 9 years old and under are not permitted to move around the vessel without an adult escort.
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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.
