July 4th Weekend in Boston: Tall Ships and Flying Angels
Tall ships are coming at the end of the week. Blue Angels flyover and demonstration July 4th.
This weekend Boston's Harborside will be filled with square-rigged vessels, canvas and oak as a fleet of tall ships will be here from tomorrow, Saturday, June 30 through July 6 to commemorate the bicentennial of the War of 1812 and the Star-Spangled Banner.
In addition to what's happening on the water, participants will get a chance to look skyward on July 4th from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. as the US Navy's Blue Angels air demonstation team will fill the skies over Boston.
The day before, July 3, at 10 a.m. the US Navy's elite parachute team, the "Leap Frogs," will jump into Puopolo Park in the North End.
Here's a list of which ships are coming to Boston and where you can see them, thanks to OpSailBoston.com, which organizes the sailing event.
The ships
USS Constitution
American. Known as Old Ironsides, she's the oldest commissioned warship afloat and Boston's favorite frigate. It was during the War of 1812 that the Constitution fought her most famous battles defeated five British warships: HMS Guerriere, Java, Pictou, Cyane and Levant.
USCG Barque Eagle
American. The US Coast Guard's training vessel is 290-feet long.
Cisne Branco
Brazilian. Built in 1998, she's a newbie on the Tall Ship circuit. Her home port is Rio De Janeiro.
Dewaruci
Indonesian. A barquentine, she's a training vessel for the Indonesian navy.
Gloria
Columbian. Colombia's official flagship and naval training vessel.
Guayas
Ecuadorian. Another naval training ship.
There will also be a number of smaller sailing ships, such as Lynx, a blockade runner, and Spirit of Massachusetts, a schooner based in Boston.
Events
Saturday, June 30
- 9 a.m. to 12 p.m: Ships arrive
- 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Charlestown Navy Yard opened to the public
- Noon to 4 p.m.: North Jetty in South Boston, USS Wasp, the United States' Navy's flagship, open for public viewing
- Noon to 6 p.m.: Black Falcon Pier. Naval vessels open for viewing
- Noon to 8 p.m.: Fish Pier. Tall ships open for viewing
Sunday, July 1
- 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Charlestown Navy Yard opened to the public
- Noon to 4 p.m.: North Jetty in South Boston, USS Wasp, the United States' Navy's flagship, open for public viewing
- Noon to 6 p.m.: Black Falcon Pier. Naval vessels open for viewing
- Noon to 8 p.m.: Fish Pier. Tall ships open for viewing
- 5 to 5:30 p.m.: Blessing of the Sails, Old North Church, 193 Salem St., North End
Monday, July 2
- 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Charlestown Navy Yard opened to the public
- Noon to 6 p.m.: North Jetty in South Boston, USS Wasp, the United States' Navy's flagship, open for public viewing
- Noon to 6 p.m.: Black Falcon Pier. Naval vessels open for viewing
- 4 to 8 p.m.: Fish Pier. Tall ships open for viewing
Tuesday, July 3
- 10 a.m.: U.S. Navy Elite Parachutists, the "Leap Frogs," jump into Puopolo Park
- 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Charlestown Navy Yard opened to the public
- Noon to 6 p.m.: North Jetty in South Boston, USS Wasp, the United States' Navy's flagship, open for public viewing
- Noon to 6 p.m.: Black Falcon Pier. Naval vessels open for viewing
- 4 to 8 p.m.: Fish Pier. Tall ships open for viewing
Wednesday, July 4
- 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.: 4th of July Parade, Boston City Hall Plaza
- 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Charlestown Navy Yard. USS Constitution and USCG Barque Eagle get turned around in Boston Harbor
- 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Blue Angels fighter jet flyover
- 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Charlestown Navy Yard opened to the public
- CLOSED: North Jetty in South Boston, USS Wasp
- Noon to 6 p.m.: Black Falcon Pier. Naval vessels open for viewing
- Noon to 8 p.m.: Fish Pier. Tall ships open for viewing
Thursday, July 5
- 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Charlestown Navy Yard opened to the public
- 10 a.m.: USCG Barque Eagle departs
- Noon to 6 p.m.: North Jetty in South Boston, USS Wasp, the United States' Navy's flagship, open for public viewing
- Noon to 6 p.m.: Black Falcon Pier. Naval vessels open for viewing
- 4 to 8 p.m.: Fish Pier. Tall ships open for viewing
Friday, July 6
- Ships depart.