Fish Tales, Tugs, and Sails August 11, 2007

Children and families will have another chance to enjoy Fish Tales, Tugs & Sails, a free, day-long festival for children at New London's Waterfront Park. The environmental themed event will feature nationally-known authors and boats such as the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter the Morrow Bay, the Mystic Whaler, Project Oceanology's Envirolab, as well as two tugs provided by Thames Towboat Co., the John Paul and Patricia Anne. Come and see the festival kick off at 11 AM as the entertainers and authors sail into port on one of these special tugs!

In addition to docked boats, there will be moving ones as well! Kennedy Marine will showcase their safety craft and the New London Community Boating will showcase their sailing program and run sailboat races along the Thames River from 11 AM to 3 PM. For an overview of what's happening when, go to our Schedules page.

Over 30 local community organizations will participate with a variety of children's activities this year in the Children's Activities Tent located to the left as you enter Waterfront Park. Children can enjoy face painting; see scuba divers pull treasures from the ocean floor & more!

For the early birds, there will be a fishing tournament sponsored by the Neighborhood Alliance of New London and the New London Patrolmen's Benevolent Association of CT, Incorporated at the Fishing Pier. Children are invited to fish and compete to catch the biggest, smallest, and weirdest fish caught - to name a few. Every child receives a prize and free lunch! Registration begins at 8 AM and participants must bring their own fishing pole!

Let's not forget the famous authors and top-notch entertainment. This year's theme is "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!" and all performers will gear performances on environmental issues. After all, Fish Tales, Tugs & Sails would not be complete without the environmental themed stories of some pretty famous children's authors. Bank Square Books will be on hand to sell these special books as the authors meet the children who flock to the storytelling tent located on City Pier.

Children are encouraged to bring a gently used book to the event or purchase a new one to donate to the Whale Tale Book Bank hosted by the Public Library of New London. Nationally-known author Loree Griffin Burns (Tracking Trash) and first-time author Karen Romano Young (Across the Wide Ocean) will add to the excitement sparked by the entertainers on the stage and strolling balloon sculptors and drummer W. Che Cartafalsa.

Official Website: http://www.newlondonmainstreet.org