Sail Boston arrives in the city this weekend. The legendary event celebrating the maritime history associated with the 250th anniversary of the nation commences with a cinematic “Parade of Sail.”
In this parade, over 50 massive schooners from around the globe will travel in a conga line on the water. The boats will travel together in a single-turn loop around Boston Harbor before docking at their assigned berthing locations for the remainder of Sail Boston, which concludes on July 16.
Some vessels will offer day sails while in Boston.
If you”re eager to watch the Parade of Sail in Boston on Saturday, July 11, here is everything you need to know:
What time does the parade begin and end?
The Parade begins around 9 AM, with visibility from Boston around 10 AM. The entire loop will take 1-2 hours before the ships dock.
When is the Parade of Sail?
The Parade of Sail occurs at the start of Sail Boston, on Saturday, July 11. There is only one parade throughout the weeklong event.
What is the Parade route?
- 9 AM: Parade begins from Broad Sound
- 10:00 AM: boats enter Boston Inner Harbor (past Castle Island)
- 10:00-10:30 AM: boats travel from Castle Island to Charlestown
- 10:30-11:00 AM: boats make turns at Charlestown
- 11:00-11:15 AM: boats travel from North End Waterfront to Seaport to dock at assigned locations
These times are all approximate and depend on speed and conditions. Find an official interactive parade map from Sail Boston.
Best spots to view the Boston Parade of Sail
For an oceanic or classic Boston skyline moment, watch the sails enter Boston Harbor and travel to Charlestown (around 10 AM) from:
- Castle Island
- East Boston – Navy Fuel Pier
- East Boston – Pier 1
- East Boston – Piers Park
The best spots to watch the ships turn (around 10:30 AM) are:
- Charlestown – Piers 4 and 6
- Charlestown – Pier 11
- East Boston – LoPresti Park
Finally, watch the ships after the turn as they make their way to their berthing stations (around 10:45 AM):
- Downtown/Waterfront – Lewis Wharf
- Downtown/Waterfront – Christopher Columbus Park and Long Wharf
- Downtown/Waterfront – New England Aquarium’s Harbor View and South Terrace Tents on Boston’s Central Wharf
- Seaport – Courthouse
- Seaport – Commonwealth Pier
- Seaport – MassMutual Sail Boston Grandstands at Boston Fish Pier
The Sail Boston Festival, which runs from July 11-15, will also have a Ferris Wheel with stunning views of Boston Harbor.
Best rooftops for Sail Boston
The Envoy in Boston Seaport is among the premier viewing spots from a Boston Rooftop. Guests visiting the city will be at the center of the Parade and have easy access to both rooftop views and on-ground parade events and ship tours.
Reserved spectator seating
With 4 million spectators anticipated for this event, expect crowds at each of the viewing locations. If you want to skip the fuss of securing a spot early, Sail Boston offers ticketed Grandstand Seating.
The seating is open from 8 AM-4 PM and located at the Boston Fish Pier.
Local ships to look out for
There are over 50 ships in the Sail Boston Parade of Sail hailing from around the world. Some iconic local ships to look out for include:
- Adirondack II: A wooden-schooner based in Boston
- Angelique: From Camden, Maine with burnt rust colored sails
- Ardelle: A pinky boat with a signature red stripe hailing from Gloucester and built by the captain himself
- USS Constitution: leading the parade, also known as “Old Ironsides”
The Parade of Sail begins at 9 AM on Saturday, July 11, with most of the ships beginning their entrance into Boston Inner Harbor by 10 AM.
